Getting Started

This guide will help you set up your first homelab environment.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need:

• A computer or server (can be an old laptop or desktop)
• Basic networking knowledge
• Enthusiasm to learn!

Step 1: Choose Your Hardware

You have several options for homelab hardware:

Option A: Repurposed Desktop/Laptop

The most budget-friendly option. Any computer with:

• 4+ GB RAM
• Dual-core processor
• 128+ GB storage

Option B: Mini PC

Popular choices include:

• Intel NUC
• Beelink mini PCs
• Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny

Option C: Enterprise Hardware

For the more adventurous:

• Dell PowerEdge servers
• HP ProLiant servers
• Lenovo ThinkServer

Step 2: Install an Operating System

We recommend starting with one of these:

# Popular choices for homelab OS
- Proxmox VE (virtualization platform)
- Ubuntu Server
- Debian
- TrueNAS (for storage-focused setups)

Step 3: Set Up Basic Services

Start with these foundational services:

1. Docker - Container runtime
2. Portainer - Docker management UI
3. Nginx Proxy Manager - Reverse proxy

Next Steps

Once you have the basics running, explore:

• Setting up a Kubernetes cluster
• Implementing GitOps with Flux or ArgoCD
• Adding monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana

Ready to dive deeper? Check out our Guides for detailed tutorials.