Self-Hosting

TL;DR Nextcloud running on my homelab gives me full control of my files, no subscription, no tracking, and actual open-source software. The tradeoff: you manage backups, updates, and troubleshooting. After 8 months, the math works out to roughly /month in electricity vs 5/month for 200GB on Google One — and I actually own my data. The Problem With Google Drive Let me be clear: Google Drive works. For most people, it’s the right answer. The sync Just Works, the mobile apps are solid, and collaborative editing via Google Docs is genuinely convenient. ...

TL;DR AdGuard Home turns any homelab server into a network-wide ad and tracker blocker that works across every device on your LAN — no per-device configuration needed. One Docker container, roughly 15W of power, blocks 15-20% of DNS queries before they leave your network. This guide covers the full setup: Docker Compose, blocklists that catch more than the defaults, encrypted DNS configuration, and per-device filtering rules. Why DNS-Level Blocking Most ad blockers work per-device. Browser extension on your laptop, app on your phone, maybe a system-level app. Every new device or browser needs its own setup. And none of this touches the smart TV telemetry, IoT device phoning home, or gaming consoles sending data to unknown servers. ...

TL;DR Summary Cloudflare Tunnel (formerly Argo Tunnel) eliminates the need to open ports on your router or deal with dynamic DNS services. One small daemon runs on your server, creates an outbound connection to Cloudflare’s edge, and your services are accessible via HTTPS — no router configuration needed. I’ve been running it for 8 months across 6 services with zero maintenance. The Problem with Traditional Remote Access Most guides for accessing your homelab from outside your house go like this: set up port forwarding on your router, configure dynamic DNS because your ISP gives you a dynamic IP, cross your fingers that your IP doesn’t change while you’re away, and pray that your router’s firewall is solid enough. ...

The Composes You Actually Need Most Docker compose guides show you the same five services everyone already knows. Here’s the set I actually run — the unsexy but essential services that make a homelab reliable: monitoring, logging, backups, and automation. These are production-ready templates with proper networking, restart policies, healthchecks, and resource limits. No placeholder values, no “TODO: change this.” 1. Watchtower — Auto-Updates Automatically updates your containers when new images are published. I run this on a 24-hour schedule with notifications to my Telegram channel. ...

TL;DR Summary Self-hosting is addictive and can become a time sink. This guide covers the services worth self-hosting (Plex/Jellyfin, AdGuard Home, Nextcloud, SearXNG, Paperless-NGX), which ones to skip (email, VPNs for most people), and how to build a sustainable homelab that enhances your life without consuming all your free time. Start small, automate backups, and only host what you actually use. The Self-Hosting Trap I know homelabbers who spend more time maintaining their infrastructure than using it. Don’t be that person. ...