Are your digital assets secure? Reasons cloud storage alone doesn't suffice in today's online landscape.
Time to spill the tea: You might want to consider stepping up your storage game beyond cloud storage. While I'm a fan of iCloud, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive, those premium services might not cut it anymore.
For me, a 4TB hard drive or a home storage server should be your next move. I've got a ton of memories to safeguard—from childhood snaps to game saves and personal projects. But it's especially helpful if you're the tech whiz of your non-tech family; think of it as the solution to Grandpa Jo forgetting his password every time.
Hot Hacks: DIY Storage
The idea of a self-hosted server might sound like overkill, but don't panic. It ain't about those ginormous rooms with towering servers connected by a rainbow of cables. Here are some ways to create your personal storage system:
On a Budget: Raspberry Pi
This tiny dev kit is the least expensive option, but it requires a bit of know-how. If you're dubbed the veteran techie, you can handle it.
Affordable Build: PC
A fully-fledged PC build can fit in a briefcase or resemble a mini-fridge. Costs range from $800 to $2,000, depending on the server's purpose.
Maximum Protection: RAID System
A RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) system connects multiple hard drives to safeguard data. If one drive goes kaput, your data will still be safe.
Building a Personal Storage Server
A self-hosted server might seem like a challenge, but there's a whole community of tech enthusiasts out there who'll help you out. There's even a Reddit user who turned a Raspberry Pi into a personal storage system with streaming options. So, no need to construct enterprise-like racks for your home storage solution.
Give Cloud Storage a Backup
Remember when floppy disks were deemed obsolete around the '90s? Cloud storage started to pop up in the 2000s. Amazon brought the first cloud storage in 2006, followed by Google Drive in 2008. I remember those days; I was stuck juggling USB drives for music, schoolwork, and art in a baggie.
Cloud storage indeed came in handy when managing files became a struggle with the growing size of files. But times have changed; a Nintendo Switch game can take up about 10 GB, as opposed to the 8 GB that could fit almost eight PlayStation Portable games in the early 2000s.
Epic Failures: When Cloud Storage Falls
Microsoft and PlayStation Network outages are a stark reminder that we need a plan B for our cloud storage. These failures can cause headaches, from media outlets to airlines to airplanes getting affected. Having a local storage option can help you avoid being left high and dry when the going gets tough.
So, it's time to stop being completely reliant on the cloud and start considering a personal storage server. Your investment in memories is worth it, since they're priceless.
Get Secure and Save with a Personal Storage Server
Source: Ayush Gupta
Ayush Gupta built a PC to use as a personal storage server and digitized his parents' wedding videos from those old VHS tapes. With the abundance of information and PC parts out there, building your storage system doesn't have to burn a hole in your wallet. In fact, Gupta notes that you don't even need a graphics card if you aren't planning on streaming high-quality videos or creating a remote gaming station.
Old or used PC parts can work just fine for a simple storage build. Gupta also advises that Linux can be installed on decade-old machines, which is great news for those with laptops gathering dust.
Connect and Build
If you're a novice with hardware, don't worry. The learning curve is a bit lower than software, and you'll gain valuable insights into professional IT data centers and cloud providers. Building your personal storage server has practical uses within your family and can be a fun project to get into.
When Grandpa Jo asks for the password to his email, you won't be scrabbling through a wormhole of memories. A simple click will give you access to his details. Or, during holiday gatherings, you can easily pull up the video of baby steps and share it on the living room TV.
Multi-functional Storage
A personal storage server isn't just about saving precious memories. You can use it to store different portfolios, past work from websites that no longer exist, Twitch VODs, Adobe Premiere/Photoshop raw files, indie game files, and more.
Step-by-step: Build Your Personal Storage Server
Ready to take the plunge and roll your own storage? Here are the simple steps to do so:
- Head over to Best Buy or Newegg and grab some computer parts, along with a solid-state drive for 1TB or 2TB.
- If you're using a Mac and a PC, consider using Linux.
- Format your hard drive to FAT (exFAT) for versatility between Mac and PC.
- Save some cash: Gupta advises against buying used hard drives, but old or used PC parts are worth snatching up since their quality won't depreciate much.
- For the tech-savvy, consider stepping up your storage game beyond cloud storage with a personal storage server.
- A 4TB hard drive or a home storage server can safeguard a vast amount of personal data, including childhood snaps, game saves, and digital projects.
- Building a personal storage server doesn't have to be an overwhelming task; there are several budget-friendly options available.
- Raspberry Pi, a compact device, is the least expensive choice, perfect for those with a bit of technical know-how.
- For a more affordable build, opt for a fully-fledged PC, which can fit in a briefcase and cost between $800 to $2,000.
- For maximum protection, a RAID system, which connects multiple hard drives, can offer data redundancy in case one drive fails.
- In the world of technology, servers and data storage are evolving, drawing attention away from cloud-based storage solutions.
- A personal storage server can serve multiple purposes, from storing digital portfolios and indie game files to the preservation of family memories such as videos.
- Building a personal storage server can prove to be a valuable learning experience, offering practical insights into data centers and cloud providers while providing a multi-functional solution for data storage.
