A huge upshot to using a laptop is you have a built-in UPS and KVM.
You don’t need to blur the private address. No one here is going to be on your private network.
I use a 2015 MacBook pro. The screen was busted so I removed it and disabled the lid switch. Works great.
Downside to laptop as your homelab: got that spicy pillow now permanently plugged in. Maybe consider pulling out the battery.
If you’re curious what I’m running on here, it’s mostly containers plus one VM for Docker. (I’ve made my dislike for Docker as a distribution platform known elsewhere on here and this is why).
Most are various wikis that I’m testing, MediaWiki, Bookstack, DokuWiki, PmWiki, An Otter Wiki, DocMost.
it only works as a UPS if you periodically discharge the battery. My first “server” was a compaq laptop, I had used it for years and then reprovisioned it to Ubuntu Server, after 2 or 3 years of 24/7 if you unplugged it at all it just instant died because keeping it 100% charged all the time killed the battery.
one should cap the battery at 70% or smth if keeping it connected 24/7
I’m not sure that all laptops support capping, and I’m not sure if Panasonic ToughBook supports the drivers necessary to cap. I guess you could deploy TLP and check
sudo tlp-stat -bit’s not a toughbook and idk how to configure it but my letsnote cf-rz6 came with the battery charge capped at 80%, maybe it can be configured with their windows tool (or the acpi call made by that tool). i already have linux on it so can’t check tho…
This is the way to do it in my opinion. There is always an old computer laying somewhere in your house.
Thanks for reminding me i have a craptop in storage thst i can use for a server.
if a craptp is useful it’s not crap anymore heh
If it still turns on, it still has an use!
a* use, jfyi
You are right. But I actually don’t know why… I was told (as a non native speaker) that „an“ is always used when the next word starts with a vocal. But „use“ seems to be an exception.
English is complicated bro. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. If you are multi-lingual, you’ve got more going for you than most Americans. In general, use “a” before words that begin with a consonant sound. Use “an” before words that begin with a vowel sound.
It’s weird but “long U” is pronounced /ju/ so even though it’s a vowel letter it starts with a semivowel.
If it starts like “you” (universe, unity, …) then it’s just “a” 🤜🤛
Thanks too! Was in a similar situation as B0rax.
No biggie:)
Thanks!
Ya welcome:)
If it doesn’t, it can still be a paperweight!
Which is a use by definition.
Lol. Craptop. I named my old laptop that.
Kinda like my dentist ist named Crentist.
I can tell you live somewhere with cheap electricity
Why do you say that?
laptops are pretty power efficient tho
Not 15 year old laptops. Like that’s 32nm Sandy bridge or even older
Wouldn’t take much to implement a solar panel to run it tho.
i use many sandy bridge laptops (mostly xx20 thinkpads) and they seem pretty ok to me. newer machine is probably much more efficient but these machines are not that power hungry compared to desktops.
I had one active a good while back. To quote Buddy Guy ‘…ain’t nuthin’ wrong with that.’ Hell, I have a 15 year old, self build computer. I use it daily. It works, and pretty well too.
If you haven’t already, I’d see if you can run it sans battery, just power cord. Reason being, old laptop batteries can be a hazard. They can swell and burst, they can over heat,. In some cases, they can become a fire hazard. Best to be safe.
If you’ve already done so, then awesome , and ignore the second paragraph. Is this your first foray into selfhosting?
some machines restrict cpu clock speed if there’s no battery fyi. my 2008 macbook does this
Ideally see if you can do a battery charge limit. Lithium batteries are happiest around 40-60% charge. If you can limit it that low then you keep your built in UPS, don’t risk the CPU running at a crawl, and the battery is happy. Even just the normal 80% that good laptops offer will be sufficient.
Wow… Never thought about this ! To bad my battery died years ago ! Craptop still going strong though 👍💪
Well, that’s something to think about. I’ve always thought it best to take mine out. Tempting fate and all that.
Which model toughbook?
CF-53
I bought it used from Amazon about 5 years ago, so it hasn’t been in my possession the whole time. It was likely used enterprise/industrial stock. Judging by how one of the modifier keys is stuck it was well-used. The seller replaced the original hard drive with an SSD and the battery may have been replaced as well.
Prior to becoming my home lab it was my ham shack computer running win 10.
It’s …
