Cloud Server Options

In home cloud servers have been available for awhile allowing backups from mobile device to local home network.

Most of these devices will work better if you are not using internet equipment provided by your internet service provider (ISP). Hardware modifications may be necessary to your network to allow traffic to link between your phone and your server on a regular basis.

Netgear has some network solutions that work with connected external hard drives that can transfer pictures and videos between you phone and the network by using an app. Some of these features may require a monthly subscription.

Cloud Servers available on Amazon

Amazon has many options for providing a in home cloud server. Some of these systems utilize Raspberry Pi systems (used on this system at home) connected to removable hard drive storage systems that can help with expansion.

There are a few things that should be concerning when looking for one:

1) Ethernet Connectivity

These systems should be connected on a wireless network and should never be used as a wireless network to protect your information as well as better internet speeds to upload and download files.

2) Never use solid state drives (SSD) to store your files

There are a great many limitations to SSD and should only be used to boot the computer up and run the cloud server apps.

Most cloud servers operate a database server (SQL) that can crash SSD devices that can make recovery of any data on the impossible to retrieve.

3) Expansion

Storing files on these systems can increase very quickly. If you are using a system that doesn't allow you to upgrade drive storage as needed (through USB or removable SATA drive containers, it should be avoided.

4) Backups

Whatever drive you add to store your files, another drive should be right next to it capable of backing up using RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) or another maintenance option that takes the server offline to back it using a schedule.

This is the best way to make sure your data is cloned and can be helpful when hard drive upgrades are necessary

It is helpful when these systems work with existing data on One Dive, Google, Amazon, Microsoft Azure, Dropbox, and Nextcloud.

If you are using these services already, some of these systems will take the data (used on these commercial cloud services) and upload it to you own server.

Continuation of Nextcloud Installation series

In December of 2022, the next video in the Nextcloud services will cover version 25 that has just been released.

There will be a another video released to cover the new Collaboration server setup that is easier to setup and utilize when working with office files (documents, spreadsheets, diagrams, and presentations).

Availability of Raspberry Pi devices

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is working on making more devices available in 2023.

The supply was very limited in 2022. A few were purchased at the end of 2021 while being placed on a wait list where more were available.

The supply that was available in creased by $75.00 on the price as many were used for retro video game systems (Retro-pi) and Nextcloud servers as few third party companies were selling a complete system ready to plug in.