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nicos-home-lab

Documentation of my progress building my personal home lab.

Current Status

Making some steady progress. Nextcloud is configured properly. Want to properly integrate photo backup and access. Access through secure url works!

Setup

  • 2017 HP Pavilion All-In-One Desktop
    • Intel Core i5
    • 1TB HDD
    • Windows 10
    • Using Ubuntu Server OS
  • 3TB HD HDD
    • USB connected
  • 256 SSD
    • USB connected
  • GL. inet ac1300 Travel Router
  • NetGear GS605 LAN Switch
  • QNAP HDD SATA enclosure (not in use)
    • No drives yet

Current Implementations

Physical Implementations

  • Connected external drives to USB
  • Setup Ubuntu OS flashed through a CD
  • Configured SFTP & SSH

Nextcloud File Storage

Nextcloud goal is regain control over data. It is an open source google drive alternative which allows for selfhosting. It gives the user full control over files without sending data to 3rd parties.

Additionally, it allows for file sync and file sharing between other clients.

I mainly use it for file storage but it includes integrated apps for calendars, contacts, calls, etc.

For my setup, I mounted external drives to my server to allow for me to practice with mounting, expansion, and backups

For more detail & setup, go to Nextcloud Setup

Proxy Managing & Cloudflare

To increase security (HTTPS) and setup access outside of my local network, I purchased a domain from cloudflare.

To allow for connecting my server/devices to my domain, I used cloudflare tunnel. This allowed me to securely expose my local devices to the internet, without public IP, to cloudflare. cloudflare tunnel allowed me to connect my devices to cloudflare that allows me to access my server apps through an https link and not exposing my ip.

This was the route I choose because my main router is unreachable. Additionally, I struggled with traditional port forwarding setup.

For more detail & setup, go to Cloudflare Tunneling Setup

General Achievements

  • Connected/ mounted external storage devices to access through nextcloud
  • Setup up backup drives and back up scripts
  • Reboot script to ensure security and precautions for power outages

Planned Implementations

  1. Jellyfin Media Server
  2. Photo Galleries
    • replacement for google photos
  3. BookLore
    • host and manage books
  4. Seafile
    • Considering switching nextcloud server to seafile for efficency

Sources/ Resources