🚀 PocketNode

Turn any old Android phone into a powerful Linux home server

DNS ad blocking • File sharing • Torrents • VPN • Web dashboard
All running 24/7 on a phone that fits in your pocket.

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Features • Services • Quick Start • Architecture • Docs

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💡 What is PocketNode?

PocketNode transforms old Android smartphones (like a Samsung Galaxy S3) into fully functional Linux home servers. Instead of throwing away outdated phones, give them a second life as always-on, silent, ultra-low-power servers that provide real utility to your home network.

📱 → 🖥️ Your old phone becomes your new server.

Why PocketNode?

	Traditional Server	PocketNode
💰 Cost	$100-500+	$0 (reuse old phone)
⚡ Power	50-100W	~2W
🔇 Noise	Fans spinning	Silent
📦 Size	Tower/NUC	Fits in pocket
🌱 Eco	New hardware	♻️ Recycled
🔋 UPS	Needed separately	Built-in battery!

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✨ Features

• 🛡️ Network-wide ad blocking — Block 99,570+ ad/tracker domains for ALL devices
• 📁 File sharing — Access shared folders from Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS
• ⬇️ Torrent downloads — Web-based torrent client with remote access
• 🔐 VPN server — Secure access to your home network from anywhere
• 🖥️ Web dashboard — Beautiful Homer page with all your services
• ⚙️ Server admin — Cockpit web panel for system management
• 🔑 SSH access — Full terminal access over the network
• 🔄 Auto-start — Everything starts automatically on phone boot
• 📱 Phone terminal — Manage directly from the phone's screen

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🧩 Services

Service	Port	Access	What it does
🌐 Homer	8080	http://<IP>:8080	Dashboard with links to everything
⚙️ Cockpit	9090	http://<IP>:9090	Web-based server administration
⬇️ Transmission	9091	http://<IP>:9091	Download torrents via web UI
🔑 SSH	22	ssh android@<IP>	Remote terminal access
🛡️ DNS Blocker	53	Set as router DNS	Blocks ads network-wide
📁 Samba	445	smb://<IP>/shared	File sharing
🔐 WireGuard	51820	WireGuard app	VPN tunnel

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🚀 Quick Start

Requirements

• Any rooted Android phone (tested on Galaxy S3, but works on others)
• Custom ROM recommended (LineageOS, Resurrection Remix, etc.)
• USB cable + computer with ADB installed
• WiFi connection

Installation

# Clone this repo
git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USER/PocketNode.git
cd PocketNode

# Connect phone via USB
adb devices

# Run installation scripts
chmod +x scripts/*.sh
./scripts/01-install-debian.sh
./scripts/02-install-services.sh
./scripts/03-configure-services.sh
./scripts/04-setup-autostart.sh

First Access

# SSH into your PocketNode
ssh android@<PHONE_IP>
# Password: android

# Open the dashboard in your browser
open http://<PHONE_IP>:8080

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🏗️ Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              📱 PocketNode                       │
│           Android + Debian Chroot                │
│                                                  │
│  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │          Debian 11 (Bullseye)              │  │
│  │                                            │  │
│  │  ┌──────────┐  ┌───────────────────────┐  │  │
│  │  │ dnsmasq  │  │    Transmission       │  │  │
│  │  │  :53     │  │    :9091              │  │  │
│  │  └──────────┘  └───────────────────────┘  │  │
│  │  ┌──────────┐  ┌───────────────────────┐  │  │
│  │  │  Samba   │  │     Cockpit           │  │  │
│  │  │  :445    │  │     :9090             │  │  │
│  │  └──────────┘  └───────────────────────┘  │  │
│  │  ┌──────────┐  ┌───────────────────────┐  │  │
│  │  │  sshd    │  │  Homer (lighttpd)     │  │  │
│  │  │  :22     │  │     :8080             │  │  │
│  │  └──────────┘  └───────────────────────┘  │  │
│  │  ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │  │
│  │  │      WireGuard VPN :51820            │ │  │
│  │  └──────────────────────────────────────┘ │  │
│  └────────────────────────────────────────────┘  │
│                                                  │
│  🔄 init.d/99linux → auto-starts everything     │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
              │ WiFi: 192.168.x.x
              ▼
        🏠 Home Network
              │
        ┌─────┴─────┐
        │   Router   │ ← DNS pointed to PocketNode
        └─────┬─────┘
              │
     ┌────────┼────────┐
     │        │        │
    💻       📱      📺
   Mac    iPhone     TV     ← All ads blocked ✅

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📊 Performance

Metric	Value
RAM (all services running)	~300 MB / 1,772 MB
Storage used	~2.1 GB / 12 GB available
Boot → services ready	~60 seconds
DNS response time	~25 ms
Blocked domains	99,570+
Power consumption	~2 Watts
Monthly electricity cost	~$0.05 USD

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📖 Documentation

Doc	Description
01 - Prerequisites	Hardware & software requirements
02 - Install Debian	Chroot setup guide
03 - Install Services	Service installation
04 - DNS Blocker	Network-wide ad blocking
05 - Samba	File sharing setup
06 - Transmission	Torrent client
07 - WireGuard	VPN server
08 - Dashboards	Homer & Cockpit
09 - Auto-start	Boot automation
10 - Network DNS	Router configuration

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🗂️ Project Structure

PocketNode/
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
├── .gitignore
├── scripts/
│   ├── 01-install-debian.sh
│   ├── 02-install-services.sh
│   ├── 03-configure-services.sh
│   └── 04-setup-autostart.sh
├── configs/
│   ├── dns-blocker/
│   │   └── dnsmasq.conf
│   ├── samba/
│   │   └── smb.conf
│   ├── transmission/
│   │   └── settings.json
│   ├── wireguard/
│   │   └── wg0.conf.example
│   ├── homer/
│   │   ├── config.yml
│   │   └── lighttpd.conf
│   └── cockpit/
│       └── cockpit.conf
└── docs/
    ├── 01-prerequisites.md
    └── ...

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🤝 Compatible Devices

Tested and confirmed working:

Device	Android	ROM	Status
Samsung Galaxy S3 (d2spr)	7.1.2	Resurrection Remix	✅ Fully working

Should work on any rooted Android with:

• ARM/ARM64 processor
• 1GB+ RAM
• 4GB+ internal storage
• WiFi connectivity

📋 Tested yours? Open a PR to add it to the list!

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🛣️ Roadmap

• One-command installer script
• Support for ARM64 devices
• Tailscale integration
• Vaultwarden (password manager)
• Uptime Kuma (monitoring)
• Automated backup system
• Web-based initial setup wizard
• Docker support (for newer kernels)

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⚠️ Limitations

• Old kernels (3.x) — Some modern software won't work (Pi-hole FTL v6, WireGuard kernel module)
• WiFi speed — Limited by phone's WiFi chip (~1-10 Mbps on older devices)
• No hardware transcoding — Not suitable for video streaming
• ARM 32-bit — Some software only supports ARM64/x86

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions welcome! See our contributing guide.

1. Fork this repo
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
4. Push to branch (git push origin feature/amazing)
5. Open a Pull Request

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📄 License

MIT License — see LICENSE for details.

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⭐ Star this repo if you think old phones deserve a second life!

Made with ❤️ by recycling an old Galaxy S3 that refused to retire

Report Bug • Request Feature • Discussions