🎯 Service Categories
🟡 Intermediate Guide
This homelab runs 176 services across 13 hosts. Services are organized into logical categories based on their primary function. This guide helps you understand what's available and find services that meet your needs.
📊 Category Overview
| Category |
Services |
Complexity |
Use Case |
| 🎬 Media & Entertainment |
25+ |
🟢-🟡 |
Personal Netflix, photo management |
| 🔧 Development & DevOps |
20+ |
🟡-🔴 |
Code management, CI/CD, monitoring |
| 💼 Productivity |
15+ |
🟢-🟡 |
Document management, finance tracking |
| 💬 Communication |
10+ |
🟡-🔴 |
Chat, video calls, social media |
| 📊 Monitoring & Analytics |
15+ |
🟡-🔴 |
System health, performance metrics |
| 🛡️ Security & Privacy |
10+ |
🟡-🔴 |
Password management, VPN, ad blocking |
| 🤖 AI & Machine Learning |
5+ |
🔴 |
Language models, voice processing |
| 🎮 Gaming |
8+ |
🟡-🔴 |
Game servers, multiplayer hosting |
| 🌐 Networking & Infrastructure |
10+ |
🔴 |
Reverse proxy, DNS, network tools |
| 📁 Storage & Sync |
8+ |
🟢-🟡 |
File sharing, synchronization |
🎬 Media & Entertainment
Transform your homelab into a personal media empire
🎥 Video Streaming
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Plex |
Atlantis |
Netflix-like interface for your movies/TV |
🟢 |
| Jellyfin |
Chicago VM |
Open-source alternative to Plex |
🟢 |
| Tautulli |
Atlantis |
Plex usage statistics and monitoring |
🟡 |
📸 Photo Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Immich |
Atlantis, Calypso |
Google Photos alternative with AI features |
🟡 |
| PhotoPrism |
Anubis |
AI-powered photo organization |
🟡 |
🎵 Music Streaming
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Navidrome |
Bulgaria VM |
Spotify-like interface for your music |
🟢 |
| YourSpotify |
Bulgaria VM, Concord NUC |
Spotify statistics and analytics |
🟡 |
📺 Content Discovery & Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Jellyseerr |
Atlantis |
Request movies/TV shows for download |
🟡 |
| Wizarr |
Atlantis |
User invitation system for Plex/Jellyfin |
🟡 |
🏴☠️ Content Acquisition (Arr Suite)
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Sonarr |
Atlantis, Calypso |
TV show management and downloading |
🟡 |
| Radarr |
Atlantis, Calypso |
Movie management and downloading |
🟡 |
| Lidarr |
Atlantis |
Music management and downloading |
🟡 |
| Prowlarr |
Atlantis |
Indexer management for other Arr apps |
🟡 |
| Bazarr |
Atlantis |
Subtitle management |
🟡 |
| Whisparr |
Atlantis |
Adult content management |
🔴 |
| SABnzbd |
Atlantis |
Usenet downloader |
🟡 |
💡 Getting Started: Start with Plex or Jellyfin for video streaming, then add Immich for photos. The Arr suite is powerful but complex - add these services gradually as you understand your needs.
🔧 Development & DevOps
Professional-grade development and operations tools
📝 Code Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| GitLab |
Atlantis, Chicago VM |
Complete DevOps platform with CI/CD |
🔴 |
| Gitea |
Calypso |
Lightweight Git hosting |
🟡 |
🐳 Container Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Portainer |
Multiple |
Web UI for Docker management |
🟡 |
| Dozzle |
Atlantis |
Real-time Docker log viewer |
🟢 |
| Watchtower |
Multiple |
Automatic container updates |
🟡 |
📊 Monitoring & Observability
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Grafana |
Atlantis, Homelab VM |
Beautiful dashboards and visualization |
🟡 |
| Prometheus |
Multiple |
Metrics collection and alerting |
🔴 |
| Node Exporter |
Multiple |
System metrics collection |
🟡 |
| cAdvisor |
Atlantis |
Container metrics collection |
🟡 |
| Uptime Kuma |
Atlantis |
Service uptime monitoring |
🟢 |
🔍 Development Tools
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| IT Tools |
Atlantis |
Collection of useful web tools |
🟢 |
| Draw.io |
Anubis, Homelab VM |
Diagram and flowchart creation |
🟢 |
💡 Getting Started: Begin with Portainer for container management and Uptime Kuma for basic monitoring. GitLab is powerful but complex - consider Gitea for simpler Git hosting needs.
