TheSelfHostedLife
The Self-Hosted Life

Homelab Reality Check: The Hardware Squeeze Is Real
Recent decisions from major hardware vendors are starting to hit homelabbers and self-hosters at the foundation layer, not the hype layer.
What’s changing:
• Samsung: De-emphasizing consumer SSD production to prioritize AI and datacenter demand, reducing access to affordable, high-quality SSDs for DIY builds
• Crucial (Micron): Stepping back from DDR5 memory for consumers, shrinking a critical supply path for home builders and small operators
• NVIDIA: Latest flagship GPUs are launching at dramatically higher prices, in some cases effectively doubling compared to prior generations, putting serious local compute out of reach
Why this matters:
This is no longer an early-adopter tax. It’s a structural shift in where hardware investment and capacity are going.
Impact on homelabs and self-hosting:
• Storage: Reliable SSDs for ZFS, hypervisors, and app hosts are getting harder to source affordably
• Memory: DDR5 availability and pricing are becoming real bottlenecks, forcing compromises or stalled upgrades
• Compute: GPU economics are broken for experimentation, making local AI and accelerated workloads increasingly inaccessible
What to do next:
• Embrace used enterprise gear: Last-gen platforms and refurbished parts still offer excellent value
• Re-evaluate memory strategy: DDR4 and ECC aren’t legacy - they’re becoming strategic
• Design for flexibility: Smarter storage tiers, virtualization, and orchestration matter more than chasing peak specs
We built homelabs to maintain sovereignty over our software and data. Now we need to think just as seriously about sovereignty over our hardware supply.
Question: What hardware bottleneck is hurting you most right now — storage, memory, GPUs, or something else? I would love to hear your thoughts on this situation and where we are going? I don't think it gets better this year.
#homelab #selfhosted #infrastructure #hardware #proxmox #nostr

2026-01-08 14:49:29 UTC

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Both VM and LXC options are fine. I think I just followed a guide that suggested VM route. From what I remember: VM was easier to back up, more isolation, something with the iptables being easier to edit.

2025-12-15 19:44:08 UTC

The homelab is starting to take shape. What should I add next? This is just what I have running on my Proxmox box.
#homelab #selfhost
https://blossom.primal.net/fe74cc0c41449676a9132cca9f487d2ec77c5e0b8c5e2e4ce6f0a5fc8944c9ea.png

2025-12-15 16:38:10 UTC

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I just looked at a Samsung SATA SSD drive I bought at the end of 2023; it's doubled since. It will double again in the next 18 months with whatever supply is left. Glad I got one for my PS5 already. Do they dare stop making use 3.5 drives next?

2025-12-15 16:33:00 UTC

A few weeks ago Micron announced it’s exiting the Crucial consumer business to focus on AI. Yesterday, a Samsung leak suggested they may end production of budget SATA SSDs for the same reason.
It’s hard not to see a pattern. If consumer hardware keeps getting sidelined, homelabbers and self-hosters lose affordable ways to own their data and run their own systems.
Feels like we’re being nudged toward the cloud by economics rather than choice. Maybe it’s time to treat hard drives like a scarce resource.
Are we overreacting, or is consumer-owned hardware being quietly phased out?
#privacy #homelab #selfhost #selfhosted #asknostr

2025-12-07 02:27:47 UTC

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CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet) Gen 7

2025-12-07 02:22:25 UTC

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People often dismiss privacy because they think their lives are too ordinary to matter. Convenience becomes the default, and convenience is always engineered. Many say, “I have nothing to hide,” assuming that makes the trade-off harmless. But the harm isn’t immediate: it’s downstream. When all that data accumulates in the hands of a few, control follows. Privacy isn’t about secrecy; it’s about sovereignty. It’s the decision not to outsource your autonomy just because the alternative feels easier in the moment.

