Setting up a home server

Tutorials & Resources
61

I did know this, at least! So I did.

This is how I finally ditched the fdisk method and created the GPT partition. At least I knew what I was doing that way.

You pointing out that USB flash drives are preformatted, etc. is just one way I did not understand hardware to software structure, thus why treating the internal SSD like a flash drive did not work. I had to format AND partition.

Sheila

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62

Hoorah, you did it right.
I think fdisk only makes msdos partition tables, if you want gpt you use gfdiskā€¦ gparted is much better

Correctā€¦ and put a filesystem on the partitionā€¦ gparted makes the partition and writes the filesystem all in one step. With command line stuff you do them separately using mkfs to write the filesystem.

You are in better shape than I thought. ā€¦ well done.

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I did NOT know that. No wonder it is easier.

That was another thing that threw me. I thought, I already have a file system in place, donā€™t I? I formatted it ext4.

Thanks,
Sheila

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64

Yeah,
If you used gparted, you dont need to do mkfs.
mkfs is only used if you have an empty partition, or if you want to change the type of filesystem in a partition.

Gparted has made all that struggle with fdisk and gdisk and cfdisk and mkfs redundant. And thank goodness, it is one of the worst things to do.
Some installers still use primitive stuff like cfdisk, that is why I always use gparted before an install, and avoid the partitioning step in the installer.

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65

Update: After much research, I have decided not to use TrueNAS. As the entire project is challenging enough, I do not want to have to learn an unfamiliar OS and further research on how to get my self-hosted apps on the same drive, among other things.

So now it is onto setting up the file server & backups, utilizing the internal second drive.

I am also considering partitioning the boot drive as I hate to waste so much space on a 500 gb NvME SSD. Although I am unsure just what I will use it for yet. Maybe I can mirror the server OS and apps on it as a backup image and keep it updated just in case something gets messed up on the boot partition.

My current file sync solution from the various desktops to the server are: FreeFileSync, Deja Dup, Rsync or Syncthing. A bit more research today should help me decide.

I still need to get the new VPN either on my router (replacing my existing one) or just on the individual machines. The main difference is my current VPN gave me a browser interface and did this for me (on the router). Whereas the new VPN has to be DD-WRT config. From there I will have to login to the router via IP to manage.

The main issue with the VPN is a few sites do NOT work when connected, so I need to be able to quickly connect/disconnect in those instances. So installing on individual machines might be the better option and that way I can just leave it on the server always, but turn off for browsing on the others.

The other item I am contemplating is the need for a UPS for the server itself. I do not own one and have never used one. I have had power failures where my non-laptop machines shut down and have never had an issue on Linux where hardware was affected (desktop might load minus desktop images and revert to stock) but just wondering how important this is for safely shutting down server in such an instance.

Thanks for any input.
Sheila

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66

You should at least have a surge protector board. A good quality one that will protect all 3 pinsā€¦ lightning can zap computers thru the earth or neutral pins, power surges can enter via the active pin.

Linux will survive an outage with nothing more than needing to fsck a disk. That happens if it is writing when the outage occurs.

A UPS will only keep you going for a short timeā€¦ much less than a day. It might save you if you are doing something critical when the outage happens.

Choose the simplest option. You can always get more complicated later. You want to get it working with minimal hassle.

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67

The server will be plugged into a surge protector power strip, as all electronics are. Are you referring to something different?

Must be why I have never had issues.

I realize that and considering the expense of having one for the router/modem & server to use, just donā€™t feel I need it considering I have never had issues. But just double-checking.

My thoughts exactly, and why I decided against a NAS OS. I do not need to have to add anymore to the learning modules I already have for this project.

Thanks,
Sheila

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That is what I mean.
Make sure it is a good one, protecting all 3 pins.

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69

The main idea / strategy with a UPS - is that it can signal infrastructure - ā€œok youā€™re on battery power for the next 5-10-15 minutes - do a clean shutdown nowā€ā€¦

I had a UPS connect to my NAS (even before I got that MicroServer) - and tried to get it to shutdown the FreeNAS system in low power situation (serial port on the UPS, to USB on the server) - sometimes worked - sometimes didnā€™t - and it was SO ANNOYING all the beeping etc - thatā€™s fine in a data centre - in the home? No thanks - I will take the slight risk - Iā€™ve NEVER lost data through a blackout or a brownout (touch wood). Iā€™ve still got that UPS somewhere (I never throw stuff out).

