Docker

question: “What are the minimum specs for 24/7 Docker hosting?” answer: “2GB RAM minimum for a basic setup with 5-10 containers. 4-8GB is comfortable.” question: “How do I update Docker containers without downtime?” answer: “Watchtower automates updates. For manual control: pull new image, docker stop, docker rm, docker run with same arguments.” question: “Can I run Docker on a Raspberry Pi?” answer: “Yes. Most popular containers have ARM64 images. Performance is limited but fine for DNS filters and lightweight services.” question: “How do you handle container crashes?” answer: “Docker restart policies handle most failures (–restart unless-stopped). Check logs with docker logs for persistent issues.” TL;DR These five containers run non-stop on my homelab: AdGuard Home (DNS-level ad blocking), Nginx Proxy Manager (reverse proxy + free SSL), Uptime Kuma (real uptime monitoring), Portainer (container management), and Cloudflare Tunnel (secure external access without punching holes in my firewall). Together they cost about 15W idle and have saved me countless hours of manual work. ...

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. ...

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. ...