Practical home-lab library
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Clear, tested tutorials for small and efficient home labs. Browse by technology or use the filters to narrow the library without wading through a wall of tags.
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How to Add a Second Hard Drive to Proxmox VE 9.2 Safely
Add an empty second disk to Proxmox VE 9.2, verify its identity, create Directory storage, test writes and prove the mount survives a reboot.
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Which OS for a Home Server? Proxmox vs Bare Metal vs NAS Distros
A practical comparison of Proxmox, plain Linux, and NAS-focused distros for small, low-power homelabs.
Read guideHow to Install Docker on Ubuntu Server
Install Docker Engine and the Compose plugin from Docker's official Ubuntu repository, verify the service and avoid common firewall and permissions mistakes.
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Jellyfin 12 Upgrade Preparation: Backup, Plugins and Migration Checklist
Prepare a Jellyfin 10.10 or 10.11 server for Jellyfin 12. Check your version, create a restorable backup, audit plugins and plan the first startup safely.
Read guideJellyfin on Ubuntu: Complete Setup, Storage and Troubleshooting Guide
Set up and maintain Jellyfin on Ubuntu Server. Follow practical guides for installation, folder permissions, storage mounts, hardware transcoding, scanning and backups.
Read guideWhat's New in Proxmox VE 9.2 for Home Labs
Understand the Proxmox VE 9.2 baseline: Debian 13.5, kernel 7.0, QEMU 11, LXC 7, ZFS 2.4, HA changes, SDN fabrics and home-lab upgrade priorities.
Read guideHow to Safely Update Jellyfin 10.11.x
Update Jellyfin 10.11 safely on Ubuntu or Docker: check the current version, take an offline backup, review plugins, update one layer and verify playback.
Read guideHow to Safely Update Docker Engine on Ubuntu
Update Docker Engine on Ubuntu without combining application upgrades: inventory packages, back up persistent data, review release notes and verify every container.
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Home Lab Update Routine: Patch Ubuntu, Docker and Proxmox Safely
Use a repeatable home-lab maintenance routine for Ubuntu, Docker, Proxmox and Jellyfin, with backups, staged changes, verification and rollback.
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What Should You Self-Host First? A Safe Starter Stack
Choose a small first self-hosted stack with backups, private remote access, media and file sync—without exposing fragile services or deploying everything at once.
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Best Jellyfin File Format for Direct Play: MP4, MKV, H.264 and HEVC
Choose the best Jellyfin file format for Direct Play. Compare MP4 vs MKV, H.264 vs HEVC, audio and subtitle compatibility, and avoid transcoding.
Read guideJellyfin Direct Play: Formats, Clients and Transcoding Guide
Understand Jellyfin Direct Play, Direct Stream and transcoding. Compare formats, clients, subtitles, audio compatibility, CPU use and hardware acceleration.
Read guideJellyfin Direct Play vs Transcoding: CPU, Quality and Compatibility
Compare Jellyfin Direct Play, Direct Stream and transcoding. See CPU use, quality differences, common triggers and how to check the active playback mode.
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Jellyfin Library Not Showing Files? 8 Checks That Fix It
Fix a Jellyfin library that is empty or missing media. Check mounts, Linux permissions, Docker paths, library folders, naming, scans and logs in the correct order.
Read guideJellyfin Not Scanning New Files? 8 Fixes for Missing Media
Fix Jellyfin when newly added movies or episodes do not appear. Check new-file permissions, mounts, Docker paths, scans, monitoring, naming and logs.
Read guideJellyfin Troubleshooting: Fix Missing Files, Scanning and Playback
Troubleshoot Jellyfin systematically. Fix missing media, scan failures, permissions, storage mounts, transcoding, subtitles, remote access and high CPU use.
Read guideHow to Back Up and Restore Docker Compose Services
Build a recoverable Docker Compose backup covering definitions, secrets, bind mounts, named volumes and databases, then prove it with an isolated restore.
Read guideHow to Check Drive Health with SMART on Ubuntu Server
Install smartmontools, identify the physical disk, read SATA or NVMe health data, run self-tests and recognise evidence that demands an immediate backup.
Read guideDocker Container Cannot Access a Mounted Folder: How to Fix It
Diagnose Docker bind-mount permission errors by checking the real host path, mount state, container UID and GID, access modes and security boundaries.
