Blog
Shorter notes on tradeoffs, gear, and strategy. 42 posts.
Common Homelab Networking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learn the most common homelab networking mistakes—flat networks, poor segmentation, weak firewalls—a
Network Security Best Practices for Self-Hosting on a VPS
Essential security hardening techniques for self-hosted services on VPS: UFW, SSH keys, fail2ban, an
Firewall Configuration and Port Forwarding Best Practices for Homelabs
Master firewall security and port forwarding for homelabs. Learn UFW rules, NAT, UPnP risks, and saf
Zero-Trust Networking for Homelabs: Network Isolation and Access Control
Implement zero-trust networking in your homelab with network isolation, microsegmentation, and granu
Private DNS with Pi-hole and Unbound: DNS Security for Self-Hosted Networks
Build a private DNS server using Pi-hole and Unbound. Block ads, control DNS resolution, and secure
Self-Hosted vs Cloud AI: Privacy Benefits of Running Ollama Locally
Discover why self-hosted Ollama offers superior privacy over cloud AI. Keep your data local, avoid v
From Synology to VPS: Migrating Your Homelab to the Cloud
Step-by-step guide to migrating your Synology NAS workloads to a VPS. Learn backup strategies, Docke
Container Orchestration Beyond Docker: When to Consider Kubernetes for Self-Hosting
Learn when Kubernetes makes sense for self-hosting. Compare K3s, Minikube, and Docker Compose for ho
Scaling Your Homelab: When to Migrate from Docker Compose to Kubernetes
Learn when your homelab outgrows Docker Compose and how to migrate to Kubernetes. Real thresholds, g
Zero-Trust Security Architecture for Your Home Server Infrastructure
Build a zero-trust security model for your homelab. Learn identity verification, device trust, least
The Future of Edge Computing: Running Ollama and AI Workloads on Consumer Hardware
Edge AI is here. Learn how to run Ollama and LLMs on consumer hardware, from old laptops to Raspberr
Self-Hosted SaaS Alternatives: Which Applications Are Worth Running Locally
Compare self-hosted alternatives to SaaS: Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, Jellyfin, Immich. Learn which apps
Why Docker is Essential for Modern Homelab Infrastructure
Learn why Docker is indispensable for homelab infrastructure. Container isolation, easy deployment,
Running AI Models Locally with Ollama: Hardware Requirements and Optimization Tips
Complete guide to running AI models locally with Ollama. Learn hardware requirements, GPU optimizati
VPS Security Hardening: Essential Steps to Protect Your Self-Hosted Infrastructure
Master VPS security hardening with UFW, fail2ban, SSH keys, and kernel tuning. Practical steps to lo
Zero Trust Network Architecture for Homelab Security
Learn to implement zero trust architecture in your homelab. Verify every access request, segment net
Building a Resilient Homelab Infrastructure with Load Balancing and Failover
Learn how to design a resilient homelab with load balancing, failover strategies, and redundancy. Re
Ollama vs OpenAI API: Cost-Benefit Analysis for Self-Hosted AI
Compare Ollama self-hosted LLMs vs OpenAI API pricing, performance, and privacy. Learn when local AI
Docker Security Best Practices: Protecting Your Homelab from Container Vulnerabilities
Learn essential Docker security best practices for homelabs: image scanning, network policies, secre
Self-Hosted AI Models: Running Ollama for Privacy-First Machine Learning at Home
Run private AI models at home with Ollama. Complete guide to deploying LLMs locally, hardware requir
Reverse Proxy vs. VPN: Choosing the Right Access Method for Self-Hosted Services
Compare reverse proxies and VPNs for self-hosted services. Learn when to use Caddy, Nginx, or Tailsc
Resource Optimization: Running Ollama and Docker Services on Limited VPS Resources
Learn how to optimize Ollama and Docker on budget VPS. Memory management, model quantization, swap t
Testing Orchestrator
A test article
Network Segmentation Strategies for Homelab Security
Practical network segmentation strategies for homelab security. Learn VLANs, firewall rules, and con
Multi-Factor Authentication for Self-Hosted Applications: MFA vs TOTP vs U2F
Complete guide to implementing MFA, TOTP, and U2F authentication on self-hosted apps. Real examples
Why I Switched from Nginx to Caddy for My Homelab
Why I switched from Nginx to Caddy for my homelab. Complete guide to SSL, subdomains, and dynamic DN
Ollama vs Cloud AI APIs: Performance and Privacy Trade-offs
Compare Ollama local LLMs vs cloud AI APIs. Real benchmarks, privacy analysis, hardware costs, and w
How to Reduce Costs by Self-Hosting Common SaaS Applications
Self-host Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, Gitea, and more instead of paying SaaS subscriptions. Save thousan
Reverse Proxy Showdown: Nginx vs Traefik vs Caddy for Homelab Applications
Compare Nginx, Traefik, and Caddy reverse proxies for self-hosted homelabs. Real configs, performanc
Zero-Trust Networking in Your Homelab: Microsegmentation Strategies
Learn how to implement zero-trust networking and microsegmentation in your homelab using VLANs, nfta
Why Self-Hosters Are Moving Away from Cloud Storage: Cost Analysis
Cloud storage costs add up fast. See real pricing breakdowns showing why self-hosted storage with bu
The Hidden Costs of Self-Hosting: What Nobody Tells You
Self-hosting looks cheap until it doesn't. We break down the real costs: electricity, hardware failu
Docker vs Bare Metal: Performance and Resource Efficiency for Homelabs
Compare Docker containers vs bare metal for homelab performance, resource usage, and efficiency. Rea
The Economics of Self-Hosting: When Does DIY Beat Cloud Subscriptions?
Analyze real costs of self-hosting vs cloud SaaS. Break-even points, hidden expenses, and when DIY i
Choosing the Right VPS Provider for Self-Hosting: Specifications and Cost Comparison
Compare top VPS providers for self-hosting: Hetzner, RackNerd, Contabo, OVH. Real specs, pricing, an
VPS vs Dedicated Servers: Understanding the Trade-offs for Homelab Hosting
Compare VPS vs dedicated servers for self-hosting. Learn the cost, performance, and scalability trad
Ollama vs. Traditional Cloud AI: Cost Analysis for Home Automation
Compare Ollama self-hosted LLMs vs cloud AI APIs. Real cost breakdown, latency impact, and ROI for h
Zero-Trust Security in Self-Hosting: Implementing Proper Access Controls
Learn zero-trust security principles for self-hosting: verify every request, segment networks, enfor
Monitoring Your Homelab: Prometheus, Grafana, and Alertmanager Setup Guide
Complete guide to setting up Prometheus, Grafana, and Alertmanager for homelab monitoring. Real Dock
Ollama vs Cloud APIs: Cost Analysis for Self-Hosted AI
Detailed cost breakdown: Ollama self-hosted LLMs vs OpenAI, Claude, Gemini APIs. Real numbers on har
Why Docker Alone Isn't Enough: Planning Your Self-Hosted Stack
Docker is powerful, but self-hosting requires more: reverse proxies, backups, monitoring, networking
Comparing Caddy vs Nginx vs Traefik for Self-Hosted Reverse Proxies
Deep dive comparison of Caddy, Nginx, and Traefik reverse proxies for self-hosting. Learn pros, cons