I would like to set up a NAS/Home Server Combination. I am not particularly experienced with networking and this general area, although I can handle Linux well enough at the very least, so I have a few questions, particularly about security, but also other things.
So, here’s what I want, to provide a general idea of my plans:
I’d like
- Storage for my local network
- Nextcloud
- “Sync sources” for myself like a self-hosted RSS Reader and I guess Nextcloud counts for this too, with Calendars, Contacts, etc. (These should be available primarily to me, but indirectly through other apps)
- Collaborative tools also accessible to others (OnlyOffice, Etherpad, etc.)
- Plex/Jellyfin/Similar
- Factorio/Minecraft/Tf2 server for a handful of players (not all at once)
This isn’t a comprehensive list, but should provide a rough idea
So, my questions:
- Is it reasonable to combine a NAS and Home Server?
- How do I keep it secure, especially with potentially sensitive data on Nextcloud or in general storage, if I also want others to be able to access parts of it?
- What price range am I reasonably looking at if I want, let’s say, 8TB (is that normal?) of storage and enough performance to run all the above plus some extra things?
- What are some general best practices for hardware upkeep / preventing data loss?
- What are some best practices for security overall?
- Is there anything you’d like me to know, as a total novice in this field?
I am grateful for any tips, even if they’re not entirely related to my direct questions, so please feel free to dump all kinds of knowledge and tips on me, if it’s not too much of a bother for you!
I was considering the VPN option, but as you mentioned for game servers that’s not reasonable, and for some of the collaborative tools I’d prefer being able to give people I don’t trust that much access, for instance people at work/university, to work together with them on whatever would be needed.
If I just decided to make the home server a home-only server, that would ease a lot of my worries. I guess I could get a personal one, with sensitive info but only home network access, and just rent a second one? It’s not like they’re that expensive if you’re just doing small-scale things and find a decent provider
You can always do both and expose some services outside your network and keep the others local only while still being able to access them yourself with a vpn.