If you’ve got a desktop, and using sata drives, you could use a SATA Power switch panel. Basically on off switches for drives so you can turn off the Linux drive when booting windows.

Zerotier. They have their own protocol, and there’s a free tier that lets you connect up to ten machines to make a network.

Also possible to selfhost, although I haven’t done it.

Why not get an older desktop and fill it with drives?

Best not to read any then, if it might be bad.

I’ve seriously gone through manuals in languages foreign to me and still learnt something from it.

My partner doesn’t and will only use the basic features of tech. I read the manual, and I’m suddenly a wizard because I got two Bluetooth speakers to pair with each other and get stereo from them.

I use Zerotier, free tier, fairly easy to set up.

Zerotier. I found it easy to set up and use. Free tier gives you one network and ten hosts, I think.

Ok, first one I got I had to laugh. “Start a family tree”

Firstly, it’s marked as an outdoor activity. Secondly, it’s a hobby that can take decades, and not very interesting for kids.

Pulled 8 out of an old laptop, and bought 8 for about 30€.

Building to this week. A few months ago, I was given a broken nas. I took it, thinking I’ve at least got 16TB of storage if it won’t work. Fixed it. Saw the software includes docker, and then saw it has just 2GB ram and before I installed anything it would complain about low memory. Got 16GB, and installed it last weekend.

Spent the week installing and setting up Immich, navidrome, and integrating my other server running arrs.

Have a look at Zerotier. I have some devices running it and it works a treat. Basically, add devices to your network and it gives them addresses that you can access as if it was on your home network. Your usual 192.168.. still work, but also you can choose a bunch like 172.25.. that you can only access when running Zerotier.

I use it to access jellyfin from my phone or laptop or to SSH into my server.

That’s the reason I no longer have a pihole…

Introducing “Plex pass plus”! With no advertisements!

I set up, many years ago, a RPI1 with USB cameras attached. Running the software “Motion”. I put Zerotier on it and made a little web page that shows the cameras. I could have the page show any USB cameras on my network, but I think the RPI1 is too low powered for more than two.

Motion will record, or only record when motion is detected and there’s a whole lot of options.

Mine is still running almost ten years later, with only a small upgrade to the cameras.

I use Zerotier. I have a rpi sharing my Linux isos through a commercial VPN. The RPI has Zerotier as well as my other devices, so I can connect to it from anywhere as if it was on my home network.