Homelab
Self-hosting, storage, virtualization, monitoring, backups, media servers, and lab designs that build habits you can use in production.
Repairable Smart-Home Device Checklist: Parts, Recovery, and Cloud ExitNew!!
Before the return window closes, verify replaceable service parts, local operation, firmware support, documented reset and re-pairing, backup and recovery, and a workable exit from the vendor's hub or cloud.
Is Your Ethernet Cable Slowing Down Your Network? Test It Before You Replace ItNew!!
Learn how to prove whether an Ethernet cable is limiting speed, why links fall to 100 Mbps, and when Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, or a better installation is the real fix.
Tailscale vs Headscale: What Self-Hosting the Control Plane ChangesNew!!
Headscale moves Tailscale-compatible coordination, identity integration, policy distribution, upgrades, and recovery into your infrastructure. It does not automatically move peer traffic, remove DERP, or eliminate endpoint and application security work.
Stop Overpaying for Home Networking Gear: What Is Actually Worth Buying?New!!
Expensive networking gear is not always wasteful, but most homes overpay when they buy labels instead of solving a measured problem. Here is how to decide what is worth buying.
Plex From DVD and Blu-ray: Storage, Transcoding, and Backup BoundariesNew!!
Plan a Plex workflow for discs you own or are authorized to use: estimate storage, preserve source and metadata decisions, choose direct play or transcoding deliberately, and separate library recovery from duplicating every media file.
Build a Homelab Service Catalog Before You Forget EverythingNew!!
A practical homelab service catalog guide for tracking what runs where, who uses it, how it is backed up, and how to recover it.
Homelab SSO: Authentik vs Authelia vs Pocket IDNew!!
A practical homelab SSO comparison covering Authentik, Authelia, Pocket ID, OIDC, SAML, proxy auth, passkeys, MFA, and recovery planning.
Container Security for Normal HomelabsNew!!
A normal-person Docker security guide for exposed ports, privileged containers, Docker socket risk, secrets, rootless mode, user namespaces, and backups.
Self-Hosted App Lifecycle: Updates, Rollbacks, and Release NotesNew!!
A self-hosted operations guide for updating containers safely, reading release notes, backing up state, automating carefully, and rolling back.
How to Monitor Home Fiber: ONT Signals, Optical Power, and FailoverNew!!
Monitor FTTH from the customer side using approved ONT status, Ethernet and router counters, latency and loss baselines, full-path UPS coverage, and controlled failover tests, then turn the results into useful ISP evidence.