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Home Server

Overview

My Home Server is the central hub for home automation and personal services. Built on reliable hardware and open-source software, it handles everything from website hosting to smart-home integration.

What began as an experiment grew into the infrastructure behind this portfolio, a Home Assistant setup, media streaming, automated backups, and secure remote access to personal data.

Core Features

  • Home Automation Control — Centralized management of lights, temperature, and appliances through Home Assistant.
  • Media Server — Streaming for music, movies, and photos across the local network.
  • Web Hosting — Self-hosted websites including this portfolio and several personal projects.
  • Automated Backups — Scheduled backups of important data with multiple redundancy layers.
  • Remote Access — Secure VPN access to home network resources from anywhere.
  • Energy Monitoring — Real-time power consumption tracking for efficiency and cost optimization.

Technology Stack

  • Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB) — Primary hardware running most services.
  • Home Assistant — Core automation platform for device integration.
  • Docker — Containerization for isolated, manageable services.
  • Nginx — Web server and reverse proxy with SSL termination.
  • Node-RED — Automation workflows and system integration.
  • MariaDB — Database backend for various applications.
  • WireGuard — Lightweight, secure VPN access.

Setup & Configuration

  1. Hardware Selection & Assembly — Choose components based on power, performance, and budget.
  2. OS Installation & Hardening — Install Raspberry Pi OS with security enhancements and scheduled updates.
  3. Docker Implementation — Containerize services for isolation and simpler maintenance.
  4. Network Configuration — Set up segmentation, firewall rules, and VPN access.
  5. Service Deployment — Install Home Assistant, media servers, and web hosting.
  6. Automation Setup — Create backup, monitoring, and notification workflows.

Future Plans

Planned upgrades include machine learning for predictive automation, a dedicated NAS for expanded storage, more sophisticated energy management, and voice control through a custom wake-word detector. I am also exploring clustering options to improve reliability and redundancy for critical services.