Read guideHow to Find What Is Using Disk Space on Ubuntu Server
Trace a full Ubuntu filesystem from blocks and inodes to large directories, logs, deleted-open files, Docker data and hidden mount-point contents.
Read guideUbuntu Drive Disappears After Reboot: How to Fix It
Diagnose a disk that is present before reboot but missing afterwards by checking hardware detection, UUID-based fstab, filesystem errors, mount ordering and logs.
Read guideHow to Fix Permission Denied on Ubuntu Server
Diagnose Linux permission errors using user identity, ownership, modes, parent-directory access, groups and ACLs without falling back to chmod 777.
Read guideHow to Give Docker Access to a USB Drive on Ubuntu Server
Mount a USB storage filesystem reliably on the Ubuntu host, pass its path into Docker and solve UID, GID, read-only and reboot-order problems.
Read guideDocker Compose Explained for Beginners
Understand Compose services, images, ports, volumes, networks and environment files, then validate and operate a small self-hosted stack safely.
Read guideDocker Volumes vs Bind Mounts: Which Should You Use?
Compare Docker-managed volumes and host bind mounts for home-server application data, media, portability, permissions, backups and recovery.
Read guideDocker Containers Not Starting After Reboot: How to Fix Them
Diagnose Docker services that stay stopped or fail after an Ubuntu reboot by checking the daemon, restart policies, mounts, dependencies, ports and logs.
Read guideHow to Mount a Drive Automatically with fstab on Ubuntu Server
Identify an existing filesystem by UUID, add a safe fstab entry, test it without rebooting and recover from common boot and mount failures.
Read guideHow to Move Docker Data to Another Drive Safely
Move Docker's data root to another mounted drive with identity checks, a complete stop, a reversible copy, daemon configuration and reboot verification.
Read guideHow to Set a Static IP on Ubuntu Server with Netplan
Configure a stable Ubuntu Server address with Netplan, verify interface, subnet, gateway and DNS values, and avoid locking yourself out of SSH.
Read guideHow to Share a Folder with Samba on Ubuntu Server
Create an authenticated Samba share for a trusted home network, align Linux permissions, validate configuration and limit firewall exposure.
Read guideHow to Update Docker Containers Safely
Update Docker Compose services with release checks, version pinning, verified backups, controlled pulls, health checks and a practical rollback plan.
Read guideHow to Build a Proxmox Test Lab on One Mini PC
Design a small Proxmox lab on one mini PC with separate guests, safe resource limits, internal networking, backups and practical test projects.
Read guideHow to Back Up a Proxmox VM or LXC Container
Create a Proxmox VM or LXC backup, choose a backup mode and destination, verify the archive, and prepare for a real restore test.
Read guideHow to Access Proxmox Remotely with Tailscale
Reach the Proxmox web interface securely through Tailscale without forwarding port 8006, with direct-host and subnet-router options plus recovery checks.
Read guideHow to Build a Docker Server Inside Proxmox
Create an Ubuntu Server VM in Proxmox, install Docker Engine and Compose safely, organise application data and verify backup and reboot recovery.
Read guideHow to Create an Ubuntu LXC Container in Proxmox
Download an Ubuntu container template, create an unprivileged LXC in Proxmox, configure storage and networking, then verify updates and reboot recovery.
Read guideHow to Create an Ubuntu Virtual Machine in Proxmox
Create an Ubuntu Server VM in Proxmox, choose sensible CPU, memory, disk and network settings, install the guest agent and verify reboot recovery.
Read guideHow to Give a Proxmox VM a Static IP
Give a Proxmox VM a reliable address using a DHCP reservation or Ubuntu Netplan, while avoiding duplicate IPs, wrong gateways and remote lockouts.
Read guideHow Proxmox VM Networking Works
Learn how a Proxmox virtual NIC, vmbr0, DHCP, gateways and DNS work together, with a simple path for checking each networking layer.
Read guideHow to Upload an ISO Image to Proxmox
Download, verify and upload an operating-system ISO to the correct Proxmox storage, then diagnose missing upload buttons and failed transfers.
Read guideJellyfin in a VM vs LXC vs Bare Metal
Compare Jellyfin on bare-metal Linux, a Proxmox virtual machine and a Proxmox LXC container across performance, isolation, storage and GPU access.
