Dear readers,

If (TLDR) { ISO: tech stacks advice + FOSS tech and tech educative material advice for self-hosting a basic home lab FT: an opportunity to build your profile’s tech expertise reputation. } else; { I would like to collect opinions about hardware and software stack options.

I would like to build a home server for basic purposes (file storage sync (family, work, movies, music, etc.).

Ideally, I would like to use the same machine for self-hosting: (a) a small lemmy community instance server, (b) a small chat server (e.g. XMPP)

I have accrued decent practice with html, css, javascript, and linux systems administration. For example, my home lab boasts 1 laptop file synced with 1 smartphone, and I have written a few very basic dynamic web apps.

That being said, the vastness, complexity and technicality of the various options seem to me daunting to make sense of, even with some basic clear goals.

Although I expect to have some more research to do, I suspect that someone with more competence than myself may find interest in disbursing a few easy comments of competent advisory opinion to narrow and expedite my research effort as an opportunity of building their own profile’s reputation.

Requirements:

FOSS tech, to the extent that that produces a top security and top quality solution.

Beginner friendly budget.

Early estimates of specs under my consideration: mini-pc, O-droid, normal form factor pc, laptop. ~ 16GB ~ 64 GB RAM. Storage: ideally minimum 5 TB, ideally minimum 3-2-1 rule. OS? FS?

} Sorry about the length of the post, sorry about solicitation of advice.

Thanks for the support.

Sincerely,

LinuxTurtle34