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Documents / Journal

Digital lab journal
OS installs, tips, & shortcuts

Purpose of This Page

The purpose of this page is to serve as my digital journal. I want a place to document what I’m building so I can recreate anything I’ve done before and share what I learn with others.

Before I got into homelabbing, the main problem I wanted to solve was building my own “cloud.” That idea, plus a few conversations with coworkers, lots of YouTube videos, and too many instances were I would have to start completely over from a fresh install of my hypervisor or OS.

Homelab Hardware

Quick list of the main hardware in my homelab. I can update these as I upgrade or swap gear.

  • Dell Optiplex 7010 old office model
  • 24 GB of DDR3 RAM
  • Intel I5-3570 4 cores
  • 2x 1tb 3.5in hard drives (used in raid0=mirror)
  • 2tb 3.5in hard drive

Deploy Tailscale

2025-12-17 last updated

  1. Context – I chose to install tailscale because I got introduced to the software from a coworker when I asked how does he connect to his smb when he is not home. Also, I seen some videos while I have been researching homelab applications, but seeing the application being using by coworker in real-time is what made be bite the bullet.
  2. Steps I Took –
    • Starting from the web UI dashboard, select the three lines in the top left corner and choose Apps.
    • Go to Discover Apps, select Show All (blue letters below the search), and scroll to Tailscale.
    • Select Install.
    • In the configure settings you will see “Auth Key*”; generate this from your Tailscale dashboard at https://login.tailscale.com/admin/settings/keys.
    • Create the auth key (title it, set your toggles, generate, then copy) and return to TrueNAS.
    • Paste the auth key into the TrueNAS installer, leave the check boxes as-is, and keep the rest of the defaults.
    • Scroll to the bottom, install, and confirm the device appears in your Tailscale dashboard.
  3. Issues & Gotchas – If a subnet shows a timer, double-click the device in the dashboard, open Subnet → Awaiting approval, click Edit, check the box next to the needed IP address (e.g., 192.xxx.x), and save.
  4. Notes for Next Time – not really much to correct, pretty straight forward install!

Cloudflare-setup

2025-12-17 last updated

Context

I was in the search of a way on how to access my home lab remotely. Also, this was before I learned about Tailscale, how to port forward(definitely will note how to port forward) and this suited the job. Along with having a cool domain name to access my home labs

Goal

  • remote access to home server, without having to port forward.
  • Wanted cool name for when I tell people about a homelab projects.
  • cool name for ease of search.

Disclaimer

domain name required

Steps I Took

  1. Starting from the web ui dashboard, select the three lines in the top left corner then select apps.
  2. Go to discover apps->search ‘Cloudflare’ at the top->install.
  3. Before we can install we need the token key from cloudflare.
  4. sign in or create an account.
  5. You'll need to onboard a domain name, the "+ add domain" button from the account home page.
  6. .

Issues & Gotchas

  • Make sure BIOS/UEFI boot mode is consistent (UEFI for both Windows and Ubuntu).
  • If the bootloader breaks, boot from a live USB and repair GRUB (for example with boot-repair or chroot + reinstalling GRUB).

Notes for Next Time

Export a list of critical Windows apps before starting. Keep a small USB handy with drivers and tools in case networking doesn’t work right away on Ubuntu or Windows after changes.

Jellyfin-setup

2025-12-17 last updated

Context

During my homelab research, I seen lots of people installing Jellyfin as their media server. Also, a coworker of mine heard me mention Jellyfin and got his setup before me which was my my breaking point to install it. I wanted a way to stream my own media.

Goal

  • Would like old and new movies.
  • Childhood shows(mandadtory).
  • Would like to listen to music as well.
  • Remote access to the server.

Steps I Took

    Creating SMB(Server Message Block/Network drive)

  • Starting from the web ui dashboard, select the three lines in the top left corner, then select datasets.
  • Double-click the dataset/pool you would like to add to and select add dataset.
  • name the dataset(i.e. jellypool), change the Dataset Preset to Apps, change the name of the smb(i.e.jellypoolsmb) and save. Also, save the name of the smb somewhere or write it down.

    • Creating a User for the App to access the SMB

  • Select the three lines in the top left corner then select creditials, then groups.
  • select add in the top right, name the group(i.e.jelyfingroup) and save.
  • select the three lines in the top left corner, creditials and select users.
  • select Add in the top right corner, name the user(i.e. jellyuser), SMB access should already be selected, but if not check that box.
  • Create a password. Save the name and password, this will be how jellyfin accesses the SMB.
  • change Groups, scroll to the jellyfingroup and select.
  • Change Home Directory to the jellysmb and save.

    • Installing Jellyfin

  • Select the three lines in the top left corner, Apps, Discover Apps, search Jellyfin, select and install.
  • I left most of the settings alone uptil Aditional Storage. Select Add.
  • This next part I messed up on so many times so please just stick to the script. Change Type to SMB/CIFS Share, Mount Path is /mnt/nameofdataset/nameofsmb. example: /mnt/jellypool/jellypoolsmb
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Issues & Gotchas

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Notes for Next Time

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nextcloud-setup

2025-12-28 last updated

Context

I was searching for a self-hosted app similar to the way Onedrive function because I admir the application's functionality.

Goal

  • edit text.
  • edit text.
  • edit text.

Steps

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Things I like and dislike

Things I like

  • I enjoy the web ui of the app
  • The ease of installment

Things I dislike