A $25 smart plug became my home lab's most reliable emergency fix
…The end result is that things wouldn't be accessible. And a home server that's not accessible isn't much of a home server. Think media servers, backups, and remote access…
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4 tools I install on every new home server before setting up anything else
3d agoYour smart home devices will outlast the companies that made them if you ditch the cloud
1w agoWindows has a built-in remote desktop tool most people ignore, and it saved me from TeamViewer
1w agoI ditched Synology's QuickConnect for Tailscale, and remote access finally feels effortless
1w agoI don't expose my home server anymore: I let Tailscale do the scary part
…Tailscale moved the front door somewhere else Only trusted devices can even knock My assumption was that remote access required exposing a service, and if I wanted something accessible outside my home…
I replaced my Google TV remote with a $25 ESP32 display, and it controls Home Assistant too
…The next step was to add a second screen, to really drive home the advantage over a regular Chromecast remote. A horizontal swipe across the remote loads a grid of buttons that…
I switched to Jellyfin, but Plex's one real advantage keeps pulling me back
…I run Jellyfin on my home server with remote access configured, and my family uses it often. Still, there’s one thing Plex handles better that I keep running into. I'd…
Home Assistant can now see when you use the physical remote, and it changes everything
…For instance, if you have any spare remotes in the home, these can now be reprogrammed as Home Assistant controllers, unlocking quick and convenient access to switching Home Assistant scenes without having…
This SSH tool finally solved the problem I've been working around for a decade
…Related Should you use Tailscale, Pangolin, ZeroTier, or NetBird to remotely access your home lab? Which remote access tool is best for your home lab? I've always hated managing SSH, but…
4 Fire TV features that instantly improved my streaming experience
…1 Customize the home screen All my favorite apps are easily accessible Another thing that has improved my Fire TV streaming experience is customizing the home screen. It won't make your…
Claude's new computer use feature turned my old laptop into a machine I control from my phone
…Related The single Docker container that made me a home lab power user This Docker container transformed my home lab What "computer use" actually means in practice More than just remote access…
Tailscale is the only home lab change I made this year that I actually noticed
…Sign in to your XDA account I'll admit, when I first added Tailscale to my home lab , I was only using it for secure remote access. That's a perfectly good…
Replacing paid productivity apps with a self-hosted setup helped me save money, but I had to make some compromises
…Port forwarding is the most straightforward method for setting up remote access on my home lab nodes, but since my network is afflicted by the curse of CGNAT, I had to look…