How many Linux machines are in your menagerie?
Posted by DFS_0019287@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 125 comments
I realized that I have an absurdly-large number of Linux machines in my personal fleet... how many do you have? Here's my list:
- Daily driver: A Linux workstation
- Laptop: A Lenovo machine running Linux
- Living room computer
- Raspberry Pi 4: Mail server, asterisk server, etc.
- Pi zero #1: KVM access to #4 via serial console
- Pi zero #2: Bedroom clock (with LED matrix display)
- Pi 3: Living room weather display
- Pi 4b: Security camera
- ASUS Tinkerboard: Monitors my basement UPS
- Pi 4 at my sister's place: Off-site backup
- Pi zero at my sister's place: KVM access to #10 via serial console
- Linux KVM instance: Run's my personal web site and is my MX host
- Linux KVM instance #2: Backup for #12
not-hardly@reddit
More like how many aren't, am I right?
Any-Understanding463@reddit
does android count as linux? laptop runong mint orage pi zero lts runing arbian that turned to dietpi runs pihole unbound dns ntp tailscale sftp
person1873@reddit
I also have a bunch of RPI's floating around that aren't being used right now.
Effective-Evening651@reddit
Three Thinkpad laptops, a cloud VPS server for my VPN, and some media hosting, and two android phones - along with a half dozen VMs that are spread across my two systems.. I'm way down from my peak - before i lost my apartment, i probably had a half dozen functional ThinkPads, a gaming desktop that dual booted, a couple of ThinkCentre mini-PCs hooked up to each of my HDTVs, a couple of Xeon rackmount servers i'd adopted from a former employer, and a small collection of pis.
ZunoJ@reddit
I'd estimate about 40
Educational-War-5107@reddit
i wouldn't call my linux os's an exotic collection of animals, but i love technology.
Trollimpo@reddit
1 Desktop
2 Laptop
3 a tablet PC I use to experiment with touch interfaces
AlveolarThrill@reddit
Two. My workstation (which doubles as a general purpose server on my home network), and my laptop.
I'm a computer nerd and tinkerer, but I don't like having too many devices. I also detest any and all "smart" home appliances, so no embedded Linux in my fridge either. There's a Raspberry Pi in one of my drawers, but that hasn't been touched in about 7 years, microcontrollers are powerful enough for my needs.
aieidotch@reddit
https://github.com/alexmyczko/ruptime is so helpful.
mudslinger-ning@reddit
Reminds me of a classic bash.org quote I once read:
"Hmm, I've lost a machine. It's powered on, responds to ping and all. But I can't figure out where in my apartment it is...."
primalbluewolf@reddit
Surely that's what ARP is for?
OGRickJohnson@reddit
Just two currently.
I do have some Raspberry Pi units that I am not using. Am thinking of getting home assistant up and running on one.
elijuicyjones@reddit
Many, running Ubuntu, Debian (servers), proxmox (sandbox), arch (laptops and desktop), and other distros here and there.
skoove-@reddit
i like nix
UntoldUnfolding@reddit
Almost everything runs Linux. There ain't a Windoze or WacOS anywhere in the house.
Background-Train-104@reddit
Work laptop (for SSH/VNC and meetings) - Ubuntu
Work desktop (for actual work) - Ubuntu
Personal desktop (for side projects) - OpenSUSE
Personal laptop (I distro-hop for testing those side projects on different distros and minimal environments)
NVIDIA Orin Nano Board - Ubuntu because it's the default option
Then there are two debian servers.
Kiwithegaylord@reddit
I only have 1 ssd (used to have 2 but it died) so currently my main machine is my only modern NX box, but I have an iBook G4 that alternates between Debian, OS X, and BSD. Other than those two, I have a lot of computers that could run GNU/Linux but like I said I don’t have enough ssds
DesiOtaku@reddit
Just in my dental practice alone, I have 12 Linux machines. I then have 3 Linux VMs on Google Cloud and then another 4 Linux machines at home.
DFS_0019287@reddit (OP)
Oh interesting! I'd have assumed a professional practice would need Windows because of specialized software needs. My dentist is 100% Windows, unfortunately.
DesiOtaku@reddit
Yeah, I had to write my own EMR / PMS system in order to make Linux work in the dental space.