2025-12-07 00:47:31 UTC

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A huge wave of central-bank/ government intervention to keep the system from imploding

2025-12-06 21:01:45 UTC

Raspberry Pi raising prices because RAM costs are going crazy this year. And with Crucial bowing out of the consumer market, things might get worse before they get better.
#selfhost #homelab
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/1gb-raspberry-pi-5-now-available-at-45-and-memory-driven-price-rises/

2025-12-06 18:03:17 UTC

It’s cold out, so I’m going to setup and configure Syncthing (on Proxmox) to sync my Obsidian notes from my desktop pc and iPhone.
Syncthing is an open source, peer-to-peer sync platform designed to replace proprietary cloud solutions. It puts you in complete control of your data: its storage location, its path across the network, and who can access it.
What do you guys use to sync your files?
#selfhost #homelab

2025-10-26 10:33:43 UTC

I woke up and setup a Debian VM with Docker and Portainer on my Proxmox machine. I plan on installing Nginx, Next Cloud and some Homelab monitoring. What else should I add?
What time to be alive. It’s so nice that you can just create and destroy and tinker with all these tools these days.

2025-10-25 14:30:43 UTC

Happy Saturday, Nostr 👋
Doing some homelab tinkering today — it’s wild how much easier it’s gotten with all the great communities, resources, and a little help from the GPTs for troubleshooting along the way.

2025-10-25 14:11:45 UTC

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What does this return?
sudo docker logs nginxproxymanager -f

2025-10-20 12:23:09 UTC

After 6+ months of development, the latest Stable release of Jellyfin (v10.11.0) has been released. Make sure to read this post before upgrading. Looks like a major update to help with future development. Looking forward to trying it out later this week. #selfhost #selfhosted
https://jellyfin.org/posts/jellyfin-release-10.11.0/

2025-10-16 16:57:52 UTC

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A day late and a dollar short...We've all left already.

2025-10-04 15:18:26 UTC

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I switched to Proton from Gmail a few months ago. Maybe it’s time for me to self-host again, which I did about 20 years ago. Things have probably changed since then.

2025-10-04 02:58:52 UTC

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Running v29.1 for now, at least until things calm down or until someone drops a third option, which I hear a couple devs are thinking about working on.

2025-10-04 02:55:43 UTC

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Someone is making this tool you can try in TestFlight
https://testflight.apple.com/join/qgkAMPgU Nostr Build Shack

2025-10-03 04:31:16 UTC

Decided to spin up Jellyfin on the same Mini PC that’s running my Plex server tonight. I want to see how they compare. Plex has been starting to get on my nerves. What do you run in your homelabs? Below are my installation notes; I’m trying to keep better records for troubleshooting or future reinstalls. Are there any cool customization or settings I should turn on or try?
**Installation**
1. Update Ubuntu System - `sudo update && sudo upgrade -y`
2. Install Required Dependencies - `sudo apt install apt-transport-https software-properties-common curl -y`
3. Add the Jellyfin Repository
* `curl -fsSL https://repo.jellyfin.org/jellyfin_team.gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/jellyfin-archive-keyring.gpg`
* `echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/jellyfin-archive-keyring.gpg] https://repo.jellyfin.org/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jellyfin.list`
4. Install Jellyfin
* `sudo apt update`
* `sudo apt install jellyfin -y`
5. Start & Enable Jellyfin
* `sudo systemctl enable jellyfin`
* `sudo systemctl start jellyfin`
6. Access the WebUI
* http://your-ip:8096
* Replace `<your-ip>` with your servers local IP address, e.g., `192.168.1.100`
* You'll be guided through:
* Language selection
* Admin user creation
* Adding media libraries
* Troubleshooting connecting to the WebUI - Since I have VLAN5 for my Homelab; and trying to access the Web UI from Vlan1, my Home | Trusted Vlan
* Check Jellyfin Mini PC firewall - `sudo ufw status verbose`
* Mini PC was blocking incoming traffic on port 8096
* Added port 8096 from Vlan (1) subnet (replace subnet with Vlan1)- `sudo ufw allow from 192.168.10.0/24 to any port 8096 proto tcp`
7. Grant Jellyfin Access to NAS Media
* Added jellyfin user to my plex group which the media folder was already mounted for plex - `sudo usermod -aG plex jellyfin`
* Restart Jellyfin - `sudo systemctl restart jellyfin`
* if you need a guide to mount a NAS for Jellyfin/etc use this guide by Jim's Garage [youtube.com/watch?v=DMPetY4mX-c]
8. Add libraries + Users
9. Looks like Jellyfin just released iOS v1.7.0 recently w/ download support, I didn't find it very appealing so I went with Infuse for now. Seems to be working well.
#homelab #selfhost #selfhosted

