The Origin
I’ve always been a “gamer,” and like many others, I wanted to run my own game servers to have full control. My first server was for Garry’s Mod in 2017. It was rudimentary, but it taught me the basics of LUA programming. Eventually, I outgrew that server, didn’t renew the VPS lease, and moved on. Over the next few years, I dabbled in Minecraft and Rust server development, renting servers on large datacenter nodes for $15+ per month. My primary server, started in 2019 for a group of friends, is now hosted on my home lab.
The Hardware
To build my home server, I used spare PC hardware: a mini-ITX motherboard, CPU cooler, SFX power supply, and a small ITX case. I needed a CPU, possibly a GPU, storage, RAM, and an OS.
While researching hardware, I chose a Ryzen APU to save money, as I didn’t need a dedicated GPU initially. For RAM, I got a 16GB 3200mT stick, with plans to upgrade. For storage, M.2 NVMe was the best choice for its price and speed.
| Hardware | Details |
|---|---|
| APU | AMD Ryzen 5 4600G 6-Core APU |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte B520a mini-ITX |
| RAM | HyperX Fury 1x16GB 3200mT (now 2x32GB) |
| Primary Storage | Intel 500GB M.2 NVMe SSD |
| APU Cooler | Ryzen Stock Cooler |
| Power Supply | NZXT/Seagate 750W 80+ Gold SFX |
| OS | Windows 11 (pre-installed on SSD) |
Software
Upon booting, I was surprised to see Windows 11. The SSD, an Intel replacement for a Lenovo laptop, wasn’t marketed as such. I had planned to install Windows Server 2016, but decided to keep Windows 11, as it was activated and seemed suitable. After uninstalling Lenovo bloatware and renaming manufacturer-related items, I had a clean slate.
I started with Chrome Remote Desktop for remote access, as I planned to have no peripherals connected. I then discovered the OS wouldn’t hardware render a desktop without a monitor, so I bought a “nugget” to spoof a display. Chrome Remote Desktop works well and is as secure as my Google Account.
Next, I migrated my game server hosting. With Windows 11, everything was straightforward. I closed all ports with Firewall Management and opened only necessary ports with whitelists through my proxy service. I kept installed programs minimal to avoid bloat. For the MC Server I am currently using MC Server Soft (MCSS), it works well and allows for a lot of customization.
When I started web hosting (e.g., this site), I installed Apache, XAMPP, Hugo, Git, etc. After trying various setups, I settled on this one. Hugo deploys the site, and Cloudflare Tunnel acts as a proxy and filter.
Plans
In the future, I want to continue developing game servers and this website. I plan to increase storage and use a RAID array to migrate my Google Drive content, using cloud storage as backup.
Future uses include mass storage, locally hosted AI, personal email, a photo dropbox, a personal VPN, and more.
Costs
The server replaced $15+/month server rentals, which adds up over time. The server draws a maximum of 130W, but usually much less. Running at full power would cost about $5 per month in energy. But at its current load, it costs less than $1. Network and proxy services are currently free as a hobbiest.
The hardware costs a few hundred dollars, which I’ll recoup within four years. The cost savings from hosting VPS and game servers are significant, 32GB on a 6-core server can cost $100+/month. The only uncounted cost is labor, but it’s enjoyable.
Final Comment (for now)
Would I recommend hosting a home server? It depends. You need two of three things: time, drive, and knowledge. If you have two, go for it. If you have time and drive, you can gain knowledge. If you have drive and knowledge, you need less time. I’ve been learning as I go, often lacking one, but the other two compensate.
I’m no expert, but after eight years of tinkering with servers and hardware since high school, I’ve figured things out through a lot of YouTube, reading, and failures. I’m in a vastly different place than I was when I started dabbling in technology, but no matter how much life changes, my passion for tech remains.