Self-Hosting Beginner's Guide

Your hands-on guide to get started with self-hosting — from choosing hardware to running your first app.

What You’ll Need

Component	Recommended Options
Hardware	Raspberry Pi 4, old laptop/desktop, mini PC, or VPS
Operating System	Ubuntu Server, Debian, DietPi
Networking	Access to your router for port forwarding or VPN/tunneling
Internet	Optional Dynamic DNS (e.g., DuckDNS) for external access
Skills	Basic command line (SSH, apt), willingness to learn

Step 1: Choose Your Hardware

You don’t need expensive gear. Here are a few starting points:

• Raspberry Pi 4 / 5: Great for learning and low-power 24/7 use
• Old Laptop or Desktop: Reuse existing hardware
• Mini PCs (e.g. Intel NUC, Beelink): Quiet and powerful
• VPS (e.g. Hetzner, DigitalOcean): If you prefer remote hosting

TIP

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Step 2: Install a Server OS

We recommend starting with a lightweight Linux server.

Ubuntu Server (Beginner Friendly)

• Download ISO: https://ubuntu.com/download/server
• Flash to USB: Use Rufus or Balena Etcher
• Install using minimal setup
• Set up an admin user and password

Optional:

• Set static IP address via router or system config

Step 3: Secure Your Server

Once installed, SSH into your server:

ssh username@your-server-ip

Then:

# Create a new user and disable root login
sudo adduser yourname
sudo usermod -aG sudo yourname

# Set up a basic firewall
sudo apt update && sudo apt install ufw -y
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw enable

# Enable automatic security updates
sudo apt install unattended-upgrades -y
sudo dpkg-reconfigure --priority=low unattended-upgrades

# Install fail2ban to block brute-force attempts
sudo apt install fail2ban -y

TIP

New to Docker? Check out our Docker Beginner's Guide for a simple introduction and practical tips!

Step 4: Install Docker & Docker Compose

Docker makes it easy to install self-hosted apps in seconds.

Install Docker

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sudo sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Then log out and back in (or run newgrp docker) to apply Docker group.

Install Docker Compose

sudo apt install docker-compose -y

Step 5: Run Your First App

Let’s run Uptime Kuma – a beautiful uptime monitor.

mkdir -p ~/apps/uptime-kuma && cd ~/apps/uptime-kuma
nano docker-compose.yml

Paste:

version: '3'
services:
  uptime-kuma:
    image: louislam/uptime-kuma
    container_name: uptime-kuma
    ports:
      - "3001:3001"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: always

Save and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X), then run:

docker-compose up -d

Now visit:

http://<your-server-ip>:3001

And your website should be up and running! 🎉

Optional: Access From Anywhere

To access your apps from outside your home:

Option A: Port Forwarding

• Log into your router
• Forward external port 80/443 to your server’s IP

Be careful exposing services directly — secure them!

Option B: Dynamic DNS + Reverse Proxy

• Set up free dynamic DNS (e.g. DuckDNS)
• Use Nginx Proxy Manager or Caddy for SSL and domain routing

Option C: Cloud Tunnels (No Port Forwarding)

• Tailscale (VPN-based)
• Cloudflare Tunnel (secure HTTPS tunnel)

Step 6: Keep Things Updated

Keeping your stack up-to-date is important for security and stability.

cd ~/apps/uptime-kuma
docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d

You can also install Watchtower for automatic container updates.

Recommended Folder Structure

~/apps/
  ├── uptime-kuma/
  │    └── docker-compose.yml
  ├── nextcloud/
  ├── jellyfin/
  └── nginx-proxy-manager/

What to Host Next?

Category	App Suggestions
File Sync	Nextcloud, Syncthing
Media Server	Jellyfin, Plex
Notes & Wiki	Joplin Server, BookStack, Outline
Passwords	Vaultwarden
DNS/Ad Blocker	Pi-hole, AdGuard Home
Automation	Home Assistant, Node-RED
Git Hosting	Gitea, Forgejo
Dashboards	Homer, Flame, Dashy

Basic Security Reminders

• Use SSH keys instead of passwords
• Don’t expose Docker admin tools (e.g., Portainer) publicly
• Set up HTTPS for every exposed service
• Always back up critical config and data

Congratulations! You’ve taken your first step toward digital independence.

“Self-hosting isn't just for nerds — it's for everyone who wants to control their digital life.”