2025-10-01 03:05:33 UTC

Well that was easy. StartOS installed in less than 10 minutes. Next Step install Bitcoin Node.
https://blossom.primal.net/40ec7d511fcde6e5a01d0196dd3a6cc9237f1303b3daf4ed9e00768c1003ba57.png
StartOS Installation:
1. Download latest ISO from Start9 Github - https://github.com/Start9Labs/start-os/releases/tag/v0.3.5.1
2. Flash the ISO to USB (can use balenaEtcher or Rufus)
3. Power on Mini PC + Ethernet cable + Plug in USB
4. Enter BIOS -> Boot USB first
5. Restart Mini PC w/ bootable StartOS USB Image
6. Run through the installer
Used this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXVgGLaEEwc
#homelab #selfhost #bitcoin

2025-09-28 20:10:57 UTC

Ground yourself
↓
↓
↓
Touch grass
https://image.nostr.build/e96bf93f3438c401b7ee9adc3a4ab44e39c9cceed7edf86f1205449554ca0661.jpg

2025-09-28 14:30:34 UTC

What a gorgeous Sunday. I’m sitting around waiting for my SODIMM to arrive so I can finally set up my Bitcoin/Nostr node. In classic fashion, I quickly grabbed the wrong size sticks off Amazon. Thought they’d be here already, but the delivery’s been pushed back twice now and is supposedly coming tomorrow.
I’m deciding between Start9 and Umbrel - both look solid. What do you folks use or prefer?
#Bitcoin #Homelab #selfhosted #selfhost

2025-09-28 04:31:28 UTC

You start tinkering with your home lab, thinking it’ll be a quick little tweak. Next thing you know, it’s 1 AM and you’re deep in the weeds trying to figure out why a router, a switch, or a static IP isn’t cooperating. You’re sure the changes make sense… but the equipment has other plans.
Somehow, this is part of the fun. Those late night “why isn’t this working?” sessions are where you actually learn the most.
#homelab #networking #lateNightHacks #selfhost

2025-09-27 15:17:42 UTC

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It always comes down to time & money!

2025-09-27 15:09:02 UTC

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This looks nice. I might have to add another node with this setup.

2025-09-27 14:14:26 UTC

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Start with the equipment you probably already have lying around, it’s perfect for tinkering and learning. I had three or four older laptops collecting dust, and with the right tools and services, they've turned out to be surprisingly powerful.

2025-09-27 14:12:17 UTC

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This "hobby" is like a drug, be careful getting into it. You'll start buying things you don't need but seem cool once you have them, and it can end up consuming a significant amount of your time.
I started out playing tons of video games as a kid, which naturally led me to building gaming PCs and diving deeper into PC gaming. From there, I got into homelabbing, partly for the tech curiosity, but also because I'm trying to reduce my dependence on big tech, avoid cloud storage fees, and move away from always-on smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google. It’s my way of gradually taking back control of my privacy and data, one service at a time.

2025-09-15 14:39:57 UTC

Bought a nice Geekwork P252 heavy duty, aluminum alloy case for this PI 3
#homelab #selfhost #selfhosted
https://image.nostr.build/8b1a69e7ea779486116902c9f117985b44c471b5b35f23c5b8e17c7c32e51ec6.jpg
#note1wq2…2yt0

2025-09-14 15:39:11 UTC

Sunday is the day to start new projects. Making a WolNUT Pi server. My power keeps going out at my house and don’t have a good solution to powering down my homeland devices. I’m going to use an ols raspberry pi 3B that’s sitting in a bin to act as the server/client + wake on lan the devices when the battery on the UPS is above 50%.
#homelab #selfhost #selfhosted
https://image.nostr.build/34e3ab46b24881e02358b1465258176f2e4293de6a105090aef90e11cb52b4b1.jpg

2025-09-03 16:29:22 UTC

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The engagement looks light so far but slowly growing. I look forward to engaging and learning as I tinker more with my homelab.