I’m in need of a backup server. I’m envisioning a single-board computer attached to a mechanical hard drive whose sole purpose is to be a repository for the backups of my different computers. I prefer a SBC over other options (like a used laptop) for energy efficiency reasons.
Because hardware is so expensive right now, I’d like to avoid buying more computer than I need for this task. Unfortunately, I haven’t the foggiest how much that is.
How would you go about calculating this?
Do you have an existing desktop PC that has a spare drive bay? If so, you could just install an 8TB SeaGate SATA HDD and not have to worry about shortages. That’s what I did last year.
Otherwise, a Raspberry Pi 4B might be just enough; it’s got 1GB of RAM and retails in the US for $35.
I’d say a 1GB rpi 4/5 would suffice, assuming it’s only going to act as a storage server.
If you get a rpi5, do add some cooling as the CPU runs quite warm quite fast (the official rpi5 case has a small heatsink+fan that is good enough)
Ohhhhh, that’s a great option I’d completely overlooked. I think my desktop has room. Thanks, I’ll look into this.
The suggestion of a Pi 4B is also helpful. I think I have one or two Pi 4’s kicking around (as well as at least one Pi Zero), which will help if I want to make a small self-contained backup server package that I can place at a friend’s.
Thank you and @vincent both!
I figured I’d also mention that, while hardware prices are going up, prices on used thin clients are still pretty good. These are used enterprise PCs that are only meant to boot up to a virtual machine somewhere, so they usually come with a minimum amount of RAM and a very small hard drive, which can be replaced (I’ve usually got a number of old ones on hand). I’ve been running Jellyfin (our media server) on an old Dell Wyse client for months now and it’s great. Since it’s business hardware, it’s used to being on all the time, so it works great as a server, and I have the storage media plugged in via USB.