Hello folks,

What do folks recommend as good practices to use a laptop as an always on, always plugged-in server? Specifically, how to manage the battery and some of the potential cautions/dangers of keeping it plugged in.

I have a spare Dell workstation laptop that I’d like to use as a Proxmox node. I’ve seen a number of posts where folks will mention that using a spare laptop works well because it has a built in ‘UPS’, but then in the comments there’s caution about the battery being plugged in all the time.

I’m curious what folks do in terms of battery management, assuming I want to keep this as hands-off/low maintenance (but fireproof) as possible.

Thank you all so much, ~M

Update: thank you all so much for the great advice. This is a Dell Workstation and it does have a ‘Primarily AC use’ power setting in the BIOS, as well as custom charge levels available. Appreciate it and I hope this discussion helps other folks looking to do the same!

  • irmadlad@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    3 hours ago

    I had a laptop server back in the day. I took the battery out just because it was one less thing to worry about. YMMV. At the very least, there are ways to cap the charge level on the battery, tho I have no experience doing that. Perhaps others may chime in if that is a route you choose.

    • hendrik@palaver.p3x.deEnglish
      2·
      2 hours ago

      Google and/or the Arch Wiki should have you covered. For my Dell laptop I just clicked on Settings->Battery and set it to “Preserver Battery Health”. Done.