What’s on My Home Server? (all on an old PC)

What can you actually do with a home server, and is it worth running one? In this Unraid home server tour, I share the self-hosted apps I use, what my setup costs, and what I’ve learned after three years of self-hosting. From replacing Google Photos with Immich to streaming media with Jellyfin, you’ll see practical ways to put your own server to work. Mine runs on an old Dell PC, but these ideas apply whether you’re repurposing a computer or planning a new build. 🔗 START SELF-HOSTING TODAY Some links below are affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 🖥️ Put your spare PC to work. Get 20% off Unraid with code TonyTeachesTech: https://ttt.do/GetUnraid (applies to Starter and Unleashed) ☁️ Skip buying another computer. Start self-hosting your apps on a Contabo VPS: https://ttt.do/SelfHostVPS 🔒 Access your photos, files, and apps away from home. Get Tailscale free: https://ttt.do/GetTailscale 🔋 Give your server time to shut down safely during a power outage. This is the CyberPower battery backup I use: https://ttt.do/UPS WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ✅ What you can actually do with an old PC home server ✅ Replacing Google Photos with Immich and Google Drive with network file shares ✅ Running self-hosted apps, including Jellyfin, Audiobookshelf, Pi-hole, and Vaultwarden ✅ Managing Docker containers and an Ubuntu VM through Unraid ✅ Accessing your homelab remotely with Tailscale and using custom domains with Nginx Proxy Manager ✅ Organizing NAS storage, SSD cache, parity protection, and separate backups ✅ Budgeting for hardware, Unraid licenses, electricity, heat, noise, and a UPS ✅ Choosing between a home server and a VPS with Dokploy 🕒 CHAPTERS 00:00 My Old PC Home Server: 3 Years Later 00:23 Replacing Google Photos and Google Drive 00:55 Secure Remote Access with Tailscale 01:20 Dell Precision T3600 Hardware Tour 01:52 Unraid Dashboard Overview 02:22 My Self-Hosted Docker Apps 03:26 Custom Domains with Nginx Proxy Manager 04:24 Pi-hole, Planka, Portainer, and More 04:58 Unraid App Catalog and Templates 05:37 Running an Ubuntu Virtual Machine 06:10 Hard Drives, Parity, and Synology Backups 06:54 Network Shares and SSD Cache 08:02 My Home Server Cost Breakdown 08:44 Budget Builds and Unraid License Options 09:26 Electricity Costs, Heat, and Noise 10:11 Power Outages: Why I Bought a UPS 10:45 Self-Hosting on a Contabo VPS with Dokploy 11:37 Was a Home Server Worth It?