Blog
Articles, guides, tutorials and comparisons — everything we publish about home servers and self-hosting.
ZFS for Home Servers: A Practical Primer
Understand pools, vdevs, snapshots and when ZFS is worth the RAM overhead.
How to Set Up WireGuard VPN
Self-host WireGuard so you can reach your homelab securely from anywhere.
How to Install Uptime Kuma
Monitor homelab services and get alerts when something goes down.
How to Configure Proxmox Backups
Schedule vzdump backups and store them on NAS or PBS.
How to Install Portainer
Get a web UI for managing Docker containers and stacks in minutes.
How to Install Nginx Proxy Manager
Publish internal services with free TLS certificates and a friendly UI.
How to Install Nextcloud with Docker
Deploy a private cloud for files, calendars and contacts using Docker Compose.
How to Install Immich Photo Backup
Replace Google Photos with self-hosted Immich and mobile auto-upload.
How to Install Home Assistant
Run Home Assistant Container on your server for local smart home automation.
How to Install Fail2ban on Ubuntu
Block brute-force SSH attempts automatically.
How to Set Up Caddy as a Reverse Proxy
Automatic HTTPS with minimal config for homelab services.
Secure Remote Access to Your Home Server
Compare VPN, reverse proxy, and Tailscale patterns without exposing insecure ports.
Proxmox Homelab Setup Guide
Install Proxmox VE, create VMs and LXC containers, and plan storage for a flexible homelab.
Home Server Backup Strategy That Actually Works
Plan backups with the 3-2-1 rule, test restores, and pick tools like Restic or Borg for your homelab.
Docker Compose Best Practices for Home Servers
Structure stacks, volumes, networks and updates so your Compose homelab stays maintainable.
What Is a Home Server? A Plain-English Introduction
A beginner-friendly explanation of what a home server is, what you can do with one, and how to decide if you should build one.
Home Assistant vs openHAB
The two leading open-source home automation platforms compared for homelab users.
Tailscale vs WireGuard
Managed mesh VPN vs self-hosted WireGuard — ease vs control for remote homelab access.
Ubuntu Server vs Debian
The two most popular Linux bases for homelabs compared: release cadence, packages and support.
Unraid vs TrueNAS
Flexible parity array vs ZFS powerhouse — which NAS OS matches your homelab?
Nextcloud vs ownCloud
Compare the two private-cloud forks: features, apps, licensing and which fits your homelab.
The Complete Home Server Beginner's Guide
Go from zero to a running home server: choose hardware, pick an operating system, deploy your first apps, and keep everything secure and backed up.
Best Home Server Hardware in 2026
How to choose the CPU, RAM, storage and power for an efficient, reliable home server — with recommendations for every budget.
How to Install Docker on Ubuntu
A step-by-step tutorial to install Docker Engine and Docker Compose on Ubuntu Server, then run your first container.
The Home Server Security Checklist
A practical checklist to secure your home server: SSH hardening, firewall, updates, backups and safe remote access.
How to Build Your First NAS
A step-by-step guide to planning and building a reliable DIY NAS with TrueNAS or OpenMediaVault.
How to Set Up Pi-hole for Network-Wide Ad Blocking
Install Pi-hole with Docker to block ads and trackers for every device on your home network.
Docker Basics for Self-Hosting
Learn images, containers, volumes and Docker Compose so you can deploy self-hosted applications with confidence.
Self-Hosting Starter Guide: Replace the Cloud
Discover which cloud services you can replace with self-hosted alternatives, and how to get started.
How to Set Up a Jellyfin Media Server
Install Jellyfin with Docker and stream your movies, TV and music to every device for free.
RAID Explained for Home Servers
Understand RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10, what they protect against, and why RAID is not a backup.
Home Server Networking Guide
Reverse proxies, DNS, VLANs and secure remote access — give your services clean, reachable names the right way.
How to Reduce Your Home Server's Power Consumption
Practical tips to lower your home server's electricity use without sacrificing reliability or performance.
Plex vs Jellyfin
Plex vs Jellyfin compared: features, hardware transcoding, privacy, cost and which media server is right for you.
Docker vs Podman
Docker vs Podman: architecture, security, rootless mode, Compose support and which container engine to use at home.
TrueNAS vs OpenMediaVault
TrueNAS vs OpenMediaVault: ZFS, hardware requirements, ease of use and which NAS OS fits your build.
Proxmox vs VMware
Proxmox VE vs VMware ESXi for the homelab: cost, licensing, features, containers and which hypervisor to choose.
Synology vs DIY NAS
Synology vs building your own NAS: cost, performance, software, flexibility and which route suits you.