20 years ago - I support like 20 something Solaris servers (actual physical servers) and it happened more than once - the building (central business district) lost power such that the wonky UPS just dropped outā€¦ Would spend the next 8-12+ hours on the console of EACH and EVERY Solaris server doing fsck! Thatā€™s the stuff of nightmares - Iā€™d NEVER want to go through that again.

I even offered to write some shell scripts (Iā€™d done it before on an IRIX / DG-UX / HP-UX site) to trigger a shutdown if the UPS could send some kinda message to the servers to shut down - and they werenā€™t interested. Yeah - that script might have taken weeks to develop - then test : No! weā€™re not paying for that - but perfectly acceptable for me to spend SIXTEEN hours running FSCK on 20 servers? Some had multiple LUNS connected to a Symmetrixā€¦

What @nevj - said - just ensure youā€™ve got surge protectionā€¦

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70

AMENā€¦lol.

Thanks,
Sheila

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71

Iā€™ve had one for the past 20+ years. I canā€™t say for certain, but I credit the UPS with the longevity of my main tower computer. The UPSs (plural) Iā€™ve had are line interactive. They filter power as well as provide battery backup. I canā€™t prove, but suspect, that bad power kills many devices.

I had one from APC, but its replacement is a CyberPower 1500VA AVR (LX1500GU3). It is $200 at Best Buy.

The only complaint I have with it is the software that notifies you of a ā€œreconnectionā€ event when you reboot your computer. I even contacted their support about it. My opinion is that the computer did not lose its connection to the UPS, it shutdown on purpose. They disagree.

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72

I think some of the more expensive surge protector boards filter power too. Not sureā€¦ will checkā€¦

Yes they do. Example here

I am not recommending that particular one. Anything over
$100 should do the right thing. Cheap supermarket ones
dont.

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73

Agreed. Outlet strip vs surge protector.

If you were going to spend $100 on a surge protector, personally, Iā€™d go the extra $100 for the battery backup too. Like @daniel.m.tripp said, it just needs to hold up your computer long enough to do a controlled shutdown. Or maybe itā€™s a short blip in power and you donā€™t need to shutdown at all.

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74

I did not mean those. There are cheap $30 so called surge protectors, that only protect the active pin.
For lightening protection , you need one that protects neutral and earth, as well as active.

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75

I guess I havenā€™t ā€œkept upā€ on these things. Are you saying a power strip with surge protector is not enough? For instance, the one I currently have at my workstation with 2 computers, 2 external monitors, etc. is this:
Tripp Lite

I have bought others since then for various rooms, but these did not cost anywhere near what @nevj pointed to. Anker Surge Protector Power Strip

This conversation brings up a whole new aspect of trusting the items I currently have.

Thanks,
Sheila

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76

I looked at your link. It seems to be a good oneā€¦ the spec says ā€œcomplete AC protectionā€ā€¦ that is a bit vagueā€¦ do what I didā€¦ ring the manufacturer and ask if it protects all 3 AC pins.

My $100 is Australian dollarsā€¦ About $60 US.

I think you will find that model is adequate.

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Okay. Whew! LOL.

I never knew any of these surge protector strips did NOT protect all three pinsā€¦I mean, what is the purpose otherwise.

Thanks,
Sheila

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78

The cheap ones only protect the active pin. That gives you power surge protection, but not lightening protection.
When lightening strikes the ground near you, power can surge thru the earth system and reach both the earth and neutral pins. That can zap anything electronic and is probably more likely than a surge on the active circuit.

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I think the Tripp Lite is good. Here is a link to a PDF stat sheet from Tripp Lite. I didnā€™t know they were owned by Eaton. We use Eaton UPSs at work.

tlp1008teltv.pdf (tripplite.com)

In there it says ā€œProtection Modes Includes full normal mode (H-N) and common mode (N-G / H-G) line suppressionā€.

I think that means full protection on all three pins as @nevj says.

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80

Thanks, @pdecker thatā€™s one less thing to consume me today.

Sheila

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