Stop Paying for Storage
Skip cloud fees with this $170 DIY portable media server. Built with a Raspberry Pi, it stores 5TB of data and streams 4K video on the go.
Running your own storage server at home is a great way to cut cloud service expenses and take more control over your own data. Using today’s highly accessible technologies, this isn’t very difficult for an even moderately technically inclined individual to do. However, ditching the cloud does mean that you no longer have access from anywhere. When you leave home, you leave your data behind.
Yes, it is possible to open your home server up to the internet — but many ISPs frown on this practice and will shut you down when they do their next port scan. Aside from that, you really have to stay on top of security to keep your system safe if you open it up to the world. Few people want to deal with that kind of hassle. It’s enough to make cloud service fees look like a good deal.
Cloud, schmoud
Redditor LowerH8r has come up with a different solution that avoids subscription fees and security concerns. LowerH8r has developed a portable media server that is meant for use on the go. It is battery powered and provides a Wi-Fi hotspot for nearby machines to access. It can store 5TB of data, is capable of streaming 4K video, and only costs about $170.
The media server was built around a Raspberry Pi 4 single-board computer. This computer was installed in a Geekworm NASPi-Lite case, which was modified to accommodate a large 5TB disk drive. A 20,000mAh rechargeable battery was installed underneath the case to keep everything up and running for up to 10 hours without external power. LowerH8r even added in a snazzy RGB LED button for soft shutdowns and to show the system status.
The Raspberry Pi has two Wi-Fi adapters: one for the aforementioned hotspot, and another to connect to the internet, when it is available. That second Wi-Fi connection is used to sync the data on LowerH8r’s main home-based NAS system with this mobile drive with the help of rsync and Tailscale.
How can you get your own?
This portable media server only weighs two pounds and is fully self-contained, so it is easy to grab and go. If you’d like some inspiration for your own media server build, check out the complete project description.
R&D, creativity, and building the next big thing you never knew you wanted are my specialties.