Web server - PC or NAS(Preferably synology DS213J)?

[Mantad]

Hey guys,
I hope every single one of you are doing well!
An interesting question that hasn't been 100% answered, as much as I've read on google.

I am learning web development and programming languages like c++, python, javascript.
I will be building decent interactive websites and I would like to set up a mailing system with a database, preferably SQL. Should I use my older computer or a NAS drive like synology DS213J(Or any NAS, nothing too expensive).
I've noticed that some NASes give you the ability to do all the above mentioned + VMware.

NAS OR use my old PC.
Benefit of PC is that you can always upgrade it and replace faulty parts, I know. What's your opinion??

 

[R_1]

have you heard of FREENAS? there are older versions if the old pc cannot handle the current.
you already have the equipment right? the main advantage to the NAS is it uses much lower power than a full system.

http://www.freenas.org/

 

[matthew_nicho2]

have you heard of FREENAS? there are older versions if the old pc cannot handle the current.
you already have the equipment right? the main advantage to the NAS is it uses much lower power than a full system.

http://www.freenas.org/

As far as I know Freenas and Nas4Free have webserver services but are not dynamic (SQL and databases) unless you modify it with jail. Can be done but may be more complicated to set up.

 

[Mantad]

It's not that old as you're imagining haha.
The system is not high spec, has an AMD-A8 6600k processor, 8 gigs of RAM and an ITX mobo.
Yes I have heard of it, FREEnas that is.
I'm just wondering whether it's worth it to use the computer with specs mentioned above or a NAS drive like DS213j from synology OR
Qnap ts251
Which option would be more reliable, stable and capable of higher performance for small business use. VMware, SQL databasing, mailing system. I don't know how to set up any of the mentioned above(SQL, VMware, mailing server/system), so I guess you would set mailing server and database on different machines, right? I am learning all of this and want to put it to practical work, including establishing a business developing websites, which I'll for sure need a website that will be hosted on my NAS or PC.
Huh? Too much to consider haha

 

[Mantad]

This topic is going to be hot for sure, because it hasn't been 100% cleared out on what's best for small/medium business where one will not only have a website running of his own device, but also messing around with stuff and learning, developing something new.
Please, please, please share and expand on your opinions, every little counts

 

[COLGeek]

Please don't start a new thread asking the same questions. Just continue here as you already have folks providing input.

 

[targetdan]

I'm a web-developer and we have hosted our internal web-app on my i5-4460 pc with 8gb ram no probs. It didn't even flinch so a database and other programs would have been fine I think.

But, if you are doing it for business purposes then web-hosting is going to be your best option in my opinion, since they are cheap now and will be so much more reliable than your home pc/nas.

They have backups in place in case of power cuts, system failure, hdd failure, etc etc which you would most likely not have unless you are spending loads on hardware.

That being said, if uptime doesn't need to be 100% Then you could use your pc and upgrade it as and when needed.

 

[Mantad]

That's the thing. I don't care too much about security and power consumption. I want to put it in practice and try hosting websites myself on my own storage, set up mail servers, databases and managing via vmware. It's mostly meant for practical work to learn and to host services for my business.
So only options, either NAS or my PC and keep upgrading it.
Thanks for the info target.

 

[targetdan]

I'd go pc then, yours should be fine to start off IMO and you can upgrade if it starts slowing down.

Unless you are expecting massive volumes to these websites which I assume you aren't, then it will be a good place to practice