Just turned 65 and I need something to keep the brain cells working. So looking to do a few things and hoping NC fits the bill. I’ve setup webservers and email servers in the past but not really looked at what’s available now.
I want to sort out our family photos and my photos (hobby). I know the are hundreds of apps to do this in fact I have some but I want to get the family involved so thought NC & photos or an app called Memories would be suitable?
Might want a personal blog online ( I have some domains)
Might want to use it for my email etc (I think that a given)
I would rather like to also use at least the server a a media server to watch downloaded video. I like watch old films and TV
I think I have the hardware sorted, I have an older i7 Envy gaming in tower.
depending on your knowledge there might be easier applications to start self-hosting. please review 101: Self-hosting information for beginners.
Nextcloud is rather complicated application and requires deeper understanding of many technologies (but this applies to most “not trivial” applications). It is perfectly suited for file management but for pictures you likely find better alternatives like photoprism (we had discussions about this - use search). same applies for blog and media - better use specialized tools like Plex, Jellyfin, Wordpress etc. Depending on your goal regarding mail the answer vary between: yes it works (webclient) and don’t do this at home (self-hosting mail server).
I’m prepared to take on the task, not a complete novice. I wasn’t planing on using the Photos app, today I saw a review of an app called Memories and that included a lot of what I want to do with my images. I will look at those links too thanks. What I’m looking at is something like this
AlmaLinux
CWP control panel which will do the proxy & some other stuff
Next Cloud
JellyFin
Not looking for easy as it’s a project to task me. But obvs if the are people who know for a fact these won’t work that’s why I’m asking. And other alternatives to, I mean I could leave any of the above or replace.
Before you plan, I’d start with a small test server (in a virtual machine, docker image, …), and play around with Nextcloud.
I don’t know all the panels, if you want to manage websites and stuff with it ok. For Nextcloud, I’d rather use a specific virtual server or similar, where you have full access on the configuration.
@driftwood
I’m 65 as well, and retired… And I’m doing exactly that with my Nextcloud installation.
The physical server is a high-end Dell XPS laptop that was too heavy to carry around anyway. Using a laptop also provides a bit of UPS (battery) power when the grid falls over.
The setup is mostly for hosting shared files (photos, documents, music), as project space for renovations, happenings, holidays etc., bookmarks sharing and calendars within my immediate family, but also for me to keep the neurons firing in my retirement.
I’ve set up quite a few instances of Nextcloud for others over the last 3-4 years and my favourite howto is this one:
Integration with Android apps on our phones is very good. I’m using DAVx5 for synchronisation of calendars, tasks and contacts. DSub for playing music via Subsonic protocol, a Bookmarks app to have my web-links available whereever I am going and Memories app for the photos collections.
My email is handled by an american webhosting company with enough money to bribe all the corporations that are hell-bent on crushing everyone who dares to run a mail-server that isn’t called microsoft.com or gmail.com to let my emails get delivered. I tried self-hosting an email server but the frustrations aren’t worth it.
Running your own server for a bit of groupware, media, file-sharing might seem like overkill, but doing it for the learning experience makes sense, so does doing it for privacy reasons.