Updates from the Lab

It's been a hot minute (2 weeks+) since I've sent an update out! A late-winter cold (illness, not temp!) make Joe a dull guy that's for sure...Regardless, plenty for you to pour over and enjoy! It's a bit thick so I included a table of contents for this update.

I’m excited to open up a new post with everyone (paid subscribers had early access) that delves into maximizing Radarr & Sonarr, after initial setup. Believe it or not, you don't need yet another app to have them 'upgrade' your files until they are just how you like them.

You can also read my last update "meta-post", Latest from Core Lab (24 Mar '26), for a brief snapshot of the site's ongoing trajectory.

New Github Repo & Welcome Package⌨️

I finally got around to making a Github to start putting all my scripts, code pieces and various generators & errata in. More to follow once I finalize & improve each piece.

This is now sent to everyone upon sign up, but as you pre-date the "Welcome emails", we'll show you the new expansion to Core Lab!

GitHub - corelabjoe/corelab-tools: Diagnostic, hardening and automation scripts for the Core Lab community.

Diagnostic, hardening and automation scripts for the Core Lab community. - corelabjoe/corelab-tools

GitHubcorelabjoe

• Always review code before you run it! Click the link above, go view the scripts yuorself and run them through a friend or LLM if you like. Tested on my own gear first of course 😄
  • Right now it comprises a Network Auditor script and a Server bootstrapping script in both Shell & PowerShell.
• VERY easy to run, simply via curl commands for Linux or PowerShell for Windows:

# For Linux (Debian 13/Trixie):
# First one is the network audit, second is the server bootstrapping & hardening.
curl -sL https://corelab.tech/audit.sh | bash

curl -sL https://corelab.tech/bootstrap.sh | bash

# Windows user? Use the PowerShell versions:
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corelabjoe/corelab-tools/main/diagnostics/network-auditor.ps1 | iex

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corelabjoe/corelab-tools/main/hardening/server-boostrap.ps1 | iex

🍿 Media Server Networking & Management

Without further waiting, here's the recently published for all Advanced Sonarr & Radarr guide:

• Step-by-step config showing you how to turn them into "Media Hunters", where you enable the Native Hunting Protocol! Set them loose!

Advanced Sonarr & Radarr: The Native Hunting Protocol (2026)

Stop settling for “good enough” media quality. Learn how to use Profilarr and Decluttarr to build a secure, self-healing, “Always Hunting” Sonarr and Radarr stack without third-party scripts.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

• Huge Deal - Decypharr deployment guide! (On paid preview first)
  • Ever dreamt of having a streaming media server without having to spending thousands of dollars on hard drives?

Decypharr Setup Guide: Replace Downloads with Instant Debrid Streaming (2026)

A complete Decypharr guide for existing Sonarr/Radarr users. Replace torrents with instant Debrid streaming using symlinks, rclone/DFS, and zero-download workflows.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

• Next up, I did a comparison post about NVME Gen 4 vs Gen 5. What's worth you time (and more importantly, money.)

Samsung 990 EVO Plus Linux Review: Gen 5 Speed Without the Heat

Can a “Hybrid” SSD outperform the flagship Gen 5 screamers? I test the Samsung 990 EVO Plus on CachyOS to see how it handles BTRFS, thermals, and 2.5GbE NAS transfers in my newest workstation.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

• Here we go with a big one in self-hosting lately:
  • NAS vs Servers

NAS vs Server: What’s the Difference? (2026 Guide for Homelabs)

NAS vs server isn’t just semantics - it’s the difference between smooth performance and constant frustration. Learn when to use each and how to build the perfect homelab in 2026.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

Overhauls & Updates on Existing Content🛠️

I overhauled the Self-Hosted Gaming Server guide which is one of the earlier posts on the site. If you've been interested in running your own Minecraft or CS:GO2 server at home, here's the guide for you!

The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Self-Hosting Game Servers: Docker, LinuxGSM & Security Hardening

Master the 2026 gaming stack with Docker and LinuxGSM. Learn to host Palworld, CS2, and Satisfactory servers on high-performance Mini PCs with veteran security tactics.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

If you're planning on purchasing hardware, I'd greatly appreciate it if you used one of my links to support the ongoing costs of the site and me!

Brand new specific hardware guide for Plex builds!👇

Best Plex Server Hardware (2026): 4K Transcoding, GPUs & NAS Builds

Building a Plex server in 2026? Learn how to choose the best hardware for 4K transcoding, from scavenged Intel QuickSync builds to high-end enterprise ZFS rigs.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

Best Homelab Hardware Guide (2026): Top CPUs, Nodes & NAS

Construct your Digital Fortress. From silent N100 “Gatehouse” nodes to massive “Command Center” storage servers, this is the battle-tested hardware we trust to hold the line in 2026.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

Blog & Hosting Series 👻

It's been about a year of publishing and I realized my Ghost based blog here, wasn't pruning it's own images! Now you can manually SSH into your server and painstakingly remove each image you THINK, isn't being used...

• Here's the automated safe way to 'prune' your Ghost blog

Surgically Prune Unused Images in Ghost CMS (2026 Guide)

Ghost CMS never deletes old images. Learn how to use the ‘Laser-Guided’ Ghost Janitor script to safely reclaim GBs of space without breaking your theme or responsive images.

Core LabCore Lab Joe

As always, thanks for being part of the journey. If you have questions about any guide or a specific configuration that’s giving you trouble, feel free to drop a comment on the post or fire me an email!

See you in the logs,

Corelab Joe