Technology @lemmy.ml ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ @lemmy.ml 3 wk. ago

Install Docker natively on Android Phone and use it as a Home Server

crackoverflow.com Install Docker natively on Android Phone and use it as a Home Server

Use a mobile phone as your home server. Example with oneplus 6t

Blogging @programming.dev a Kendrick fan @lemmy.ml 3 wk. ago

Install Docker natively on Android Phone with PostMarketOS use as a home server

crackoverflow.com /docs/system_administration/containerization/install-docker-natively-on-android-phone-and-use-it-as-a-home-server/

36 comments

Shit side with half the article used by ads no thank you.
- Get a pi hole. I see no ads.
  
  Use this article to set up an old phone as a pihoke, so you can then see this article with no ads.
- It's amazing to see that there are still people lacking basic technical knowledge to use ad blockers, even in the year 2024.
  
  And you generate traffic for them, thanks. You could just directly link to the install docs on PostmarketOS, not for a shitty third party site: https://postmarketos.org/install/
The guide mentions that the phone doesn't have a wired connection, but couldn't you just plug in an external USB ethernet adapter. Would be curious if anybody has tried this.

In general, I really find that this is an underappreciated use for old phones. There's an advantage over using something like RPI since you have a touchscreen built in, making it much easier to troubleshoot without having to plug in a monitor and a keyboard. Meanwhile, the battery can act as a built in UPS. Given how abundant old phones are, seems like it would be cool to make an Android distro specifically designed for this use case. Especially if you could plug in a USB hub for stuff like external storage. This could be a home server, music player, etc.
- Generally speaking I find USB hubs with ports on them work pretty well with android as they're just relying on the Linux kernel drivers for the USB support.
  
  That's what I expected, gonna have to play around with an old phone I've got lying around.
- I have successfully plugged my android into an Ethernet-usbc adapter, yes. A special Ethernet icon actually pops up in my icon bar when it's using that connection.
  
  oh nice!
- At first I thought you were insane but I'm slowly coming around to the idea.
  
  Too bad the screen breaking is usually why mine get replaced
  
  There are just so many of them floating around now, and it feels like such a waste not to use them for anything.
- The main suggestion I would have in regards to using the battery as a UPS:
  
  If you want the battery to last a long time, you need to figure out how long it takes for it to charge and discharge, and set up an outlet timer (either a manual one or a zigbee operated one) so that the outlet the phone is plugged into turns on just long enough for the battery to charge, and then turns off just long enough for it to discharge, with the aim to keep it in the 30% to 80% charged range.
  
  Otherwise you're just always charging the battery and significantly reducing it's life and ability to be a UPS.
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Century-Indoor-24-Hour-Mechanical-Outlet/dp/B01LPSGBZS
  
  I just use these, I have a few old phones set up as a surveillance system. I've never tried an external ethernet dongle because unless you search for a special connector cable, you can't charge the phone and have it plugged into ethernet at the same time.
  
  If you're selfhosting stuff, you easily host Home Assistant, install the app on the phone, and use the battery sensor from the app to turn on and off a smart plug.
  
  Oh yeah good point with the battery cycling.
Requires PostmarketOS which only has less than 30 phones it's available for, many of which are very old (Samsung Galaxy S III??? Where would you even find one of these anymore?) and out of the list of less-than-thirty at least five of them don't offer full support, only partial.

The newest Pixel phone you can use is a Pixel 3a.

Yeah I think I'll pass on something that requires PostmarketOS.
- I think they are intentionally targeting old devices so that they remain useful.
  
  I think commenter is not mad at postmarketOS itself, but the article making it look like you can 1) use docker on Android (at least thats what Android Smartphone infers) and 2) that you can use it with devices such as the pretty new oneplus 6t
- Yes, title is very misleading. For the curious here is the list of currently supported phones: https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices#Phones
  
  You could write a similar article: How to install docker on your microwave oven: Step one, install a linux distro on your microwave...
  
  Nonetheless PMOS is genial, I installed it on my Kobo ebook reader.
  
  For sure, this isn't against PostmarketOS. PMOS is fine. It's rather if I'm trying to set up Docker on a phone, I'd rather find a way that's... less limiting on what hardware can be used.
- Goodness I actually have a pixel 3a kicking around.
  
  Now if only I could find a use for my galaxy s8 besides glorified webcam.
Why?
- prevent e-waste
  or maybe as a first step into self-hosting for someone who has no access to more suitable hardware
- at the very least it’s probably about as good as a pi, but for free… and has a built-in UPS and backup internet connection… could be actually very helpful for reporting system status through power outages etc - perhaps even use the camera as a remote view of the systems

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