Hello! I’m new to self hosting and networking stuff. I do use only Linux and have experience with Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, and have settled with Fedora and Bazzite on KDE on the home computers/laptops.
I got a GMKtec NucBox G9 Mini PC Intel® Twin Lake N150 recently and wireless keyboard with touchpad, installed Fedora Kiinoite on it and have so far only added VacuumTube. I don’t have much experience with the terminal and I’m not sure what step to do next or how.
What I want to do is set up an Arrstack, and I know I need to put Docker and maybe Portainer? I have no experience with Docker though. I also want to put some basic things I and others can access remotely like a shopping list program, photo backups, period tracker, and DnD software. But I’m very afraid of exposing the server to the internet and it being hacked or such. I know there’s something called Tailscale but I’m not sure if that’s what I need. And I don’t know what order I’m supposed to put any of this.
I’ve tried searching the internet for guides but haven’t really found anything except one that’s for Yunohost and it’s not really self hosting because they set it up on a cloud. All advice is appreciated. Thank you!
edit: I wanted to add I also want to use this as a htpc and it’s connected to the TV, so that’s why I want a GUI mostly - because it makes it easier to control from the couch
Welcome to the club! Gates are open. Come on in!!
FWIW, if you want to learn how to use the command line, docker, and how to manage and secure your services, I’d recommend installing Ubuntu server or Fedora server on the NucBox; and then install docker and learn how to get your services stood up using the docker cli.
This is the route I went specifically because I wanted to learn more about Linux, and how to manage a server and services.
The tools being offered as suggestions (unraid, truenas, yunohost) are abstraction layers meant to make hosting easier. And to be clear, there is nothing at all wrong with these tools or using them. What they’ll do is give you a GUI to manage your system and services, making using the command line mostly unnecessary. Again, nothing at all wrong with that. Just depends on what you want.
Regarding exposing the services, it’s good to be cautious. I went with Pangolin, which is like a self hosted version of tailscale/cloudflare tunnels (I’m simplifying a bit).
Pangolin allows you to access your services over a VPN tunnel, and, to set your desired level of authorization needed to access that service. I really like it and have found it to be very reliable.
Also, FWIW, I’m not in IT or an expert. Just a person who wanted to learn about Linux and self hosting to take back control from big tech.
I do want to learn the command line more, but was having bad luck on it. At first I tried Fedora server but couldn’t get Bluetooth to work on it properly. Then I tried installing postmarket is but it never installed and always would fail. Next I tried dietpi but the GUI wasn’t TV friendly and Bluetooth also had issues - the keyboard/mouse combo would connect, but the mousepad didn’t work properly, with inverted controls and always drag dropping.
that’s when I finally decided to just do Fedora Kiinoite and it just worked. I can even control the tv brightness and sound from the keyboard
Ubuntu server is old as dirt and stable af. I use that, and run CasaOS as a beginner-friendly GUI interface. There is lots of trial and error, learning and some frustration, but it’s so rewarding! The Arr apps, jelly seer and qbittorret and jellyfin are all nearly out of the box ready with casaos app store. It’s a great place to start.