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!

  • adarza@piefed.caEnglish
    5·
    4 hours ago

    i run several mass-market consumer model laptops with the lid closed. as long as the vents aren’t obstructed, not a problem here. mine are all lower-wattage soc with integrated gpu, though; the most demanding one that’s on 24/7 is still only ~ 15w cpu at 100% load, and it never runs at that; it rarely even throttles up from the 800mhz it idles at. i stand them on end so the vents are clear, and use some lego to enforce spacing between 'em.