💼 Productivity
Organize your digital life and boost productivity
📄 Document Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Paperless-NGX |
Atlantis |
Scan, organize, and search documents |
🟡 |
| Stirling PDF |
Atlantis |
PDF manipulation and editing tools |
🟢 |
| Calibre |
Atlantis |
E-book library management |
🟢 |
💰 Financial Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Firefly III |
Atlantis, Calypso |
Personal finance management |
🟡 |
| Actual Budget |
Calypso |
Budgeting and expense tracking |
🟢 |
📝 Note Taking & Knowledge
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Joplin |
Atlantis |
Note-taking with sync capabilities |
🟢 |
| DokuWiki |
Atlantis |
Wiki for documentation |
🟡 |
📋 Project Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| OpenProject |
Homelab VM |
Project management and collaboration |
🟡 |
🔖 Bookmarking & Archiving
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Hoarder |
Homelab VM |
Bookmark and content archiving |
🟢 |
| ArchiveBox |
Anubis, Homelab VM |
Web page archiving and preservation |
🟡 |
💡 Getting Started: Paperless-NGX is excellent for going paperless with documents. Firefly III helps track finances, and Joplin is great for note-taking across devices.
💬 Communication
Stay connected with friends, family, and communities
💬 Chat & Messaging
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Matrix Synapse |
Atlantis, Chicago VM |
Decentralized chat server |
🔴 |
| Element |
Anubis |
Matrix client web interface |
🟡 |
| Mattermost |
Bulgaria VM, Homelab VM |
Team chat and collaboration |
🟡 |
🎥 Video Conferencing
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Jitsi Meet |
Atlantis |
Video conferencing and meetings |
🟡 |
🌐 Social Media
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Mastodon |
Atlantis |
Decentralized social networking |
🔴 |
📧 Email
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Roundcube |
Homelab VM |
Web-based email client |
🟡 |
| Rainloop |
Bulgaria VM |
Lightweight webmail client |
🟡 |
🔔 Notifications
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Ntfy |
Atlantis, Homelab VM |
Push notifications to devices |
🟢 |
| Gotify |
Homelab VM |
Self-hosted notification server |
🟢 |
💡 Getting Started: Start with Ntfy for simple notifications. Matrix is powerful but complex - consider Mattermost for easier team chat setup.
📊 Monitoring & Analytics
Keep your homelab healthy and understand your usage
📈 System Monitoring
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Grafana |
Multiple |
Dashboard and visualization platform |
🟡 |
| Prometheus |
Multiple |
Metrics collection and alerting |
🔴 |
| Node Exporter |
Multiple |
System metrics (CPU, RAM, disk) |
🟡 |
| SNMP Exporter |
Multiple |
Network device monitoring |
🔴 |
🐳 Container Monitoring
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| cAdvisor |
Atlantis |
Container resource usage |
🟡 |
| Dozzle |
Atlantis |
Real-time container logs |
🟢 |
🌐 Network Monitoring
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Uptime Kuma |
Atlantis |
Service availability monitoring |
🟢 |
| Blackbox Exporter |
Atlantis |
HTTP/HTTPS endpoint monitoring |
🟡 |
| Speedtest Exporter |
Atlantis |
Internet speed monitoring |
🟢 |
| Pi Alert |
Anubis |
Network device discovery |
🟡 |
| WatchYourLAN |
Homelab VM |
Network device monitoring |
🟢 |
💻 System Dashboards
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Dash. |
Homelab VM |
System information dashboard |
🟢 |
| Fenrus |
Multiple |
Homepage dashboard for services |
🟢 |
💡 Getting Started: Uptime Kuma is perfect for basic service monitoring. Add Grafana + Prometheus for detailed metrics once you're comfortable with the basics.
🛡️ Security & Privacy
Protect your data and maintain privacy
🔐 Password Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Vaultwarden |
Atlantis |
Bitwarden-compatible password manager |
🟡 |
🌐 VPN & Remote Access
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Wireguard |
Multiple |
Secure VPN for remote access |
🟡 |
🚫 Ad Blocking & DNS
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Pi-hole |
Atlantis |
Network-wide ad and tracker blocking |
🟡 |
| AdGuard Home |
Multiple |
Alternative DNS-based ad blocker |
🟡 |
🔒 Privacy Tools
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Invidious |
Multiple |
Privacy-focused YouTube frontend |
🟡 |
| Piped |
Multiple |
Alternative YouTube frontend |
🟡 |
| Redlib |
Atlantis |
Privacy-focused Reddit frontend |
🟢 |
| Proxitok |
Multiple |
Privacy-focused TikTok frontend |
🟢 |
📜 Certificate Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Nginx Proxy Manager |
Multiple |
Reverse proxy with SSL certificates |
🟡 |
💡 Getting Started: Vaultwarden is essential for password security. Pi-hole provides immediate value by blocking ads network-wide. Add Wireguard for secure remote access.
