The homelab software stack is built around Debian, Proxmox, containerized services, and dedicated storage platforms. Debian 13 is the baseline operating system for servers and LXC containers, while Proxmox VE provides the virtualization layer for VMs and containers across the cluster.
Active VM and container storage lives on the Proxmox Ceph cluster. Backups are handled by Proxmox Backup Server, and larger shared datasets live on TrueNAS.
Foundation
- Debian 13 for server installs and LXC container bases.
- Proxmox VE for clustered virtualization.
- Proxmox Backup Server for VM and container backups.
- TrueNAS for capacity-focused shared storage.
- Docker for application containers where a Docker deployment model is the right fit.
Core Infrastructure
- Technitium DNS provides DNS services for the environment.
- Gitea hosts source repositories and project history.
- MeshCentral provides remote system management.
- LibreNMS handles infrastructure monitoring.
- Portainer provides Docker management where Docker is used.
Self-Hosted Applications
- Home Assistant runs home automation workloads.
- DS Chat provides self-hosted chat.
- n8n provides automation workflows.
- Crafty Controller manages Minecraft server administration.
- Vaultwarden hosts password vault services.
- Joplin Server backs note synchronization.
Operating Model
The stack separates infrastructure roles from application roles. Proxmox VE, Ceph, Proxmox Backup Server, TrueNAS, Debian, DNS, monitoring, and management services form the operating base. Applications such as Home Assistant, DS Chat, n8n, Crafty Controller, Vaultwarden, and Joplin Server run on top of that base as VMs, LXC containers, or Docker services depending on the service.
This layout keeps the homelab flexible: workloads can move across the Proxmox cluster, backups remain outside the primary storage pool, and large data storage stays on the NAS instead of competing with VM and container disks.