I've been running a FreeBSD PC as a home server for years. It does NAT, file service, FTP, TELNET, print service, etc. But it's time for an upgrade -- it's running FreeBSD 5.2 and has a 586 as a CPU. I'm thinking about using a laptop instead of another PC. Comments on the wisdom of this welcome.
The pros I see:
- low power, important for a 24/7 running at home where I pay the energy bill.
- small size.
- built in UPS -- I hate buying those lead acid batteries every couple of years.
The cons:
- limited expansion of functions, no slots, no TV cards.
- more difficult to do automatic backups, I do intend to attach an external USB disk of the same size as the internal disk, but...
- laptop doesn't automatically reboot after power outages.
- uncertainty whether laptop HD drive can tolerate 24/7 operation. I have done it before, running a laptop 24/7 for about 7 years non-stop, but...
Input welcome.
The pros I see:
- low power, important for a 24/7 running at home where I pay the energy bill.
- small size.
- built in UPS -- I hate buying those lead acid batteries every couple of years.
The cons:
- limited expansion of functions, no slots, no TV cards.
- more difficult to do automatic backups, I do intend to attach an external USB disk of the same size as the internal disk, but...
- laptop doesn't automatically reboot after power outages.
- uncertainty whether laptop HD drive can tolerate 24/7 operation. I have done it before, running a laptop 24/7 for about 7 years non-stop, but...
Input welcome.