I have an "always on PC" which is an old NUC with an i3 6100U. I used to Run windows 10. its "headless" and i connect to it using DWService (bit like team viewer) and VNC. its on a PIA VPN using the PC App.
i mainly use it for setting up downloads, browsing stuff that i wouldnt want to do from work (jobs etc) moving stuff around the NAS etc. Occasionally downloading large files for work, since we are back in the dark ages internet wise at the new office.
every now and again, i'd log into DWservice and it had fallen off the network. sometimes VNC could reach it, but i dont know how to reach it with VNC from outside the network. When Windows 10 became out of date, i switched to Linux Mint. I'm a proper linux noob, but i managed to get everything setup and working pretty well, following guides etc.
It still falls off the network, in that i cant see it from DWService. cant get VNC to work (apparently it wont work until its logged in anyway, which is useless for my needs) so ive used Nomachine... that worked occasionally, but after some update (that it constantly nags me about) i now need to login... the password i use for mint, which is the only password i think, doesnt work, so its useless now. So when i cant see it, i have to wait until i'm home and force a shut down and reboot it.
So i have a new mini PC, Asus NUC14 essential N150. So i could run windows 11, or i could stick with Linux. I'm reasonably sure i can get Mint setup up again, or try something new. I'll probably run them both side by side for a while.
I now have Unifi network at home, so hopefully i can set up a VLAN with the PIA VPN on there, then just connect this one device to that VLAN with the VPN. If it cant work like that, i'll just continue to use the APP. I dont want the whole network through the VPN as its often a bit slow.
I dont know if its the VPN, the PC, the OS or DWService that is the blame for it "dropping off" i guess i should try and figure it out, but i want to replace the PC anyway.
So what would you do? I just need a light OS with a web browser, transmission, and a few other bits and pieces.
Thanks
i mainly use it for setting up downloads, browsing stuff that i wouldnt want to do from work (jobs etc) moving stuff around the NAS etc. Occasionally downloading large files for work, since we are back in the dark ages internet wise at the new office.
every now and again, i'd log into DWservice and it had fallen off the network. sometimes VNC could reach it, but i dont know how to reach it with VNC from outside the network. When Windows 10 became out of date, i switched to Linux Mint. I'm a proper linux noob, but i managed to get everything setup and working pretty well, following guides etc.
It still falls off the network, in that i cant see it from DWService. cant get VNC to work (apparently it wont work until its logged in anyway, which is useless for my needs) so ive used Nomachine... that worked occasionally, but after some update (that it constantly nags me about) i now need to login... the password i use for mint, which is the only password i think, doesnt work, so its useless now. So when i cant see it, i have to wait until i'm home and force a shut down and reboot it.
So i have a new mini PC, Asus NUC14 essential N150. So i could run windows 11, or i could stick with Linux. I'm reasonably sure i can get Mint setup up again, or try something new. I'll probably run them both side by side for a while.
I now have Unifi network at home, so hopefully i can set up a VLAN with the PIA VPN on there, then just connect this one device to that VLAN with the VPN. If it cant work like that, i'll just continue to use the APP. I dont want the whole network through the VPN as its often a bit slow.
I dont know if its the VPN, the PC, the OS or DWService that is the blame for it "dropping off" i guess i should try and figure it out, but i want to replace the PC anyway.
So what would you do? I just need a light OS with a web browser, transmission, and a few other bits and pieces.
Thanks