My Home Server Setup: Simple, Scalable, and Self-Hosted

Over the past year, I’ve been refining my home server setup to strike a balance between power, simplicity, and flexibility. I’ve landed on a system that runs smoothly, is easy to manage, and supports everything from websites to VPN access. Here's a breakdown of the core tools that make it work.

Base System: TrueNAS SCALE

At the heart of the setup is TrueNAS SCALE, an open-source NAS operating system based on Debian Linux. It offers:

  • ZFS file system for rock-solid data integrity
  • Built-in virtualization and Docker support via Apps and Kubernetes
  • Easy UI for managing storage, datasets, and permissions

TrueNAS handles all my storage needs, including backups, media files, and persistent volumes for my containers.

Container Management: Dockge

To orchestrate my Docker containers, I use Dockge – a clean and intuitive frontend for Docker Compose stacks. It’s a game-changer for managing services without having to SSH in constantly or maintain separate scripts.

With Dockge, I can:

  • Spin up or update stacks with one click
  • Keep an eye on logs and health at a glance
  • Organize apps into isolated stacks for easy troubleshooting and scaling

Secure Access: Tailscale + Headscale

For secure remote access, I run Tailscale across all my devices, backed by a self-hosted Headscale instance. This setup gives me a full mesh VPN without needing port forwards or exposing my server to the open internet.

Benefits:

  • Secure access to services anywhere (even on mobile)
  • Granular ACLs with Headscale
  • No cloud reliance — it's my network, my rules

Website Hosting: Ghost

My websites and blogs are powered by Ghost, the clean and modern CMS built for publishing. It’s fast, SEO-friendly, and easy to theme. I self-host Ghost inside Docker containers on Dockge, keeping everything centralized.

My main blog runs on Ghost, and it's served behind a reverse proxy (Nginx Proxy Manager) with automatic HTTPS via Let’s Encrypt.

Why This Stack?

This setup gives me:

  • Reliability thanks to ZFS and TrueNAS
  • Simplicity with Dockge’s UI for container control
  • Privacy and freedom through Headscale and self-hosting
  • Scalability if I ever want to expand services or add nodes

If you're looking to build a homelab that’s powerful but not overcomplicated, I highly recommend this stack. Every component plays nicely together, and you stay in full control of your data and infrastructure.