166
Home server on old android phones? (lemmy.nz)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by tradicije@lemmy.zip to c/selfhosted@lemmy.world
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Hey guys, since I got into hosting my own servers, any electronic device I see I wonder - can it become a server?

This is probably not a crazy and new idea with android phones, but I had to share it with you. If you don’t know, there’s this thing called postmarket OS, full linux experience on an android phone.

Of course, not all phones are supported, but a phone like Galaxy Note 9 is a great candidate - it supports LAN over usb, postmarket OS fully supports it (the Exinos version) and setting up a phone as a selfhosted server has it’s real perks. Pis got really expensive, not to mention they don’t have a built-in UPS (phones have batteries), they use slow SD cards, while phones have faster UFS memory, phones draw way less power.

What do you guys think? I will for sure get a used Galaxy Note 9 and explore this idea, and if all goes well, I might even buy more of them and create a cluster.

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[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 9 points 1 day ago

Newer phones have mandated removable batteries, wonder if they run without them being installed

[-] 4k93n2@lemmy.zip 2 points 20 hours ago

"bypass charging" is becoming a bit more popular now. you see it on some android gaming tablets where it bypasses the battery once a cable is plugged in, which makes sense considering how quickly the battery would run down on those. i think i saw the recent google pixel devices having this feature as well so many it will just be a thing on all phones eventually

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 1 points 19 hours ago

Yeah been using it on my phone, keeping it plugged in wherever possible has definitely extended the battery life

[-] Asetru@feddit.org 25 points 1 day ago

They don't.

[-] herrvogel@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

Most mobile devices have their power management modules configured to prevent booting unless they receive an all good signal from a connected battery. It is possible to take that signal, but not trivial.

[-] horus_son_of_isis@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I think there is a way to fool it by soldering a jumper on the battery contacts. Probably varies from phone-to-phone.

this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2026
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