Storage

Setting Up ZFS on Linux for Home Server Storage If you’re self-hosting anything important — media libraries, documents, photos, databases — your storage layer matters more than any app you run on top of it. A single bit flip, a dying drive, or an accidental rm -rf can wipe out years of data. ZFS was designed to prevent exactly that. It’s a combined filesystem and volume manager that checksums every block, supports snapshots, and can heal corrupted data automatically. Originally built by Sun Microsystems for enterprise servers, it’s now the gold standard for home server storage. ...

Complete Guide to Docker Volumes and Bind Mounts Every self-hosted container you run — Jellyfin, Paperless-ngx, Nextcloud, your databases — needs to store data somewhere. Kill the container without persistent storage and everything’s gone. Docker gives you two main options: volumes and bind mounts. Understanding when to use each is one of the most important skills for any self-hoster. The Problem: Containers Are Ephemeral By default, any data written inside a container lives in its writable layer. When the container is removed, that data vanishes. This is by design — containers are meant to be disposable. ...

Choosing your first Network Attached Storage (NAS) device can feel overwhelming. With dozens of brands, models, and configurations available, where do you even start? In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to pick the perfect NAS for your needs. What is a NAS and Why Do You Need One? A NAS is a dedicated file server that connects to your network and provides centralized storage accessible by all your devices. Think of it as your personal cloud—but one you own and control. ...