Self-hosted guides for the homelab enthusiast

Why the Intel N100 mini PC is the best entry-level homelab server in 2026. Specs, power consumption, Proxmox setup, real-world performance, and what you can actually run on it.

Build a power-efficient homelab server that idles under 15W. Step-by-step guide covering Intel N100/N305 hardware, Proxmox or Docker setup, power tuning, and real consumption numbers.

Why mini PCs have become the dominant homelab server form factor in 2025. Covers Intel N100, N305, AMD options, RAM limits, power draw, and real-world Docker performance.

Compare mini PCs and rack servers for homelab use. Power, noise, price, performance, and expandability analyzed with real-world numbers and recommendations for every budget.

Deploy Pi-hole with Docker Compose for network-wide ad blocking. Step-by-step guide with docker-compose.yml, router configuration, blocklists, and troubleshooting.

Deploy a complete Portainer-managed Docker Compose stack in your homelab. Includes Traefik reverse proxy, monitoring, databases, and production-ready security practices.

Compare Portainer and Cockpit for managing Docker containers and Linux servers. Features, ease of use, resource usage, and which tool fits your homelab workflow.

Set up Prometheus monitoring for your homelab with Docker Compose. Collect metrics from Proxmox, Docker, nodes, and services. Configure alerts and prepare for Grafana dashboards.