All Posts on Techdox

I Rebuilt My Homelab Network with OPNsense, Pi-hole, WireGuard, and NPM

Thu, 28 May 2026 20:27:32 +0000

I Rebuilt My Homelab Network with OPNsense, Pi-hole, WireGuard, and NPM

I’ve been running a homelab for a while now, but after a recent rebuild, I finally have a network setup I’m genuinely happy with.

Things Kubernetes Forced Me to Learn This Week

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:37:20 +0000

In my last post, I talked about slowing down and really learning Kubernetes rather than just following labs and copy-pasting manifests. Since then, I’ve put that mindset to the test in my own homelab… and Kubernetes immediately reminded me who’s in charge.

Question Everything - Road to CKA

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:58:37 +0000

The last few days I have been diving deep into learning Kubernetes for the CKA exam, at the moment I am doing the Kubernetes Fundamentals LFS258 course and I am making sure to go through it slow and really question why things are the way they are.

The Road to CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator)

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:50:00 +0000

Kubernetes. The word alone can make you jump for joy or sprint for the hills. But like everything in IT, it’s something we need to learn and understand so we can make it less intimidating for others and actually do it right ourselves.

Sandboxing Your Curiosity: Exploring New Services Without Breaking Your Lab

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:20:39 +0000

It’s easy to dive deep into the rabbit hole of self-hosting services—trust me, I’ve been falling into this pit almost weekly since starting my YouTube channel over two years ago. But today, I want to talk about finding balance. If you have a service that’s working well, maybe it’s better to leave it alone instead of replacing it with the shiny new tool you just stumbled upon on a quiet Sunday.

Why Linux For Selfhosting?

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 08:41:53 +0000

When to Transition from Tinkering to Serious Self-Hosting

Self-hosting often begins with a bit of experimentation on whatever device you have at hand, usually your daily PC running Windows or macOS. Since launching my YouTube channel, I’ve noticed that many people encounter issues when trying to self-host on their main desktop. While there’s nothing wrong with learning and experimenting on your primary machine, when it comes to hosting dedicated services, it’s time to consider setting up a dedicated machine with Linux.

Break Things But Start Small

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 10:22:22 +0000

I’m a massive advocate for just diving in and breaking things when you start learning something new in the tech world. However, it’s crucial to set achievable goals for yourself.

Why Selfhost?

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:01:04 +0000

Self-hosting is pursued for a myriad of reasons, ranging from the desire to control one’s data and avoiding reliance on large corporations, to it being a hobby or a means of acquiring new skills. Personally, my venture into self-hosting encompasses most of the reasons mentioned, with a primary focus on learning. It’s astonishing how deploying even a single service, such as a WordPress blog, can expand your knowledge. When you self-host WordPress, you’re not just learning about WordPress; you delve into everything around it. This includes setting up the server (often Linux, introducing a steep learning curve for novices), understanding Docker and containers if choosing that route for deployment, and learning about network configuration, domain names, and DNS to make your site public. Each project introduces a wealth of learning opportunities, and the journey doesn’t end with deployment. When inevitable issues arise, troubleshooting becomes yet another skill to hone.

Why You Need To Learn Linux

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 08:10:16 +0000

If you’ve spent time playing around with computers and servers, you’ve likely heard of Linux. It’s an essential skill, especially if you work in IT, enjoy self-hosting, or engage in various tech-related hobbies. In this blog post, I’ll dive into why Linux is so important and share some effective ways to learn it.

Why You Need to Selfhost a Website

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 20:00:00 +0000

If you work in tech, or even if it’s a hobby for you, you’ll understand that it’s an ever-changing field with an endless amount to learn, regardless of your specialization. When you’re trying to acquire knowledge in this dynamic space, it can be challenging to retain what you’ve learned or even gauge whether you’re truly absorbing new information. So, how can you confirm your learning and solidify your understanding?

Umbrel: A Selfhosted Dashboard

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:50:19 +0000

Overview

Self-hosting can be intimidating, especially for newcomers to concepts like Docker, Linux, Networking, and storage. Many users who want to enter this space can feel overwhelmed by these services. This is where self-hosted dashboards come in – though I’m not sure if that’s their official name, it’s what I call them.

Embracing Proxmox: Virtualization Adventures in Self-Hosting

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:28:34 +0000

Recently, I made the decision to upgrade from hosting my services on a collection of single-board computers, such as my Raspberry Pis, to a dedicated server. Initially, I began by installing Debian and using it as I would with any other server I’ve had. However, after some discussions, it became clear that Proxmox was the way to go. This approach allows me to set up a dedicated server for my services, but in a virtualised environment. With Proxmox, I can run multiple virtual machines, each serving specific purposes, like a dedicated machine for my NFS shares or virtual machines for testing, including a Windows VM and various Linux distributions. It’s also an excellent platform for me to learn more about Proxmox itself.

Docker Volume Backup and Restore Script

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:02:03 +0000

In this guide, we’ll walk through a Python script that allows you to backup and restore Docker containers remotely using SSH. This script is especially useful if you need to safeguard your containers and their data. We’ll break this guide into two sections: Backup and Restore. [GitHub - Techdox/docker_backup: Easy backup solution of Docker VolumesEasy backup solution of Docker Volumes. Contribute to Techdox/docker_backup development by creating an account on GitHub.

My New Home Server - HP EliteDesk 800 SFF

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:45:53 +0000

Since I launched my YouTube channel and Blog about 2 years ago (my blog has seen its fair share of creations and destructions over that time), all my content has revolved around self-hosting. To be honest, I initially ventured into the cloud space, but over time, I discovered my true calling in the self-hosting realm.

The Importance of Not Dismissing Docker Swarm: Ensuring Your Application Can Truly Scale

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:30:00 +0000

Since running my YouTube channel and being part of the self-hosting community, I have seen a question come up quite a bit. Now, the question is very valid, but I don’t completely agree with the typical answer.

Selfhosting and Containers

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 08:56:22 +0000

You know how some things just go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly or Netflix and chill? Well, in the tech world, there’s a pair that’s making waves: self-hosting and containers!

Just Break Stuff

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 05:30:14 +0000

Do you find yourself wanting to learn something new but have no idea where to start? I encounter this situation at least once a week, and with each experience, I discover effective ways to begin. The easiest approach I’ve found is surprisingly simple: just get started and embrace the process of trial and error.

Setting up Wireguard

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 08:50:51 +0000

When you self-host, access becomes crucial. If you’re anything like me, you probably have several services hosted, and a portion of them are accessible over the web. For instance, I have this website, running on a Raspberry Pi within my home network, which I make public and secure using Cloudflare Tunnels.

Securely Backup Docker Volumes: A Step-by-Step Guide (Nextcloud Example)

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 22:21:33 +0000

In containerized applications, Docker volumes play a critical role in persisting data. As such, backing up these volumes is crucial for ensuring data safety and facilitating recovery. This guide will walk you through the process of securely backing up Docker volumes using Nextcloud as an example. By following these step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to create backups of Nextcloud’s Docker volumes, including both the data and configuration directories. Let’s dive in and safeguard your valuable data today!

Docker and the Power of Continuous Learning

Wed, 31 May 2023 21:45:32 +0000

Have you ever found yourself using Docker without really understanding the commands and instructions? I certainly have. After using Docker for a while, I realised that I was blindly following instructions without truly grasping the underlying concepts. That’s when I decided to delve deeper into Docker and expand my knowledge beyond the surface level.