DFS_0019287@reddit (OP)
Woah, OK, that is hard-core!
Any thoughts of turning it into a product?
DesiOtaku@reddit
Well, it's open source and anybody can download the source code and run it for their own dental practice. I do plan on making a business out of it (just for support contracts, not for the actual software) but right now I only support doctors in the Boston area and will expand later on.
DragonfruitSoft800@reddit
I have four. My Acer laptop that is now in semi-retirement, my old HP desktop that runs an APRS digipeater and Synchterm. I just started getting into BBS. Also have Dell desktop that will eventually be running an RF BBS. Those three are running Kubuntu. I have an old Dell laptop that I installed Arch on it for fun. Haven’t messed around with it much though. My son bought me a MacBook Air 13 with the M4 for Father’s Day. I’ve finally broken away from Windows for good. I may dual boot the Mac. I’m really not that good excited about how the new Mac OS looks and feels. Might as well be staring at my phone. It is pretty though and Reaper and OBS Studio works really well on it.
SoolisRoof@reddit
2
sidusnare@reddit
I'm not sure, I'll have to check my Ansible inventory file
dns_rs@reddit
2 laptops (work and personal), a home server, 2 raspberry pis, and 20+ virtual ones at work.
sequential_doom@reddit
1 desktop, 1 laptop, 3 gaming handhelds.
Organic-Algae-9438@reddit
2 desktops, 2 laptops, 1 fileserver, 2 HTPCs based on raspberry pi’s, one RetroPie based on another raspberry pi, one mini computer as docker host for Nextcloud/Pi-Hole/HomeAssistant.
jacob_ewing@reddit
I feel like a lightweight here with a desktop gaming machine, a laptop, and a Raspberry Pi to to fidget with.
theBlueProgrammer@reddit
My what?
DFS_0019287@reddit (OP)
Menagerie. 🙂
(Most of my computers are named after cats I have known.)
2011Mercury@reddit
Sixteen for a family of six. All Lenovo ThinkStation or ThinkPad except for a system76 Darter Pro and a HP Dev One. All running Debian Trixie except for one EndeavourOS machine. The oldest system is 21 years old and the newest is the Dev One. RAM is 1.5GB to 128GB. Desktops are Gnome for the kids, KDE for the adults, Window Maker on the oldest ThinkPad and sway for my tiny laptop.
undrwater@reddit
How are you using asterisk on the pi?
DFS_0019287@reddit (OP)
I have a SIP VoIP account that I use with Asterisk, and then a SIP analog telephony adapter to connect to my old-school landline phone.
undrwater@reddit
So when you travel, you can use your POTS line to make domestic calls cheaply?
I did this many years ago, but no longer have a POTS line.
DFS_0019287@reddit (OP)
Yes, if the Internet connection is decent. I can run a SIP client on my laptop or my cell phone and make calls that way.
Sf49ers1680@reddit
Three
If you consider Android to be a Linux distro, that adds my Galaxy S25 Ultra into the mix.
hadrabap@reddit
Not so much. I keep it small.
mordnis@reddit
Just my laptop running Ubuntu.
Unusual_Pride_6480@reddit
Right now a server and my laptop, I'm going to buy a raspberry pi, run next cloud and now a mail server after reading this, move from Gmail to proton or something (any suggestions on all of that) so have a backup of my laptop on all 3 with cloud storage on all 3
Any suggestions for a backup system like ios so all the apps are installed and logged in and sessions etc as well as personal files while kept on the pi and server?
theNbomr@reddit
serverhorror@reddit
Thousands.
I do that for a living
DFS_0019287@reddit (OP)
I really meant personal machines, but your answer is good too!
serverhorror@reddit
Only one then :)
iammoney45@reddit
3 but one is Proxmox with 20 Linux VM/LXC inside
budgetboarvessel@reddit
Desktop, laptop, 3 old headless boxes for random stuff, 2 very old (32 bit) laptops not in use.
10leej@reddit
7 computers, 8 raspberri pis, my tv (yes I DIYd the smartTV), my cars head unit and my phone.
Secret_Performer_771@reddit
Lenovo Ideapad laptop I used to use daily; no longer used. Linux Lite.
