I transformed an old IBM Thinkpad T43 into a minimal Debian server affectionately named "junkyard" to serve as a remote access point and backup solution. The setup involved configuring SSH, firewall settings, ZeroTier network, and automated backups using rsync.
I started by installing Debian on the IBM Thinkpad T43, aiming for a minimal setup to optimize performance. Stripping down unnecessary components helped keep the system lightweight. Additionally I setup TLP which significantly reduced the CPU load when idle.
To enable remote access, I configured SSH on junkyard. Additionally, firewall settings were adjusted to ensure the necessary ports were open for SSH connections.
Since direct access to junkyard was limited by the Eduroam network, I turned to ZeroTier. By setting up a ZeroTier network and connecting junkyard and my personal laptop, I enabled remote access. Initially, access was restricted to devices on the same network.
To overcome the limitation of accessing junkyard from different networks, I followed guidance from the ZeroTier documentation. This involved setting up routing between the ZeroTier and physical networks. With this configuration, I could access junkyard from my laptop on various networks, such as my network back home (unfortunatley excluding the Eduroam network at my University as it restricts SSH connections).
I integrated my roommate's external SSD into the setup by connecting it to junkyard. After partitioning the SSD, I created a user account for my roommate and added his laptop to the ZeroTier network. This enabled my roommate to access his user account remotely, stored on his SSD.
Currently serving as a backup for personal files with an automated rsync script I wrote.
An additional use case in the works is a family photo web gallery hosted locally where access is restriced to devices on the network