Read guideHow to Mount an Existing Linux Drive in Proxmox
Mount an existing ext4 or XFS drive in Proxmox without formatting it, use a stable UUID, add Directory storage, and verify the mount after reboot.
Read guideHow to Move a Proxmox VM to Another Storage Drive
Move a Proxmox VM disk to different storage safely, check compatibility and capacity, verify the guest, and remove the source only after validation.
Read guideHow to Pass an Intel GPU Through to Jellyfin in Proxmox
Plan Intel iGPU PCI passthrough from Proxmox to a Jellyfin VM, verify IOMMU and QSV or VA-API, and retain a safe recovery path.
Read guideProxmox Directory Storage vs LVM-Thin
Compare Proxmox Directory storage and LVM-thin for VM disks, containers, ISO files, backups, snapshots, monitoring and recovery.
Read guideProxmox Firewall Basics for a Home Server
Understand Proxmox firewall levels, plan safe allow rules, protect the management interface and avoid locking yourself out of a home server.
Read guideProxmox Linux Bridge Explained for Beginners
Understand what vmbr0 does, how a physical network adapter connects Proxmox guests to your home network, and how to inspect bridge settings safely.
Read guideProxmox First Setup: Updates, Repositories and Basic Security
Configure a new Proxmox VE host safely: check repositories, install updates, review access, enable two-factor authentication and verify the host after reboot.
Read guideProxmox Storage Explained: local, local-lvm and Directory Storage
Understand what local, local-lvm and Directory storage mean in Proxmox, what each can hold, and how to check where your files and virtual disks really live.
Read guideProxmox Disk Full: Find What Is Using the Space
Diagnose a full Proxmox filesystem or LVM-thin pool, find large backups, ISOs, logs, snapshots and guest disks, then reclaim space without deleting the wrong data.
Read guideProxmox VM Has No Internet: Troubleshooting Guide
Diagnose a Proxmox VM with no internet by checking the virtual NIC, vmbr0, DHCP, IP address, gateway, DNS and firewall in the correct order.
Read guideProxmox VM vs LXC: Which Should You Use?
Compare Proxmox virtual machines and LXC containers by isolation, compatibility, resources, hardware access, Docker support, backups and maintenance.
Read guideHow to Restore a Proxmox Backup
Restore a Proxmox VM or LXC backup safely, avoid ID and network conflicts, verify the recovered guest, and document a repeatable recovery test.
Read guideRun Docker in a Proxmox VM or LXC?
Compare Docker in a Proxmox virtual machine and LXC container, including security, nesting, backups, hardware access and the best default for beginners.
Read guideHow to Run Home Assistant in Proxmox
Install Home Assistant OS as a Proxmox virtual machine using the official KVM image, with network, USB, backup and recovery planning.
Read guideHow to Run Jellyfin in Proxmox
Plan and deploy Jellyfin in a Proxmox Ubuntu VM, including media storage, Docker, networking, backups and hardware-transcoding decisions.
Read guideHow to Run Pi-hole in a Proxmox LXC Container
Plan and install Pi-hole in an unprivileged Proxmox LXC container with a stable address, safe DNS migration, verification and rollback steps.
Read guideWhere Should Proxmox Backups Be Stored?
Choose a safer Proxmox backup destination by comparing internal disks, USB storage, NAS shares, another server, Proxmox Backup Server and offsite copies.
Read guideHow to Install Proxmox VE: Complete Beginner Guide
Prepare a Proxmox host safely, verify the ISO, choose the correct disk, configure networking, complete the installer, and record the checks needed after first boot.
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What Is Proxmox VE? A Beginner's Guide for Home Servers
Learn what Proxmox VE does, how virtual machines and LXC containers differ, what hardware it needs, and whether it is the right choice for your home server.
Read guideJellyfin Docker Permissions: Fix Media Folder Access and UID/GID Errors
Fix Jellyfin Docker permission denied errors. Check bind mounts, container paths, UID and GID values, read-only media access, active mounts, and file visibility step by step.
Read guideJellyfin on Ubuntu: Low-Power Setup, Media Folders and Reboot Checks
Build a reliable low-power Jellyfin server on Ubuntu. Install Jellyfin, mount storage, fix media access, favour Direct Play, measure power, and verify the server after reboot.