🤖 AI & Machine Learning
Harness the power of artificial intelligence
🧠 Language Models
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Ollama |
Atlantis, Contabo VM |
Run large language models locally |
🔴 |
| LlamaGPT |
Atlantis, Guava |
ChatGPT-like interface for local models |
🔴 |
🎙️ Voice & Audio
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| OpenAI Whisper |
Homelab VM |
Speech-to-text transcription |
🔴 |
💬 AI Chat Interfaces
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| ChatGPT Interface |
Anubis |
Web interface for AI chat |
🟡 |
💡 Getting Started: AI services require significant resources. Start with Ollama if you have powerful hardware (16GB+ RAM, good GPU). These services are resource-intensive and complex to configure.
🎮 Gaming
Host your own game servers and gaming tools
🎯 Game Servers
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Minecraft |
Multiple |
Minecraft server hosting |
🟡 |
| Factorio |
Chicago VM |
Factorio dedicated server |
🟡 |
| Satisfactory |
Homelab VM |
Satisfactory dedicated server |
🟡 |
| Left 4 Dead 2 |
Homelab VM |
L4D2 dedicated server |
🔴 |
🕹️ Gaming Tools
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| ROMM |
Homelab VM |
ROM collection management |
🟡 |
🎪 Entertainment
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Neko |
Chicago VM |
Shared browser sessions |
🟡 |
💡 Getting Started: Minecraft servers are relatively easy to set up. Game servers require port forwarding and firewall configuration for external access.
🌐 Networking & Infrastructure
Core networking and infrastructure services
🔄 Reverse Proxy & Load Balancing
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Nginx Proxy Manager |
Multiple |
Web-based reverse proxy management |
🟡 |
| Nginx |
Multiple |
High-performance web server/proxy |
🔴 |
🌍 DNS & Domain Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Dynamic DNS Updater |
Multiple |
Keep DNS records updated with changing IPs |
🟡 |
📊 Network Tools
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| iPerf3 |
Multiple |
Network performance testing |
🟡 |
| WebCheck |
Homelab VM |
Website analysis and monitoring |
🟡 |
🏠 Home Automation
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Home Assistant |
Concord NUC |
Smart home automation platform |
🔴 |
💡 Getting Started: Nginx Proxy Manager is essential for managing multiple web services. Home Assistant is powerful but complex - start simple with basic automation.
📁 Storage & Sync
Manage and synchronize your files
☁️ File Sync & Sharing
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| Syncthing |
Multiple |
Peer-to-peer file synchronization |
🟡 |
| Seafile |
Calypso |
Dropbox-like file hosting |
🟡 |
| Droppy |
Bulgaria VM |
Simple file sharing interface |
🟢 |
📦 Package Management
| Service |
Host |
Purpose |
Difficulty |
| APT-Cacher-NG |
Calypso |
Debian/Ubuntu package caching |
🔴 |
💡 Getting Started: Syncthing is excellent for keeping files synchronized across devices without cloud dependencies. Seafile provides a more traditional cloud storage experience.
🚀 Getting Started Recommendations
🟢 Beginner-Friendly Services (Start Here)
- Uptime Kuma - Monitor your services
- Plex/Jellyfin - Stream your media
- Vaultwarden - Manage passwords securely
- Pi-hole - Block ads network-wide
- Ntfy - Get notifications
🟡 Intermediate Services (Add Next)
- Immich - Manage your photos
- Paperless-NGX - Go paperless
- Grafana + Prometheus - Advanced monitoring
- Nginx Proxy Manager - Manage web services
- Syncthing - Sync files across devices
🔴 Advanced Services (For Experts)
- GitLab - Complete DevOps platform
- Matrix Synapse - Decentralized chat
- Home Assistant - Smart home automation
- Ollama - Local AI models
- Kubernetes - Container orchestration
📋 Next Steps
Remember: Start small and grow gradually. Each service you add should solve a real problem or provide genuine value to your workflow.
