Banter 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.

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?

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.

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.