2026-05-01, 10:17: Homelab #2: I'll come back in 7 years
I've been tinkering for the past 2-3 hours figuring out the software side but I think I'll just stop for now and continue "someday". First thing i did was get my bootable usb and install ubuntu server on Jordan. I've installed other OSs on this computer before so it went without a hitch. I had a few errors pop up trying to SSH into jordan from my main computer but the first article i found worked.
at this point i realised i did not plan much for what exactly im going to do with this server. the tutorial i was following for the first half installing ubuntu went on to install plex but i dont need plex right now. then some tutorials by the same youtuber led me to install firezilla so i can transfer files between my computer and server. but then i later deleted it because i was thinking of self hosting nextcloud. the nextcloud tutorial i saw said i needed a docker but then i saw another video about installing casaOS so i did that... then i also installed docker.
then i was like heck casaOS has a file manager what do i need nextcloud for so i thought about hosting bitwarden. the bitwarden documentation told me i needed to setup a settings.env file and i think that is when i gave up.
As ive stated i am not super into tech so all these terms being thrown at me as if im supposed to know all this already is super confusing. I will not give up! but i will for now because i cant spend all my time on this. before trying to setup anything next time, i will try to understand some of the terms and what they do. i dont like how tech term explanations usually contain other tech terms and concepts but idk i guess ill never fully understand this stuff but whatever.
so i may not have any services running yet but at the very least i can use the server as file storage and transfer between devices on the network. thats one box checked! better than nothing i guess.
tangent: after i did some ssh business for some reason the trackpad on my main computer suddenly stopped working and idk why. idk how to fix this because idk what exactly caused it so i guess im forced to use a mouse.
update like 10 minutes later: ok so i think i just accidentally pressed fn + f10 to disable trackpad. why is that a button
Total costs: $15.90
- ethernet adapter: $15.90
- lots of brainpower
- everything else: technically free =)
2026-04-30, 20:24: Homelab #1: Before I Begin
I just bought an ethernet adapter impulsively so I guess this is really happening. I'm not too big on tech, I think I've just developed a passive interest through various tech youtubers i like to watch occasionally and also since i started webdevving as a hobby. but starting today I am trying my hand at homelabbing. From my understanding (with my severe lack of research), homelabbing is basically your own at-home server. In recent months, I've developed an interest in online privacy and moving away from mainstream services. Self-hosting seems like an investment which can help me move into my ideal direction. i mainly want to set up a cloud to transfer files between my devices and also just to store some large folders of files that i dont access frequently. maybe in the future i can try to self host my website but that would require more configuring.
Another reason I want to start a homelab is because I have a chromebook laying around doing nothing and I think this would be an interesting project to put it to use. The chromebook is a Lenovo 500e 2nd gen. It has 8gb ram and 64gb emmc storage which is actually more than enough for beginnning i think. I got it 5 years ago from my school, but since I've graduated, the chromebook has been unenrolled so for a few months I used it as my main laptop until I got a new laptop for my new school which has much higher hardware requirements. This new laptop is obviously way better to use than that old chromebook so it's been collecting dust in my closet for two months or so. A months ago i changed the firmware with Mr.Chromebox so it can run a new operating system. I currently have it running ZorinOS. I originally tried Debian, then Mint, before settling on Zorin because the UI felt more familiar. I guess that won't really matter once I install a new OS for the homelab.
I dug around my family's electrical box (?) (storage under the TV where theres spare wires and other old tech). I found a spare ethernet cable and a USB-A to USB-C cable to keep my chromebook (which i will name Jordan henceforth) (it only has to make sense to me for me to do it) powered and connected. I had to quickly go out and buy a USB-A to ethernet adapter but once I came home I got it all hooked up. unfortunately my home router is under my brothers' bed so it will have to live in their room instead of mine, hope they dont mind. That was just now. I haven't begun installing any firmware because its a week night. Ok thats it for the first post about my homelabbing journey. I genuinely know next to nothing but i hope this will have some payoff (i wouldnt say "fun", though...). I think my next move will beeeee choose some tutorial that fits my needs and follow it.
Side note: this was like.. really impulsive. on one hand its good because instead of just watching tutorials, im actually trying to put things into practice. Bad thing is... im a student who doesnt want to like totally flunk school but this whole thing is basically a result of my misplaced attention sooooo i really shouldnt be doing this right now in the first place. but when has that ever stopped me? anyway idk when or if i'll work on this again this post was really just a getting my thoughts out before it escapes me type thing.
Tangent: I found a Macbook Air SuperDrive in my electrical box. at first I thought "score!" but then I realised it *only* works with the Macbook Air. which I do not own. Thanks, Apple. I'm not surprised, classic Apple move, but I'm still disappointed.
Total costs: $15.90
- ethernet adapter: $15.90
- everything else: technically free =)