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Best Cheap Jellyfin Client for Direct Play
Choose a low-cost Jellyfin client for reliable Direct Play. Compare smart-TV apps, streaming devices, mini PCs, browsers, codec support, subtitles, networking, and 4K requirements.
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How to Check Why Jellyfin Is Transcoding
Find the exact reason Jellyfin is transcoding. Check the dashboard, playback information, codecs, subtitles, audio, bitrate limits, logs, and hardware acceleration step by step.
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Jellyfin Direct Stream vs Direct Play: What Is the Difference?
Understand Jellyfin Direct Stream vs Direct Play, when remuxing happens, how server load changes, how to verify the playback mode, and whether Direct Stream needs fixing.
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Jellyfin Docker Volume Paths Explained: Host Paths vs Container Paths
Understand Jellyfin Docker bind mounts, host paths, container paths, read-only media mounts, Compose mappings, docker inspect output, and why media folders appear empty.
Read guideGive Jellyfin Access to Media Folders on Ubuntu
Fix Jellyfin permission denied errors on Ubuntu. Test the service user, find blocked parent folders, apply safe ACLs, verify inheritance, and check mounted-drive options.
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Backups That Don’t Lie: 3-2-1 for Home Servers
A simple home server backup strategy built around 3-2-1, automatic copies, offsite protection, and tested restores.
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Jellyfin Cannot Access an External USB Drive on Ubuntu
Fix Jellyfin access to USB media drives on Ubuntu. Check mount paths, filesystem type, permissions, fstab options, and reboot behaviour step by step.
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Jellyfin Media Disappears After Reboot: Fix Missing Mounts
Fix Jellyfin libraries that disappear after reboot. Check mount points, UUID entries, fstab, service timing, permissions, and empty media folders.
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Jellyfin Remote Access with Tailscale on Ubuntu
Access Jellyfin remotely with Tailscale on Ubuntu without port forwarding, DDNS, or a public reverse proxy. Includes setup, MagicDNS, testing, and fixes.
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Jellyfin Subtitles Causing Transcoding: How to Stop Burn-In
Fix Jellyfin subtitle burn-in and unnecessary transcoding. Learn which subtitle formats Direct Play, why PGS causes problems, and how to test client support.
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Best Mini PC Specs for Jellyfin: What Actually Matters
Choose practical mini PC specs for a Jellyfin home server, including CPU, Intel Quick Sync, RAM, storage, network, power use, and when you need hardware transcoding.
Read guideJellyfin Hardware Transcoding on Ubuntu: Intel Quick Sync Setup
Set up Jellyfin hardware transcoding on Ubuntu with Intel Quick Sync, VAAPI, render permissions, and simple checks for low-power mini PCs.
Read guideJellyfin on a Mini PC: Build a Quiet Low-Power Media Server
Build a quiet Jellyfin media server on a mini PC with sensible hardware, storage, direct play, backups, and low-power home lab defaults.
Read guideJellyfin Remote Access Safely: Tailscale, Reverse Proxy, or VPN?
Compare safe Jellyfin remote access options, including Tailscale, VPNs, reverse proxies, HTTPS, and why port forwarding should not be the default.
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Proxmox Snapshots vs Backups: What Beginners Get Wrong
Understand the difference between Proxmox snapshots and backups, when to use each one, and why snapshots are not a recovery plan on their own.
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How to Measure Homelab Power Usage Properly
Measure your home server power usage, compare smart plugs and plug-in meters, and turn watts into realistic monthly and yearly costs.
Read guideBudget Mini PC Home Lab: Picking a Tiny Box That Can Actually Homelab
How to choose a used or budget mini PC for a small efficient home lab, Jellyfin, Docker, Proxmox, backups, and low-power home server use.
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Safe Experiments: Snapshots and Test Environments for Your Homelab
Use snapshots, test VMs, and simple clones so you can tinker without breaking your working homelab.
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Proxmox for Normal Humans: One-Node Starter Setup
A clean one-node Proxmox setup for small homelabs: simple layout, backups, test VMs, and low-power defaults.
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Quiet Storage: Add Disks Without Turning Your Home Into a Datacentre
Add storage to a home server quietly with better drive placement, airflow, vibration control, sensible enclosures, and realistic power choices.
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