All Posts on Techdox

AI Is the Modern-Day Calculator

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:53:02 +1200

AI Is the Modern-Day Calculator

I think it’s safe to say that AI is here to stay.

If you’re still on the fence, or feel like you’re playing catch-up, I was in a similar position until a few months ago. I used AI, but only at the surface level.

My Homelab AI Setup: Useful Access, Limited Permissions

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200

My Homelab AI Setup: Useful Access, Limited Permissions

I used Hermes to help migrate my homelab from Docker onto Kubernetes.

That sounds a bit dramatic, but it’s basically true. I gave Hermes access to the parts of my homelab it needed to work with, including Proxmox and the Docker hosts running my existing services, and told it to review the whole setup and make a migration plan.

KubeSolo: Moving From Docker to Kubernetes in a Homelab

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Kubernetes is one of those things that can feel simple in a course and messy the moment you try to run it at home.

In a homelab, the problem usually is not “can I build a cluster?” It is “does this actually make sense for what I am running?”

I Tried Running an AI Agent, Are They Safe?

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I Tried Running an AI Agent, Are They Safe?

AI agents are everywhere at the moment.

Not just chatbots that answer questions, but tools that can read files, run commands, edit code, browse documentation, and start making decisions on your behalf.

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

The first thing I ever self-hosted was a WordPress blog on a cheap VPS. It broke within a week — something to do with MySQL, a config file I’d edited without understanding, and a backup I hadn’t taken. I fixed it by wiping the whole thing and starting again.

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!