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What would you do with a device like this (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Was given this little wintel box by a friend fairly recently, but I haven't yet even powered it on. I don't have a power cable for it unfortunately but when I do, what do you think I should do with it? What would you do with it?

I think it could potentially be just a basic lightweight desktop for web browsing and such, maybe a little smart tv box or something like that to replace the Chromecast I'm ashamed to admit I use, maybe run some basic self hosted stuff like pihole or home assistant? Could probably be a little emulation machine for retro games but I doubt it would be capable of much more than that. But I'm not sure there's too many ideas! I need suggestions people

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[–] 11 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Because it's low end I'd put :

  • headless Debian pre-configured with WiFi and sshd to then add
  • CopyParty via its single .py file
  • apt install minidlna to serve media files back to add devices on LAN, e.g. VLC on desktop and mobile devices
  • mount a large microSD for data
  • I'd add a WireGuard VPN configuration file and make both accessible outside the LAN but only on my devices

All that is relatively quick if you have done it before (maybe 30min total) and can run 24/7 for years requiring very little power.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)
    • I'd add a WireGuard VPN configuration file and make both accessible outside the LAN but only on my devices

    I don't understand this part. Wouldn't this device be on your home network already, or am I misunderstanding your meaning?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (3 children)

    Indeed but by doing so I can connect from the outside World too, e.g. if I'm at the dentist waiting for an appointment, I just connect to the VPN over my 5G connection, no login required.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    You only need one VPN peering point inside your network. You do not need WG on other internal devices, just routing between intermediary subnet and LAN.

    Am I misunderstanding your scenario?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    I setup WireGuard only last week so maybe I'm the one who misunderstand something : on your LAN assuming you are NOT using your router (or switch, or a networking device) to be a peer of the VPN, don't you need to add each machine as a peer to the VPN? Also doesn't that leave the most granularity so that the (root) user of each machine can chose to be on/off and more, e.g. split tunneling?

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    What you're saying is true, however VPNs connect both hosts and subnets. If you have a VPN server on your subnet, you can easily allow any client that connects to it to have access to your LAN.

    VPNs are simply networking over encrypted tunnels. What you do with that tunnel is up to you.

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