家用伺服器

家用伺服器是一部裝置，通常是個人電腦或其他電腦，並連接著家用網路，以為家中的其他裝置提供服務。這些服務可以包括資源共享、媒體中心服務、網站服務、身份認證及網域控制。因為家用網路的電腦數量比較少，所以家用伺服器通常都不必使用最新及最快的硬體。用家通常是把舊電腦循環再用，所以配備1GHz處理器及256M位元組記憶體的家用伺服器系統相當普遍。如果要有檔案伺服器服務，則可能需要較大及較快的硬碟（ATA-100 或 串聯 ATA）及網路卡。另外建議有一套 UPS （即不斷電系統 ），防止斷電意外導致遺失資料。

作業系統

家用伺服器可以使用任何作業系統，有些可以不用圖形使用者介面（騰出更多資源做其他工作）而用命令列來進行日常管理工作，或經VNC或Webmin等程式來使用圖形使用者介面。

使用者可以購買Windows的額外授權來安裝在家用伺服器上，或者選用免費方案，如免費的Linux或BSD UNIX。它們可以以最少授權限制的方式安裝在任何數量的電腦上。

家用伺服器的用途

中央儲存

Home servers often act as network attached storage providing the major benefit that all users' files can be centrally and securely stored, with flexible permissions applied to them. Such files can be easily accessed 24/7 from any other system on the network, provided the correct credentials are supplied. This also applies to shared printers.

Such files can also be shared over the internet to be accessible from anywhere in the world using services such as FTP

媒體共享

Home servers are often used to serve multi-media content, including photos, music, and video to other devices in the household (and even to the Internet; see Place Shifting and Orb). Using standard protocols such as DNLA or proprietary systems such as iTunes users can access their media stored on the home server from any room in the house. Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows Vista can act as a home server, supporting a particular type of media serving that streams the interactive user experience to Media Center Extenders including the XBox360.

A typical MythTV menu.

On a Linux server, there are many open-source (free), fully-functional, all-in-one software solutions for media serving available. One such program is LinuxMCE, which allows other devices to boot off a hard drive image on the server, allowing them to become appliances such as set-top boxes. Asterisk, Xine, MythTV (another media serving solution), Firefox, VideoLAN, SlimServer, and many other open-source projects are fully integrated for a seamless home theater/automation/telephony experience. Such services, if offered in a proprietary package, would cost around $100,000 (including hardware and tailored household programming).

On an Apple Macintosh server (or peer-to-peer node), Front Row may be used.

遠端存取

The Webmin Interface as it would appear in a standard browser.

A home server can be used to provide remote access into the home from devices on the Internet, using remote desktop software and other remote administration software. For example, Windows Home Server provides access to files stored on the home server via a web interface as well as access to Remote Desktop sessions on PCs in the house. Enthusiasts often use VPN technologies as well.

On a Linux server, two popular tools are (among many) Virtual Network Computing and Webmin. VNC allows clients to remotely view a server GUI desktop as if the user was physically sitting in front of the server. A GUI need not be running on the server console for this to occur; there can be multiple 'virtual' desktop environments open at the same time. Webmin allows users to control many aspects of server configuration and maintenance all from a simple web interface. Both can be configured to be accessed from anywhere on the internet.

Servers can also be accessed remotely using the commandline-based Telnet and SSH protocols.

網站服務

Some users choose to run a web server in order to share files easily and publicly (or privately, on the home network). Others set up web pages and serve them straight from their home, although this may be in violation of some ISPs terms of service. Sometimes these webservers are run on a nonstandard port in order to avoid the ISP's port blocking. The most widely used web server is the open source Apache daemon. It is easily configured, flexible, free, and runs on most recent operating systems.

Many other webservers are available including lighttpd and several of the less popular Windows-only servers that are extremely easy to configure with a GUI but lack the more advanced features.

電子郵件

Many home servers also run email servers that handle email for the owner's domain name. The advantages are having much bigger mailboxes and maximum message size than most commercial email services. Access to the server, since it is on the local network is much faster than using an external service. This is also good for privacy as emails don't reside on an offsite server where they could possibly be viewed by disgruntled administrators.

BitTorrent

Home servers are ideal for utilising the BitTorrent protocol for downloading and seeding files as some torrents can take days, or even weeks to complete an uninterrupted connection would be an advantage. There are many command-line based clients such as rTorrent and web-based ones such as TorrentFlux available for this purpose. BitTorrent also makes it easier for those with limited bandwidth to distribute large files over the internet.

Gopher

An uncommon and outdated service is the Gopher protocol that came about in the early 90's before HTTP. Many of the remaining gopher servers are run off home servers utilising PyGopherd and the Bucktooth gopher server.

家居自動化

Home automation requires a device in the home that is available 24/7. Often such home automation controllers are run on a home server.

保安監察

Relatively low cost CCTV DVR solutions are available that allow recording of video cameras to a home server for security purposes. The video can then be viewed on PCs or other devices in the house.

家庭用應用程式

Home servers can act as a host to family oriented applications such as a family calendar, to-do lists, and message boards.

參見

家用伺服器作業系統

• BSD UNIX
• Linux
• Mac OS X
• Ubuntu Home Server
• Windows Home Server
• Windows Small Business Server
• Windows Media Center

家用伺服器技術

• Client-server architecture
• File server
• Home computer
• Home network
• Network Attached Storage
• Residential gateway

媒體共享軟件

• Front Row - Mac OS X
• LinuxMCE
• MythTV

伺服器軟件

• Comparison of web servers
• MySQL
• PHP
• List of mail servers
• List of FTP servers
• List of Jabber server software
• Samba (software)

外部連結

• Build your own server
• Setting up a Home Network