Transforming a Smartphone into a Home Server
In a fascinating project, an individual successfully transformed an old Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone, purchased from eBay, into a mini server. The phone, though somewhat worn out, was chosen due to its hardware compatibility with Alpine-based postmarketOS.
The core of the project involved running NixOS on the phone, a feat achieved using a tool called Nix-on-Droid. This app allows the deployment of a NixOS system alongside Android without the need for root access. It sets up the Nix package manager and a minimal NixOS system on the phone, providing a shell and environment where Nix packages can be run and the system managed declaratively.
For a more native Linux experience, some users opt for installing Linux distributions built for smartphones such as postmarketOS. This approach requires unlocking the bootloader and flashing a Linux image, a process that is more complex and device-specific.
The individual in question decided to go with postmarketOS, forgoing the option of running Docker-on-Android via Termux and rooting the device. This choice was made to have a native Linux environment, despite encountering Java issues when attempting to run a Minecraft Server.
The server created is not designed for streaming large amounts of data at high speeds, but it serves as a reminder that while phones might not be as hackable as desired, they are still far from being completely locked down.
The diode drop does not dissipate much power in this project. Instead, a diode was used to bring the 5V supply down to a believable battery voltage. The power dissipation is 1 watt at idle and 6 watts during a stress test, with the battery replaced by power from an old USB charger.
The project demonstrates that homelabbing is not necessarily a hobby for the wealthy. Flagship phones a decade ago, with multiple cores and gigabytes of RAM, can still be suitable for certain uses even today. The individual even went on to make a video about creating the smallest, cheapest server possible, using an Android phone.
However, the main challenge for the individual in the project was setting up the firewall. Despite these hurdles, the transformation of the Xiaomi Mi A1 into a mini server using NixOS and postmarketOS is a testament to the versatility of old smartphones and the ingenuity of tech enthusiasts.
[1] Nix-on-Droid: https://github.com/Nix-on-Droid/Nix-on-Droid [2] postmarketOS: https://postmarketos.org/ [3] Home Assistant: https://www.home-assistant.io/
- Although the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone was somewhat worn out, its hardware compatibility with Alpine-based postmarketOS made it ideal for transforming into a mini server.
- Using Nix-on-Droid, the individual deployed a NixOS system alongside Android on the smartphone, enabling a shell and environment where Nix packages could be run and the system managed declaratively.
- Preferring a native Linux environment, the individual chose to install postmarketOS on the mini server, forgoing the option of running Docker-on-Android via Termux and rooting the device.
- Despite encountering Java issues when attempting to run a Minecraft Server, the mini server created using NixOS and postmarketOS on the Xiaomi Mi A1 serves as a reminder that smartphones, even slightly outdated ones, can still be repurposed for certain projects in technology, home-improvement, and even home-and-garden contexts, such as home automation with systems like Home Assistant.
