Homelab

Choosing the right storage backend for Proxmox VE can make or break your virtualization setup. Whether you’re running a single-node homelab or a multi-node cluster, understanding the differences between ZFS, LVM-Thin, Ceph, and NFS is critical for performance, reliability, and scalability. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down each storage option, explore their strengths and weaknesses, and help you decide which one is best for your specific needs. ...

If you’re running multiple self-hosted services in your homelab, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of juggling bookmarks, memorizing ports, and keeping track of which service runs where. A self-hosted dashboard solves this problem by providing a unified interface to access and monitor all your applications from one place. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore two of the most popular self-hosted dashboard solutions: Homepage and Dashy. Both are excellent choices, but they cater to slightly different needs. We’ll walk through installation, configuration, features, and help you decide which one is right for your homelab. ...

If you’re tired of recipe websites cluttered with ads, popup videos, and life stories before the ingredients, it’s time to take control with Tandoor Recipes. This self-hosted recipe manager lets you import, organize, and share your recipes without the noise. With features like automated meal planning, shopping lists, and cookbook imports, Tandoor transforms your kitchen workflow into something actually enjoyable. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. In this guide, I’ll walk you through setting up Tandoor Recipes on Docker, configuring it properly, and exploring its powerful features. Whether you’re running a mini PC homelab or a full server, this setup takes less than 15 minutes. ...

You don’t need thousands of dollars to start your self-hosting journey. With smart hardware choices and open-source software, you can build a capable homelab for under $200 that handles everything from media streaming to home automation. This guide will show you exactly how to do it. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. Why Build a Budget Homelab? A homelab is your personal playground for learning server management, experimenting with self-hosted services, and taking control of your data. While enterprise-grade servers are impressive, they’re overkill for most home users and cost a fortune in electricity alone. ...

Backups are the foundation of any reliable homelab. Whether you’re running production services or just experimenting, losing your virtual machines and containers to hardware failure, accidental deletion, or ransomware is a nightmare you can avoid with proper Proxmox backup strategies. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. Proxmox VE offers multiple backup solutions, each designed for different use cases. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore every backup method available in Proxmox, from built-in vzdump to the powerful Proxmox Backup Server, and help you design a backup strategy that matches your needs and budget. ...

Choosing the right reverse proxy for your self-hosted services can feel overwhelming. Traefik, Caddy, and nginx Proxy Manager are the three most popular options in 2026—but they take dramatically different approaches to solving the same problem. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare all three reverse proxies across performance, ease of use, features, SSL automation, Docker integration, and real-world use cases. By the end, you’ll know exactly which one fits your homelab. ...

If you’re a developer tired of depending on GitHub, GitLab.com, or Bitbucket for your code repositories, self-hosting your own Git server gives you complete control, privacy, and freedom. Whether you’re managing personal projects, team collaboration, or want to escape vendor lock-in, running your own Git infrastructure is easier than ever. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the three most popular self-hosted Git solutions—Gitea, GitLab, and Forgejo—and show you exactly how to set up each one using Docker. By the end, you’ll know which platform fits your needs and have a production-ready Git server running on your homelab or VPS. ...

Protecting your self-hosted services from brute-force attacks, port scanning, and malicious traffic is essential. For years, Fail2Ban has been the go-to solution for Linux system administrators. But CrowdSec has emerged as a modern alternative with collaborative threat intelligence and Docker-first design. Which one should you choose for your homelab? 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. In this guide, we’ll compare CrowdSec and Fail2Ban across key metrics: installation complexity, configuration flexibility, performance impact, community features, and real-world effectiveness. By the end, you’ll know exactly which intrusion prevention system fits your self-hosted infrastructure. ...

Running your own Network Video Recorder (NVR) software is one of the most practical things you can self-host. You keep your footage private, avoid cloud subscription fees, and get features most commercial systems charge premium prices for — including AI-powered object detection. But which self-hosted NVR is the right fit for your setup? This guide compares the three most popular open-source NVR solutions: Frigate NVR, Shinobi, and ZoneMinder. We’ll cover hardware requirements, ease of setup, AI detection capabilities, and the real trade-offs between them so you can make an informed choice. ...

If you’ve ever wanted to track your internet speeds over time without relying on third-party services that log your data, self-hosting your own speed test tool is the answer. Two of the most popular options in the homelab community are LibreSpeed and Speedtest Tracker — and they serve surprisingly different purposes despite sharing a similar name space. 💡 This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more. In this guide, we’ll break down what each tool does, how to set them up with Docker, and which one makes sense for your homelab. By the end, you’ll know exactly which to deploy — or whether you need both. ...