HP AiO, daily use. Dual boot with Windows 10. Debian.
Random old HP laptop (XP era) Forgot what distro, I don't really use it
DrPiwi@reddit
tomscharbach@reddit
Just five:
jgaa_from_north@reddit
12
No-Satisfaction9594@reddit
Primary Laptop on Endeavour, old 2008ish MacBook pro on MX, Beelink Eq12 on MX for jellyfin, old gaming PC on debian.
presentation-chaude@reddit
My desktop My laptop A mini-pc running opnsense A PC running openmediavault A raspi4 with retropie Wife's desktop Wife's laptop Son's desktop Daughter's dekstop Daughter's laptop
So 8 machines. My son also has a school provided macbook, but that one doesn't count.
Also not counting android phones and tablets.
dali-llama@reddit
For me, it's the first four, and then some various NAS boxes and whatnot.
kalzEOS@reddit
Two PC's, two laptops and a steam deck. One PC is my main workstation running cachy os with kde. Other one is a steam console running bazzite HTPC and connected to my basement tv. One laptop runs bazzite os regular and the other runs endeavour os. The steam deck runs steam os.
oops77542@reddit
1) Media server 2) Media server clone for backup 3) 15" Laptop for learning and experimenting 4) 12" Laptop, daily driver 5) 12" Laptop - wife's daily driver 6) Wife's desktop and media player 7) Zoneminder security camera server 8) Garage/workshop desktop. 9) and 10) Desktops, just playing with and haven't decided to sell yet. 11) 12" Laptop, sitting on a shelf just in case one dies. 13)....18) Laptops/desktops if somebody wants or needs one. 19).... 24) Laptops. These don't really count - sold them at our garage sale last weekend.
All running Kubuntu.
Sometimes have as many as 30 if the price is right and there's a chance to make a profit.
wilt-_@reddit
I revived two old mac's that I got from family with Linux, and have it installed on a Pi 5 and a PC. I am planning on using the mac's and the Pi as servers and so far only have a music server and discord bot set up on one of the mac's. I used to host a website for experimentation, but its down at the moment and haven't had a reason to bring it back up. I tried making a GitLab instance in Docker, and I'm thinking about making a minecraft server. All of this is really just for personal convenience and learning/fun.
Schreq@reddit
At home 3:
At work >100 Servers
ScientistAsHero@reddit
topcat5@reddit
Hmm.
4 machines operating Mythbuntu which make a whole house DVR system which records off the OTA antenna. It's been operating since 2012 though we don't use it as much now.
A laptop running Arch Linux
Two desktops running Arch
One unused machine that was running PFsense which we used as a router for Spectrum Internet. (retired when we switched to the local fiber provider)
So total 7 machines.
wbw42@reddit
PFsense is technically FreeBSD based, but I get why you lobbed it in with the rest.
topcat5@reddit
You know, I had completely forgotten about that. I've been on AT&T Fiber for about 6-7 and that home built system wasn't fast enough for it. (And I would have had to double NATd too).
xXBongSlut420Xx@reddit
so not including embedded devices.
desktop for work and games running arch laptop for laptop things running arch server for various services running debian my firewall is nix, but it’s freebsd
bshea@reddit
3-4 VMs regularly (have about 8 total at moment) - these are my only GUI based installs) mixed distros
2 pi4 raspbian
1 pi3 raspbian
1 bare metal (w/ reg. pc mobo) as server/headless (debian - had been ubuntu)
HYPERNOVA3_@reddit
Right now, only my current laptop, an old Toshiba Satellite running Debían 12.
I plan on moving my gaming desktop to debian as well once Debían 13 goes live and keep it dual boot.
There's also my mother's laptop, running LMDE 6.
Then there's the good ol' trusty, a Pentium powered Acer Extensa running an Ubuntu version from half a decade ago. It is mostly forgotten, but when something goes wrong, there it is, always ready to serve. Thanks to it I was able to install
SweetGale@reddit
diegotbn@reddit
Dishonorable mention: Work laptop (Windows 11, WSL Debian). Work wouldn't let me use Linux on bare metal anymore and made me choose between a Thinkpad with Windows or a MacBook. I do almost the entirety of my work in WSL though. Previously I was on Kubuntu.
