Server recommendations

[ip6ix]

I'm currently looking for something I can use as a small home server, principally to run various services including as a DNS server. The machine I'm looking at is the PC Machines APU4B4 (see https://linitx.com/product/pc-engine...--apu4b4/15568.

Would this be a good system to run OpenBSD? My main needs are 24/7 uptime, low power usage and stability. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's had experience of this or similar systems and if you think there are any other systems I should also be considering.

Thanks.

[TronDD]

The APUs are very popular with OpenBSD and I've been running an APU1 for years as my home router.

The newer ones have more power and run cooler, but the shortcoming is only 3 ethernet ports. Add a switch if you need to and you're good, or stick with wireless.

[fvgit]

I'm still running a soekris which is by an order of magnitude less capable than the modern APU4 systems and it does DNS just fine.

An alternative to the APUs with more ports might be this:
https://protectli.com/
tedu@ blogged about one of these:
https://flak.tedunangst.com/post/protectli-router

[ip6ix]

Originally Posted by TronDD

The APUs are very popular with OpenBSD and I've been running an APU1 for years as my home router.

The newer ones have more power and run cooler, but the shortcoming is only 3 ethernet ports. Add a switch if you need to and you're good, or stick with wireless.

Actually the board I referenced in my OP has 4 ethernet ports, which is very nice. Plus I can always add a wireless card later.

I realize it's overpowered, but I can live with that.

[TronDD]

Oh cool. I haven't needed to upgrade so hadn't looked. All the previous APUs only had 3 ports. Even one more is a nice addition.

At least for me, I try to use wired networking when I can.

[ip6ix]

Originally Posted by fvgit

I'm still running a soekris which is by an order of magnitude less capable than the modern APU4 systems and it does DNS just fine.

An alternative to the APUs with more ports might be this:
https://protectli.com/
tedu@ blogged about one of these:
https://flak.tedunangst.com/post/protectli-router

These are pretty impressive, and with a price to match. At this point, I'm not really convinced to change from my original choice of the PC Engines board.

Also, the fact they're popular with other OpenBSD users is a big plus.

[jggimi]

I'm still running a flight of legacy Alix systems. (32-bit VIA, 256MB RAM)

Never a hardware failure, ever, with these systems. Only with the compact flash drives used for storage. And in those instances, carp(4) eliminated outages.

[ibara]

https://thinkpuffy.com/
(I don't run nor get any commission from this; but it is a side project of an OpenBSD developer.)

[ip6ix]

Originally Posted by jggimi

I'm still running a flight of legacy Alix systems. (32-bit VIA, 256MB RAM)

Never a hardware failure, ever, with these systems. Only with the compact flash drives used for storage. And in those instances, carp(4) eliminated outages.

Thanks for your comments, very reassuring. And carp(4) makes for interesting reading.

[ip6ix]

Originally Posted by ibara

https://thinkpuffy.com/
(I don't run nor get any commission from this; but it is a side project of an OpenBSD developer.)

That's an impressive bit of kit, and with a good price. Very tempting.