Home server on old android phones?

Update is here: lemmy.zip/post/72142441

Hey guys, since I got into hosting my own servers, any electronic device I see I wonder - can it become a server?

This is probably not a crazy and new idea with android phones, but I had to share it with you. If you don’t know, there’s this thing called postmarket OS, full linux experience on an android phone.

Of course, not all phones are supported, but a phone like Galaxy Note 9 is a great candidate - it supports LAN over usb, postmarket OS fully supports it (the Exinos version) and setting up a phone as a selfhosted server has it’s real perks. Pis got really expensive, not to mention they don’t have a built-in UPS (phones have batteries), they use slow SD cards, while phones have faster UFS memory, phones draw way less power.

What do you guys think? I will for sure get a used Galaxy Note 9 and explore this idea, and if all goes well, I might even buy more of them and create a cluster.

I had the same thought. Got an older laptop laying around and might try to fiddle with it.

The issue that arises for me is electricity cost. A smartphone doesn’t have a fan and I trimmed for efficiency, unlike many other devices.

What do you want to use the cluster for?

I get that, using phones as servers is a pain because of cooling, but I was thinking maybe wire a fan to a custom made 3d printed rack, and also create a script for batteries, so the phones are not charging not stop.

Creating a cluster could help me self host more websites I create as I want to move away from using hosting services, I do have 2 mini pcs as servers right now, but they are kinda shit.

Creating a cluster could help me self host more websites I create as I want to move away from using hosting services

Just jeep an eye on electricity prices. This is probably not an issue with a phone server, but for me, hosting at home with a decent server PC costs more per month just in electricity compared to using a cheap VPS. Continuous draw of 50W 24/7 is ~37kWh per month which can cost $15 or more in California.

I do still host some things at home, but all my sites are on VPSes. The enterprise hardware and fast, data center grade internet connection is worth it for me. Some of my VPSes are only $40/year.