If your concern is ensuring a killswitch type vpn setup, I do that but in a different and simple way.
I have a GLinet microrouter configured to join the vpn and active killswitch mode. This is 2 clicks in the menu. I connect it to my network via its wan port.
Everything I want behind the VPN gets connected to the microrouter lan port and job done.
OP listed the apps they want to run and none of that was on their list
A gaming rig is a waste of money because you don’t need a fast gpu on a such a server. You want a boring server box and even better one with built-in “ilo” remote management.
I understand! For most of my career its been the same for me.
The “big” switch I’m currently contemplating at the moment is moving to FreeBSD on my home file server.
I do sometimes consider switching my workstation to OpenBSD when I get nostalgic for the early struggle days of linux. Like when you had to be really careful with hardware selection and what not.
But then I remember I had a lot more free time in those days!
Linux feels so mainstream to me now. Some days I’m temped to switch to OpenBSD or something ;)
Seriously, as someone who has been using linux as their daily driver since 2000, I find it pretry amusing.
I never login with the root account. Not even on the console. You don’t want everything you do running as root unless it is required. Otherwise it is much easier for a little mistake to become a big mess.
What does this have to do with linux? You can run that stuff on FreeBSD and go take out your misplaced frustrations on their forum just as well…
Pro Tip: Never quote ChatGPT. Use it to find the real source of info and then quote that.
Its simple and I can easily put a laptop or phone or whatever behind the microrouter and have confidence its only using the vpn.
When I travel I take a second microrouter with me to connect to the hotel wifi. All my devices are set to use the microrouter wifi so they never touch the hotel network, only the vpn. Easy, private, and avoids any filtering the hotek is doing.