A homelab is not a competition. You do not need a rack full of servers, a dozen virtual machines or the latest enterprise hardware. You need a problem worth solving, hardware you already have, and a way back when something goes wrong.
My starting point #
My homelab journey started with FreeNAS decades ago. At the time, the idea was simple: keep files on my own hardware instead of relying entirely on someone else’s computer.
In 2018, while transitioning into a new job, I came across Lawrence Systems and Novaspirit on YouTube. Their videos introduced me to a much wider homelab world: Raspberry Pis, containers, virtualisation, networking and the idea that a home server could be both useful and educational.
I have always been someone who keeps technology. I do not always do much with it immediately, but I keep it because it may become useful later. Over the years that has meant accumulating several switches, SFP connections and a 2.5-gigabit switch. The equipment is there, but the current setup is deliberately modest. A pile of hardware is not the same thing as a useful homelab.
The things I tried #
I have experimented with several approaches, including:
- Xen Orchestra
- Proxmox
- Hyper-V
- Windows Server
- Different Linux distributions
- Containers and Docker-based services
- Network storage and dedicated NAS platforms
Trying different platforms was useful, but it also taught me that complexity is easy to add and hard to maintain. A more capable system is not automatically a better system.
These days I usually return to plain Debian or Fedora, rather than heavily customised derivatives. There is nothing wrong with derivatives, but a straightforward base makes it easier to understand what is installed, follow official documentation and recover from problems.
Where a new starter should begin #
1. Start with one real problem #
Choose one thing you genuinely want to improve. These are good first projects:
- Photos and phone backups → Immich
- Films and TV → Jellyfin
- Music → Navidrome
- Audiobooks and podcasts → Audiobookshelf
- Files between your own devices → Syncthing
- Passwords → Vaultwarden or the official Bitwarden self-hosted release
- Encrypted backups → Restic
- Notes and documents → Simplenote (the service I use); Joplin is another open-source alternative, but not one I currently use.
Do not start by installing every service you find interesting. Pick one, use it for a while and learn how it works. The Resources page contains more options and official project links.
2. Use hardware you already own #
An old desktop, mini PC or Raspberry Pi is enough to begin. Start without buying a rack, enterprise switch or server-grade hardware. Upgrade only when you can explain the limitation you are solving.
A modest, quiet and reliable machine is often better than powerful hardware that uses too much electricity or becomes difficult to maintain.
3. Learn the basics before the advanced tools #
The useful foundations are:
- Linux command line basics
- Files, permissions and ownership
- IP addresses and DNS
- SSH
- Storage and filesystems
- Docker Compose
- Backups and restores
- Reading logs
Virtualisation, VLANs, Kubernetes and advanced networking can wait. They are useful tools, but they are not prerequisites for running one good service.
4. Keep the network boring #
You do not need to use every switch, SFP port or high-speed connection immediately. A simple wired network, a sensible DNS name and no unnecessary public exposure are a strong beginning.
Add faster links when they solve a real bottleneck, not simply because the hardware supports them.
5. Plan recovery before adding more services #
Before installing the next application, know:
- Where its data lives
- How it is backed up
- How it is updated
- How it is restored
- What happens if the server dies
A homelab is successful when it is recoverable, not when its dashboard has the most icons.
My KISS rule #
Keep it simple, keep it documented and keep a backup.
The best homelab is the one you understand well enough to repair on a tired Sunday morning. Start small, learn the boring parts and expand only when your existing setup is reliable.