Start

Start here#

A home server guidebook by Anish.

This guidebook turns an old computer (laptop or desktop, Mac or PC) into a home server: a computer that stays on at home and that you control from your other devices.

At the end you will have:

• a computer running Debian Linux, with no screen needed
• SSH: open the server's terminal from your Mac, Windows PC or phone
• Tailscale: reach it from anywhere, without opening your router
• shared folders you open in Finder or File Explorer
• automatic updates and automatic backups
• a private AI model running on the server, which can read your own documents
• an extra security layer and a private monitoring dashboard

No experience needed. Follow the chapters in order, one at a time.

The big picture#

flowchart LR
  subgraph You["Your devices"]
    M["Mac"]
    W["Windows PC"]
    P["Phone"]
  end
  T(("Tailscale<br/>private network"))
  subgraph Home["At home"]
    S["Home server<br/>(old computer + Debian)"]
    D1["Data hard drive"]
    D2["Backup hard drive"]
    AI["Private AI model"]
  end
  M --> T
  W --> T
  P --> T
  T --> S
  S --- D1
  S --- D2
  S --- AI
  D1 -. "nightly backup" .-> D2

Your journey#

flowchart TD
  A["Part 1<br/>Install Linux"] --> B["Part 2<br/>Connect with SSH"]
  B --> C["Part 3<br/>Updates, firewall,<br/>remote access"]
  C --> D["Part 4<br/>Drives, sharing, backups"]
  C --> E["Part 5<br/>Private AI"]
  C --> F["Part 6<br/>Security layer"]

Plan an afternoon for Part 1 and an evening each for the other parts. Parts 4, 5 and 6 each need only Parts 1–3, so you can do them in any order.

Which part can reach which, and what is blocked on purpose, is shown on How the parts connect.

How to read this guide#

Boxes#

Command boxes#

Every command box tells you where to type it:

hostname

Click the copy icon at the right of a box to copy it. Type or paste one line at a time and press Enter.

Where am I typing?#

This is the most common beginner mistake. Look at the start of the line (the prompt) before you type:

If the prompt ends in $ and says @homeserver, your typing goes to the server. Type exit to get back to your own computer.

Example names used in this guide#

Write your own values in the Server notebook. Never write passwords there; use a password manager.

Editing a file with nano#

Many steps say "open the file with nano". Nano is a simple text editor that runs inside the terminal:

1. Move around with the arrow keys and type normally.
2. Save: Ctrl+O, then Enter.
3. Exit: Ctrl+X.

On a Mac this is the Control key, not Command.

Ready? Chapter 1: Before you start