ShinyWeegee@reddit
Just two. One desktop and one laptop, both running CachyOS, that I alternate between them every day or so.
gesis@reddit
A lot. Especially considering the number of IoT devices that run Linux. Just for non-SBC/IoT devices:
That's the "PC" side of things. There are also a number of purpose-built SBCs and a M.A.M.E. arcade machine. Probably closer to 20 with those included.
wbw42@reddit
Are the primary laptop and backup laptop for 2 different people, or is it literally just a failsafe?
gesis@reddit
Literally a failsafe. I commute by bike, and laptop damage is a real risk. I actually lost a laptop a couple days ago to a sudden rain storm and failed rain gear. It's repairable, but currently broken.
wbw42@reddit
Yeah, the NAS failsafe made perfect sense to me with no context. But the laptop backup with 3 other laptops is what threw me off.
gesis@reddit
Kid laptop is for my kid. It's in kiosk mode with kid friendly, educational stuff on it.
Travel laptop contains zero personal data and is ephemeral. If it gets stolen from a hotel room, oh well.
Then I have two personal laptops that have the same configuration in case one gets damaged. These are my day-to-day computing device that I use for well, everything.
ProPolice55@reddit
An old laptop for self hosting experiments, a new laptop for gaming and daily use, both running Mint Cinnamon. I have a Mint XFCE VM on the old laptop and 2 Q4OS VMs on the new one. I also have a PostmarketOS phone, though it's not officially supported and pretty rough
Erevos19800@reddit
DatabaseHonest@reddit
__chum__@reddit
Sadly I cannot convince my family to join the linux master race. Yet.
So I just have my stuff.
Main Desktop. (Built Myself)
Other Desktop. (Built myself)
MSI Laptop (Vector 16 HX A14V, 64GB RAM upgraded)
MSI Laptop (Cyborg 15 A12V, 32GB RAM upgraded)
MSI Laptop (GE76 Raider, 32GB RAM upgraded)
MSI Laptop (GF75 Thin, 16GB RAM upgraded)
All of them run Mint 22.1 Xia as of post.
I love Mint even as a more advanced user and will die on that proverbial hill.
Nan0u@reddit
Nas
main server
10 x pi 5
workstation
router
travel nas
LLM server
rire0001@reddit
We have five computers in the house:
1. My wife's Win11 laptop
2. My mom's iMac (inherited)
3. My desktop, main server, and secondary server all on Fedora 41 (probably going to 42 next 3-day weekend)
There's an Octoprint Pi board, and probably some IoT Linux floating around, but I don't count them.
zardvark@reddit
I cleaned house last year, so I'm down to three desktops and four laptops.
mykepagan@reddit
My biggest client has over a quarter million linux VMs.
Ivan_Kulagin@reddit
Laptop, server which is my old PC and my current PC
Honest_Box_6037@reddit
Main desktop pc running fedora KDE (and windows 11 on secondary partition for .net desktop app dev and games)
Budget-ish 2024 Ideapad slim running fedora GNOME
Old/salvaged parts "floor pc" running RHEL - multipurpose "server" for personal media/file storage, backups, gitlab, docker, k3s, accessible via vpn
It's not much but it's comfy - webdev slowly dipping toes into devops stuff
Upset_Perspective_19@reddit
I have Debian on a gaming desktop, arch on repurposed Chromebook and more SBCs than I can count running Debian for various purposes.
Intelligent-Turnup@reddit
3x Thinkpads that I use for myself. (Ubuntu and Fedora mix) 1x Thinkpad for my wife (Ubuntu) 1x Dell that kids use (Ubuntu) 1x main computer (Fedora) 1x desktop my 14 year son uses (Fedora) 2x Dell servers (Alma Linux) 2x rpi as dns servers 1x appliance as firewall 1x rpi as sound machine ... Too many virtual instances to accurately count
So 13 at time of writing not including virtual machines. These are all instances that running daily. I have more rpis, rpi zeros, and server hardware that's currently sitting offline.
0x Windows. (I finally replaced the last one about 2 weeks ago - not counting work computer because that's company owned/controlled)
groenheit@reddit
4 raspberry pi Laptop Pc
The_Casual_Noob@reddit
Well here is my fleet. Just for context remember I live alone, in a 2 bedroom appartment.
