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Core Lab Joe

Core Lab Joe

Canada
Dad, IT guy, Self-Hosting Evangelist! https://www.reddit.com/r/corelabtech/
22
Aug
How do RAID and ZFS work?

How do RAID and ZFS work?

Beyond Traditional RAID – Introducing ZFS RAIDZ If you're building a homelab or need robust data storage, you'
12 min read
20
Aug
Looks like a system from 2030; how much will that cost?

Building the Ultimate Home Assistant Server (2026 Edition)

Stop building your smart home on a fragile SD card. Here is the professional guide to running Home Assistant on an N100 Mini PC with Docker - fully unlocked and "Add-on" free.
11 min read
15
Aug
A digitized artistic view of a small datacentre, glowing with digital panels and a screen showing A+ from Qualys SSL scanner.

How to Harden SWAG Nginx for an A+ Security Rating (2026 Guide)

Stop bots and brute-force attacks. Learn how to enable HSTS, harden Nginx headers, and configure Fail2ban Recidive in SWAG for an A+ security rating.
11 min read
14
Aug
Infographic showing the network path if Hosting Obsidian yourself - securely via a reverse proxy and MFA!

The Ultimate 2026 Obsidian Docker Guide: GPU-Accelerated & Wayland Ready

Deploy a high-performance Obsidian vault in Docker. Master GPU acceleration and Wayland for near-native speed in your 2026 homelab build.
12 min read
11
Aug
NVIDIA Toolkit Setup on Linux

NVIDIA Toolkit Setup on Linux

Introduction / why? Now I'm actually a bit of an underdog (AMD) fanboy, but in the end a real
5 min read
11
Aug
Deploy Local AI: How to run LLM via Docker Compose

Deploy Local AI: How to run LLM via Docker Compose

Introduction The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has been incredible, but running them locally can be a challenge. Ollama
8 min read
06
Aug
A VRAM quantisization chart, showing tiers starting from 8gb through to 24gb and what you can run.

Best GPU for Local LLMs (2026): VRAM Tier List & Buyer's Guide

Don't overpay for AI hardware. Discover the best GPUs for local LLM inference based on VRAM-per-dollar, from used RTX 3090s to the new RTX 5090 endgame.
25 min read
21
Jul
Ocean sea-faring container ship loaded with many sea containers but with labels on them of popular docker images.

The Definitive Guide to Docker Compose: Infrastructure as Code (2026)

The definitive 2026 setup guide. Install Docker, setup Dockge & Dozzle, and master the "Apartment Model" of networking. Start self-hosting the right way.
37 min read
15
Jul
Cyberpunk comic art of a futuristic server engine blending mechanical parts and glowing data streams, serviced by robots in a neon workshop. “Plex Media Server Optimization Guide (2026)”

Plex Media Server Optimization Guide 2026

Stop Plex buffering. Fix RAM transcoding, GPU passthrough, Relay limits, and 4K HDR issues with this complete 2026 optimization guide.
25 min read
08
Jul
Screenshot of Immich landing page, where I am showcasing some Canadian content of the Parliament building in Ottawa, and the colour parade of Royal Canadian troops Marching on the lawn.

Take Control of Your Photos/Vids: A Deep Dive into Immich!

Introduction: What is Immich? Immich is a self-hosted photo management application designed for photographers, families, and prosumers who are serious
12 min read