Host applications
Run your own services, such as photo storage, media servers, and monitoring tools.
HOMELAB / SELF-HOSTED / LEARNING
My Homelab:
Proxmox, Raspberry Pi, and home networking.
A small, always-on environment where I run useful services, experiment with infrastructure, and learn by troubleshooting the real thing.
START HERE
What's a Homelab?
A homelab is a small setup of computers, servers, and networking equipment that you build at home to experiment with technology.
Think of it as your own mini data center. Instead of just reading about cloud computing, networking, and servers, you get to build and manage them yourself.
I started mine to get more hands-on experience, experiment with new technologies, and host applications I actually use.
Here's what mine looks like and what I've built with it.
WHY BUILD ONE?
What can you do with a homelab?
A practical place to learn by making, testing, and fixing.
Learn virtualization
Run multiple virtual machines and containers on one physical computer.
Practice networking
Set up and troubleshoot networks, DNS, remote access, and connectivity.
Experiment & learn
Try new technologies, break things, troubleshoot problems, and learn how to fix them.
THE PHYSICAL SETUP
Take a look at my homelab
My setup started with a few pieces of used hardware and has grown into a small home network where I run servers, host applications, and experiment with new technologies.
THE BUILDING BLOCKS
My hardware
Each piece has a simple job. Together they make a small environment for compute, storage, and connectivity.
Lenovo Tiny
My main Proxmox server, used to run containers and self-hosted applications.
6-core Intel i5 · 16 GB RAM · 256 GB SSDRaspberry Pi
A small computer that runs several always-on services and automation projects.
128 GB microSD · always-on servicesNetwork switches
Connect my servers and other wired devices together so they can communicate.
Managed and unmanaged switchesRouter & access points
Provide connectivity for my home network and the devices that use it.
Netgear Nighthawk · mesh access pointsMY NETWORK
A simple view of the architecture
The diagram shows the verified high-level path from the internet to the router, switch, lab nodes, and connected devices. My home network is consolidated on 192.168.1.0/24.
ALWAYS-ON WORKLOADS
What I run in my homelab
These services turn the hardware into something I use every day.
Proxmox
Virtual machines and containers on the Lenovo Tiny server.
Virtualization
View screenshot ↗Immich
Self-hosted photo and video management. I migrated about 255 GB of personal media into the Proxmox environment.
Storage · migrationJellyfin
A personal media server running in the lab, giving me hands-on practice with storage, Linux, and service networking.
Media · LinuxUptime Kuma
Monitors service availability and sends outage and recovery notifications through Discord.
Monitoring
View alert ↗Pi-hole
Network-level DNS filtering used selectively for devices. I have experimented with DNS and DHCP settings.
DNS filteringPortainer
A web interface I use to inspect and manage Docker workloads in the lab.
ContainersTailscale
Secure remote connectivity into parts of the homelab without exposing each service publicly.
Remote accessMorning Motivation Bot
Python and cron on the Raspberry Pi send a quote, an Immich video, and daily goals to Discord each morning.
Automation · Python
View message ↗FEATURED HOMELAB PROJECTS
Small projects, useful lessons.
The lab is where I turn ideas into services I can use and troubleshoot.
STORAGE
Immich photo infrastructure
A 255 GB media migration into self-hosted storage, with lessons in persistent volumes, Linux, and backup planning.
Read the project notes →AUTOMATIONMorning Motivation Bot
An always-on Raspberry Pi script that turns a saved media library into a useful daily Discord check-in.
See how it works →RELIABILITYMonitoring with Discord alerts
Uptime Kuma checks services and makes outages visible quickly through notifications.
Explore monitoring →THE TAKEAWAYS
What I've learned from building it
- Linux administration
- Networking and DNS
- Virtualization
- Docker and containers
- Monitoring and troubleshooting
- Storage and data migration
- Automation
KEEP EXPLORING
Follow the build as it grows.
I'll add detailed service notes, screenshots, and network information as I document the setup.