1- Main desktop gaming computer, Fedora KDE, and a W10 dual boot I'm not really using
2- HTPC in the living room, Linux Mint (Cinnamon), and W10 on it as dual boot just in case I take it somewhere as a "repair" tool.
3- Chrome OS Flex on an old repurposed desktop from my dad's previous company that they sent to the trash. I use that sometimes to have a separate PC for entertainment on my triple monitor setup while I game on the center display.
4- Home/Game server, Linux Mint. Currently running a Satisfactory dedicated server instance, would be used for any game server needs I have or to run anything of the server kind that's too heavy for a Raspi.
5- Steam Deck
6- Raspberry Pi 4, running Diet Pi, I plan to use as a web server, maybe mail too if I get my own domain
7- Rock64, Raspi like from the RP 3 era, running OpenMediaVault with an old 2.5" SSD taken from a dying laptop. Always nice to have a little NAS when you have multiple PCs
8- Rock64, previously used as an android TV box, now with DietPi, will make it a VPN server at the least, maybe Pi-Hole too. Oh and maybe also a mumble server I guess.
9- Raspi 3B, running Raspbian, completing the 4 SBC cluster, not sure what I'll do with it, probably experiment a little.
10- It's only running windows 10 but there is also my driving games PC, setup in an old case as a sleeper, dedicated to the whole DIY sim rig with the ultrawide monitor.
I almost bought a Raspi 5 recently but I wouldn't know what to do with it that I couldn't already do with what I have at home already, so I kept my money.
uioytre13@reddit
I have 2 desktops and a laptop... that's all the computers I have
demonabis@reddit
Fedora both on my main and my htpc
No-Guarantee-5980@reddit
A couple Pi’s, two mini PC’s, my work desktop, and a laptop.
Fignapz@reddit
Primary Desktop - which is a gaming PC for 80% of its use.
Server - old HP corporate workstation with an 8700 and 64 gigs of RAM. Use it as a for home media, a few game servers with friends, and NAS. Just running Ubuntu server with everything in docker.
Steam Deck
HTPC I just built for couch gaming running Bazzite. The Apple TV was working great for streaming but I have an ultrawide on my desktop so it just got annoying having to get up, switch primary display to the dummy HDMI, restart steam, walk back, pray it opens up in 16:9. So I had old parts and just needed a case. Bought the Fractal North because it works in the living room with the wood finish.
ROG Ally with bazzite but I don’t use that since getting the deck.
“Old” MacBook Pro with arch
miqued@reddit
xagarth@reddit
Zero.
Well, I do have 2 vms up atm, but these are kinda ephemeral.
Keely369@reddit
Daily driver : A Linux workstation
Server: Headless Ubuntu with a hefty ZFS triple mirror
Bedroom surfing / music PC: Acemagician N150 mini
Living room 'movie PC': Beelink Min EQ-14
I've drawn a line there because it's also good to spend some time away from PCs.
04_996_C2@reddit
2 x PVE servers 1 x Daily driver If you consider LXC's >30
zyonkerz@reddit
Personal? Zero. Work…11k. Explains zero at home. 😆
LBH69@reddit
The painters house needs to be painted syndrome.
Wild_Tom@reddit
I have only 4, a old laptop server, a old laptop for travel, a 7 year old desktop that I daily drive on, and a steam deck.
mjp31514@reddit
Desktop and two laptops running debian. NAS and dell server are running freebsd. Router running opnsense.
MyWholeSelf@reddit
Encursed1@reddit
4 total:
Homelab running nix
Laptop running nix
Desktop running nix/windows
Rented VPS running ubuntu
SaintEyegor@reddit
4 at home (VM host, media server, Minecraft server, GP S/W dev system) and a few thousand at work ( mostly RHEL 8).
justarandomguy902@reddit
My PC, my laptop, my Raspberry Pi 3B+ and Pi 5.
moopet@reddit
Currently:
This desktop (EOS) for general purpose (including gaming). WSL (ubuntu) on my work laptop (docker, web, typescript, python, etc. CantrememberwhatOS on a pi zero (spod box)
Last-Assistant-2734@reddit
Around 10 PCs and/or VMs I directly work with. Some hundreds, if you count in the industrial machines I might touch on one level at work.
