Optimizing Docker Compose for Hosting a GitLab Instance

Hosting a GitLab instance using Docker Compose is a popular choice for many organizations looking to leverage the power of containerization for their DevOps needs. However, to ensure optimal performance and resource utilization, it’s crucial to optimize your Docker Compose file. This article will guide you through best practices and tips to enhance your GitLab deployment using Docker Compose. 1. Use Specific Image Tags When defining the GitLab service in your docker-compose.

Using Nginx-Proxy in Your Homelab: A Comprehensive Guide

In the world of self-hosting and homelabs, managing multiple web services can become a complex task. This is where a reverse proxy like Nginx comes into play. Nginx-proxy, an automated reverse proxy for Docker containers, simplifies the process of managing and routing traffic to your various services. In this article, we’ll explore how to set up and use nginx-proxy in your homelab environment. What is Nginx-Proxy? Nginx-proxy is a Docker container that automatically configures itself to act as a reverse proxy for other Docker containers.

Building Your Own Self-Hosted Email Solution: Part One

In a world where privacy concerns are paramount, many organizations and individuals are looking for self-hosted email solutions to regain control over their data. By running your own mail server, you can mitigate risks associated with third-party providers, ensure compliance with data protection regulations, and tailor your email solution to meet your specific needs. This article will lay the groundwork for building a self-hosted email solution and cover the first steps of the process, focusing on the necessary components and considerations.

Building a Self-Hosted Email Solution: Part Two - Configuration and Best Practices

In the first installment of our series on self-hosted email solutions, we covered the foundational elements and prerequisites needed for setting up your email server. In this article, we will delve deeper into the configuration of Postfix and Dovecot, essential components of a self-hosted email solution, along with best practices to ensure security and reliability. Overview of Postfix and Dovecot Postfix is a widely-used Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) that routes and delivers email, while Dovecot is a flexible and high-performance IMAP and POP3 server.

Alternatives to Google Workspace for Hosting Email

In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, the need for effective communication and collaboration tools is more critical than ever. Google Workspace has been a front-runner in the email hosting arena; however, many organizations are exploring alternatives that offer similar, if not superior, features. This article aims to shed light on some commendable alternatives to Google Workspace for hosting email that cater to various organizational needs. 1. Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is a direct competitor to Google Workspace and provides a robust suite of productivity tools that include Outlook for email, along with Word, Excel, and Teams for collaboration.

Self-Hosting Basics: Benefits, Hardware Options, and Preparation with Raspberry Pi

Self-hosting has grown in popularity among tech enthusiasts, IT professionals, and even casual users looking to take control of their digital environment. Whether you’re looking to host your own media server, create a private cloud, or deploy a secure VPN, self-hosting allows you to maintain full control over your data and services. This article is the first in a series that will cover self-hosting essentials, starting with the benefits of self-hosting, the hardware options available, and how to get your environment set up with a Raspberry Pi, Raspbian OS, Docker, and Nginx Proxy Manager.

Self-Hosting Monitoring Stack: Installing Node Exporter, Prometheus, and Grafana

In the first article of this series, we set up a self-hosting environment using Raspberry Pi, Raspbian OS, Docker, and Nginx Proxy Manager. Now, we will expand this setup by deploying a powerful monitoring stack that includes Node Exporter, Prometheus, and Grafana. These tools will allow you to monitor the health and performance of your homelab services in real-time. In this guide, we’ll walk through setting up all three services as Docker containers, configuring them to work together, and using Nginx Proxy Manager to assign domain names like prometheus.

Self-Hosting Monitoring: Adding Alertmanager, Uptime Kuma, and Prometheus Blackbox Exporter

In the previous articles of this series, we set up a self-hosting environment with Raspberry Pi, Docker, and Nginx Proxy Manager. We then installed a monitoring stack consisting of Node Exporter, Prometheus, and Grafana. Now, we will enhance our monitoring capabilities by adding Alertmanager, Uptime Kuma, and Prometheus Blackbox Exporter. These tools will allow you to monitor the health of your websites, receive alerts for critical issues, and track the status of services and SSL certificates.