If you like being in control of your data, like tinkering with new/emerging tech or industry standard tech, want to break free from Google/Apple/Meta/etc, or if you want to have a hobby similar to working on your car without getting your hands dirty and physically destroying your body, homelabbing may be for you. You can really do whatever you want with it. Make an android app repo, create a DNS server, or NTP time sync server, you can host your own videos with PeerTube, have your own private email server, host a Mastodon or Lemmy instance, or a Bluesky personal data server, you can host your own local LLM or have a Google Photos-like AI photo library with Immich. You can use Frigate to get AI powered security cameras. Theoretically, you could even make your homelab your main PC and just carry around a lapdock for your phone to remote into it. Theres really no limit to what you can do other than your willingness to put in the time and effort, and deal with frustrating scenarios when they come up. I’d rate it 9/10 on the worth it scale, just wish some things could be more streamlined.
Ok great! I guess I didn’t know the definition was so broad, I’m definitely already toying with Plex, and I had plans for setting up a RAID and a backup schedule so I can safely run immich. A matrix server was on my list too.
Of course! And, if you can deal with the faults people find in it, I recommend Jellyfin over Plex. Its your homelab, not plex’s. You shouldnt have to pay to use your own hardware. :P
If you like being in control of your data, like tinkering with new/emerging tech or industry standard tech, want to break free from Google/Apple/Meta/etc, or if you want to have a hobby similar to working on your car without getting your hands dirty and physically destroying your body, homelabbing may be for you. You can really do whatever you want with it. Make an android app repo, create a DNS server, or NTP time sync server, you can host your own videos with PeerTube, have your own private email server, host a Mastodon or Lemmy instance, or a Bluesky personal data server, you can host your own local LLM or have a Google Photos-like AI photo library with Immich. You can use Frigate to get AI powered security cameras. Theoretically, you could even make your homelab your main PC and just carry around a lapdock for your phone to remote into it. Theres really no limit to what you can do other than your willingness to put in the time and effort, and deal with frustrating scenarios when they come up. I’d rate it 9/10 on the worth it scale, just wish some things could be more streamlined.
Ok great! I guess I didn’t know the definition was so broad, I’m definitely already toying with Plex, and I had plans for setting up a RAID and a backup schedule so I can safely run immich. A matrix server was on my list too.
Thanks for the other ideas!
Of course! And, if you can deal with the faults people find in it, I recommend Jellyfin over Plex. Its your homelab, not plex’s. You shouldnt have to pay to use your own hardware. :P
Yeah I’ve looked into jellyfin, it just isn’t as convenient yet.
If that improves, or if Plex gets nuked, I’ll make the switch 🤷♂️
I prefer open source where I can 👍