UbieOne@reddit
Just a few. 2 laptops with Linux. 1 Steam Deck, still very much a Linux.
5c044@reddit
Including embedded devices and android phones/tablets, Chromecast, hell i think even my dishwasher may run linux 5 cameras 2 laptops 1 home assistant server Rock 5B 2 chromecasts 1 e-ink reader android 3 mobiles in household 1 Chromebook 1 android tablet 1 3d printer sbc for klipper 1 dishwasher maybe
Noteworthy that all are ARM based except laptops and Chromebook
Fuffy_Katja@reddit
30 years ago, I had 12. Today, I have 2 that both run MX Linux (T440S and a GMKtec N100 12th gen mini pc)
fellipec@reddit
1) Workstation/Gaming PC 2) Home server 3) ThinkPad 4) Aspire Laptop 5) Aspire Netbook 6) Dell Inspiron from 2008 7) Dell Inspiron from 2014 8) Media centre PC on TV 9) PC on music studio 10) RPi controlling the 3D printer 11) VPS overseas
dry-cheese@reddit
Let's see, i have my gaming rig (i9 14900k and a 7900xtx)
2 rasberry pi 5's with 8gb of ram 1 rasberry pi zero My laptop which i use for both gaming and work, And a little ASUS nuc i mess around with for fun.
So that's 6!
Kurgan_IT@reddit
That's it. Most of these run Debian, the laptops run Mint with Cinnamon.
refinedm5@reddit
Daily driver: Legion Y740
On the go: Zephyrus G14 2023
DNSCrypt: Xstreamer Winbox
HP Envy X360 13
ThinkPad X230
Synology DS218+ if we count appliances
On storage:
Vaio VPCEA36FG
Toshiba Satellite M300
Aside the obvious DS218+ running DSM and Envy running eOS, all are on various version of Ubuntu
qst4@reddit
X220: Nostalgia running OpenSUSE
T14 (AMD): My main machine running Fedora KDE
T470: Tinkering/Surfing running Linux Mint Cinnamon
X280: Tinkering/Surfing/Travel running Fedora KDE, but might install Linux Mint Cinnamon.
Raspberry Pi 4: Server Running Debian with XFCE.
ChocolateDonut36@reddit
MixtureOfAmateurs@reddit
8 soon to be 69. 3 desktops, 3 laptops, a mini PC and a pi 2. Adding another desktop and laptop very soon.
_Arch_Stanton@reddit
2x Desktop. 3x laptops. 1x Pihole
bcoosjr@reddit
I have a multi boot system. Garuda, Opensuse, Mint, Bluesky and Manjaro.
Happy_Phantom@reddit
PS: not Linux, but anyway...
swn999@reddit
RPi z2w Rpi5 Lenovo Thinkcenter 190 Then 2 VM’s on the MacBook Air.
Tempus_Nemini@reddit
1 desktop and 1 laptop as daily driver. Another laptop for periodical use. One desktop (without monitor) as file storage.
Early_Time2586@reddit
Two laptops running Arch. I only use one of them, which is using KDE Plasma. My old laptop has Hyprland on it, but I don’t really use it.
Rich-Engineer2670@reddit
A dell box that handles the day to day tasks because I may trash another machine
An HP server with lots of cores and RAM for experimentation
Another HP server to run VMs
Another hP server to run EVE-NG
A little SFF box to run the DNS
Another little SFF box to run Netbird etc.
jikt@reddit
2 Bazzite (laptop and PC connected to the tv) 1 Debian (for severing Minecraft and media) 2 Raspbian - one for viewing media, another is my webserver (though I have 5 or 6 sbcs that aren't doing anything at the moment)
There's also another laptop with bazzite, but it's just an old backup.
11 or 12. I like computers.
jerdle_reddit@reddit
I only have two active ones (my laptop and my server laptop), I think, but I have a couple of inactive ones (one just doesn't work with the OS I want, and the other has shit, rusted USB ports, so also doesn't work for that OS because the Threads border router is USB-connected).
Mr_Lumbergh@reddit
If you consider a multiboot box as separate machines, I have 5.