I know what you are thinking: Raspberry Pi can only be used in tinkering, prototyping and personal hobbies. It can’t actually be used in business.
There is no doubt that this computer has a relatively low processing capacity, a vulnerable SD card, a lack of battery backup, and a supported DIY nature, which means it won’t be a professional or viable alternative to a properly configured commercial server that can perform the most critical operations at any time.
But it’s cheap, low-power cost, small enough to fit almost anywhere, and infinitely flexible – this is actually a great way to handle some of the basic tasks of the office.
And, better yet, some people have already completed these projects and are happy to share how they did it.
DNS Server
Each time you enter a website address or click a link in your browser, you need to convert the domain name to a numeric IP address before you can display the content.
Usually this means making a request to a DNS server somewhere on the Internet — but you can speed up browsing through local processing.
You can also assign your own subdomains to access computers in your office locally.
Your own DNS server with Raspberry Pi: How to
Occupancy Sign
Occu-pi is a very simple solution, using magnetic switches and raspberry pie to determine when the bolts are closed and updating the “toilet in use” on the Slack channel – this means that people in the entire office can take a look The computer or mobile device knows if there is a free compartment
Print Server
Networked printers are more convenient.
But replacing all printers can be expensive — especially if you are satisfied with an existing printer.
It might make more sense to set the Raspberry Pi as a print server.
NAS
Turning the hard drive into NAS is one of the earliest practical applications of the Raspberry Pi, and it is still one of the best.
Create a NAS with your Raspberry Pi
VPN Server
When you go out, relying on the public wireless Internet, you can’t control who else is on the network, who is spying on all your traffic. That’s why it’s reassuring to encrypt everything through a VPN connection.
You can subscribe to any number of commercial VPN services, and you can install your own services in the cloud, but run a VPN in the office so you can access the local network from anywhere.
For light use — such as occasional business trips — the Raspberry Pi is a powerful, energy-efficient way to set up a VPN server. (First check to see if your router does not support this feature. Many routers are supported.)
How to run your own OpenVPN server on a Raspberry PI
Wireless Coffee Machine
Ah, delicious: A good coffee is a god-given and a strong pillar of productivity within the company.
So why not turn your office coffee machine into a smart coffee machine that can precisely control temperature and wireless connectivity?