Home Lab Builds, Reviews, and How-Tos
A step-by-step walkthrough of installing Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS from downloading the ISO to completing the installation. Covers network configuration, storage partitioning, profile setup, SSH, and post-install updates.
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Hands-on review of the Minisforum MS-A2 mini PC with dual 10GB SFP+ ports, AMD Ryzen 9000 series, and toolless design - perfect for home labs.
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I apply the zero trust firewall model to my email management. All incoming emails route to an Unsorted folder via a catch-all rule, and only emails matching specific sender and subject rules make it to my Inbox. I cover folder structure, routing rules, Outlook’s Sweep feature, and my annual archiving process.
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An updated walkthrough of the steps I take after a clean Ubuntu Server install — covering SSH hardening, UFW firewall, unattended updates, fail2ban, and a Lynis security audit.
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A step-by-step walkthrough of installing Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS from downloading the ISO to completing the installation. Covers network configuration, storage partitioning, profile setup, SSH, and post-install updates.
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A walkthrough on deploying FlareSolverr via Docker Compose in Portainer and connecting it to Jackett, allowing Jackett indexers protected by Cloudflare to work without manual intervention.
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A comprehensive guide to configuring network settings on Ubuntu Server using Netplan. Covers static IPs, DNS, DNS search domains, default gateways, static routes, VLAN tagging, NIC bonding, and bridge interfaces.
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An updated guide to installing Portainer CE on Docker. Covers creating the data volume, running the container with the current recommended ports, first-time setup, and an optional section on connecting remote Docker hosts using the Portainer Agent.
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An updated guide to installing Docker and Docker Compose V2 on Linux. My original 2022 article covered the standalone Compose V1 binary, which is now deprecated — this post covers the current method using the official Docker repository and the Compose plugin.
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Ubuntu 26.04 LTS drops next week, and I’m putting together a series of articles covering fresh installs, upgrading existing servers, and my post-install setup. This post will serve as the home base — I’ll update it with links as each article goes live.
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I took some time off after my 2024 challenge to post new content every weekend. It ended up getting the better of me and my time. I also had a few really big life events at the end of 2024 and through 2025 which took up all the free time I had. Well…I’m back and with a whole new look!
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After years on a dated WordPress setup, a brand new website is in the works—faster, cleaner, and built from the ground up with a modern design.
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