Intel 11th Gen i7 laptop as server?

[RDaneel]

Hello - long time user, first time poster.  Thanks in advance for any tips.

I've historically used Jellyfin on my Synology DS416play (upgraded to 8gb RAM) in a docker container.  It handles much of my library fine when played via a windows client or my LG C2 TV.  I can't resume videos and the interface is sometimes a bit slow, but it's workable.

I have a Lenovo laptop with broken hinges that I'm thinking of repurposing into my server setup, using it to host Jellyfin and maybe some other services.  I figure its 11th gen Core-i7 quad core chip, 12gb RAM, and SSD vastly more powerful than my Synology (the ancient Intel Braswell Celeron N3060 can't be doing me any favors)!  I'll keep the Synology for backups, but am hoping to improve the Jellyfin experience.

Any general advice on how best to utilize the laptop?  Is there a major advantage to running Ubuntu (which I have never used) on it versus Windows?  Any issues with running the server on the laptop with all the media connected to a NAS?  Other than keeping it properly cooled and removing the laptop battery to avoid lithium ion sadness, are there hardware tips?  Thanks!

[bitmap]

Any general advice on how best to utilize the laptop?

Oh yeah, you'll be much happier with the performance. I would recommend grabbing either a laptop stand with an open bottom or, probably a better bet, some sort of cooling apparatus. These would definitely extend the lifetime of the laptop. Last resort would be to run it upside-down so the fans have ample airflow.

Is there a major advantage to running Ubuntu (which I have never used) on it versus Windows?

I have strong feelings about Windows + server in the same sentence. However, I would ask whether you're looking for a project or looking to get set up ASAP? If the former, try Ubuntu server (it's CLI-only). Even Ubuntu Desktop has a way smaller footprint than Windows. If the latter, just use Windows. Advantages to Ubuntu? Ease of access (SSH from another machine, run multiple sessions simultaneously), super simple virtualization via Docker, very low overhead compared to Windows, community support, well-established and fixed fairly quickly, crazy extensible, probably the easiest version of Linux to learn. There are a lot more.

A big one I found recently is that you can get Ubuntu Pro for free. Running on a server this means faster CVE patching for longer, automated updates, additional updates, fewer required restarts, extra protection and hardening if you wish, and more. It has been a blessing for my server.

Any issues with running the server on the laptop with all the media connected to a NAS?

Nope. You may run into permissions issues, but that's with any kind of remote storage setup. You'll just have to troubleshoot a bit. We can likely help.

Other than keeping it properly cooled and removing the laptop battery to avoid lithium ion sadness, are there hardware tips?  Thanks!

Whoops, obviously started this before reading everything. Make sure it's hard-wired; buy an ethernet adapter if it doesn't have (a functional) one. If you can open the case, canned air the shit out of it prior to starting use as a server. Remove or disable everything you don't need (hardware AND software). Otherwise? Just do it. I'm sure it'll be fun.

[chrima]

I'm using an old HP laptop with an older then 11th Gen i7 for my mediaserver and I'm happy. Jellyfin (and others) are running in a docker container.
Attached is a 8TB USB-disc for the media files.

I would not advice Windows as OS.

My setup:

OS: openmediavault (a debian 12 based NAS OS with nice web-gui. Nearly no need to use cli)

Docker container:
  - jellyfin
  - plex (yes it runs side by side)
  - tvheadend (DVB-T2, IP-TV, DVR)
  - telerising (generates .m3u-files from my IP-TV provider)
  - xteve (m3u proxy)
  - photoprism
  - traefik (reverse-proxy for tls)
  - calibre (E-Books)
  - dozzle (view container logs in browser)
  - portainer-agent (connect to central portainer instance)

The containers for jellyfin, plex and photoprism are all run by the same user
For each media type I setup a smb/cifs share, to allow clients to push media files to the mediaserver(s).
Jellyfin, plex and photoprism use the same files for their libraries.
The GPU (Intel Kabylake (Gen9) is activated, so hardware acceleration is used by jellyfin. This was the only part where I had to use the commandline...
The load average is at 0.5. I'm planning to add a nextcloud instance to push fotos and videos from mobile devices to jellyfin, plex and photoprism.

Have fun!