This beginner-friendly guide will teach you how to build your first home server from scratch.

You do not need enterprise hardware or a domain name to build a useful home server. An old desktop or laptop can run services on your local network, such as file storage, media streaming, backups, self-hosted applications and more.

This guide shows how to install Ubuntu Server from a USB drive, enable remote access with SSH, and prepare the system for a web-based home-server dashboard such as CasaOS.

What you need

  • An old PC or laptop to use as the server
  • A second computer to create the installer
  • An empty USB flash drive, preferably 8 GB or larger
  • An Ethernet cable and access to your router
  • A stable power source

Using Ethernet is recommended for a server because it is usually more reliable than Wi-Fi.

Download Ubuntu Server

Download the current Ubuntu Server ISO from the official Ubuntu website. An ISO is a disk-image file containing the operating system installer. Choose an Ubuntu Server LTS release if you want a version designed for longer-term maintenance. Save the ISO somewhere easy to find, such as your Downloads folder.

Create a bootable USB drive

Download and install balenaEtcher, a cross-platform tool for writing operating-system images to USB drives.

  1. Plug the USB drive into your main computer.
  2. Open balenaEtcher.
  3. Select Flash from file and choose the Ubuntu Server ISO.
  4. Select the correct USB drive under Select target.
  5. Choose Flash and wait for the process to complete.
  6. Eject the USB drive safely when Etcher finishes. Warning: Flashing overwrites the selected USB drive. Back up any files on it before continuing.

Before downloading software, check your server’s processor architecture. Most old PCs use x86_64, so download the standard Ubuntu Server ISO unless you know your device uses ARM.

  • x86_64: The standard architecture for most Intel- and AMD-based desktops, laptops, and traditional servers.
  • ARM: A power-efficient architecture commonly found in Raspberry Pi devices, many single-board computers, and some newer laptops.

Boot from the USB installer

Move the future server to its permanent location. Connect it to power and, ideally, to your router with Ethernet. Insert the bootable USB drive and turn on the computer. Many computers boot from USB automatically. If yours does not, open its boot menu during startup and select the USB drive. The key varies by manufacturer; common options include F12, F10, Esc, and Delete. For example, many Lenovo and Dell systems use F12.

Install Ubuntu Server

Once the installer starts, work through the setup screens.

  1. Language and keyboard: Choose the options that match your preferences.
  2. Installation type: Select the default Ubuntu Server installation unless you have a specific need for a minimal or customized installation.
  3. Network configuration: If Ethernet is connected, Ubuntu should detect it automatically. Keep the default settings for a typical home network.
  4. Proxy and mirror: Leave these at their default values unless your network administrator gave you different settings.
  5. Storage configuration: Choose the correct internal drive carefully. Using the entire disk erases its existing partitions and data. Ubuntu supports both a direct disk layout and Logical Volume Manager (LVM) storage.
  6. Profile configuration: Create a username, hostname, and strong password. The hostname identifies the machine on your network; home-server is clearer than a generic name such as laptop.
  7. SSH configuration: Select Install OpenSSH server. This allows secure remote command-line access after installation.
  8. Featured server snaps: Skip these for now. Services can be installed later when you know what the server needs.

Review the storage confirmation carefully, then approve the installation. The installer will copy Ubuntu Server to the internal drive. When it finishes, choose Reboot Now. Remove the USB drive when prompted, then press Enter to complete the reboot.

Find the server’s IP address

Sign in after the system restarts. The login screen may display an IPv4 address, such as

192.168.x.x

Record this address. It identifies the server on your local network and is needed to connect remotely. If the address is not displayed, log in and run

ip a

Look for an inet address under the active Ethernet interface. Ignore 127.0.0.1, which only refers to the server itself.

Connect through SSH

SSH is a set of tools for securely controlling a networked computer remotely. From another computer on the same network, open a terminal and run:

ssh <your-username>@<your-server-IP>

Replace <your-username> with the username created during installation and replace <your-server-IP> with your server’s actual address. The first connection may ask you to confirm the server’s fingerprint. Verify that you are connecting to the correct local device, then type

yes

Enter your server password when prompted.

Update the server

After connecting, update the package list and install available updates

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

When asked to continue, type

Y

Then press Enter. Keeping the operating system updated helps address bugs and security issues.

Install CasaOS

CasaOS provides a browser-based interface for managing a home server and installing supported applications. Its documentation lists Ubuntu and Debian among the supported base systems.

Install it with:

curl -fsSL https://get.casaos.io | sudo bash

Once the installation completes, open a browser on another device and visit

http://<your-server-IP>

For example

http://192.168.0.141

Complete the initial CasaOS setup in the browser, then use its dashboard to manage storage and install the services you want.