Jellyfin – Media Streaming Server
Jellyfin runs as a lightweight media server that streams movies and TV shows directly from the mini PC. By disabling hardware transcoding and using Direct Play, the container stays resource‑efficient, rarely crashes, and provides a Netflix‑like experience for the whole family.
Immich – Self‑Hosted Photo & Video Backup
Immich stores and organizes personal photos and videos without relying on cloud providers. A simple Docker‑Compose file with the correct volume mappings ensures the service runs smoothly, giving offline access to backups.
Syncthing – Real‑Time File Synchronization
Syncthing enables two‑way or send‑only syncing of folders between macOS, Windows, phones and other devices. Its lightweight design and web UI make it ideal for sharing screenshots, documents and media across the home network.
ownCloud – Private Cloud File Sharing
Coupled with Syncthing, ownCloud provides a browser‑like interface for sharing files via links. The familiar UI helps family members upload, download and manage documents while keeping full control over the data.
Home Assistant – Smart‑Home Automation
Running Home Assistant in a container reduces system overhead compared to the full OS install. Although the initial Docker‑Compose setup requires adding add‑ons, the result is a fast‑booting, modular smart‑home platform that can be expanded over time.
Vaultwarden – Self‑Hosted Password Manager
Vaultwarden offers a resource‑efficient, open‑source password vault for the whole family. It replaces heavier solutions like Passbolt and integrates seamlessly with other locally hosted services.
Uptime Kuma – Service Monitoring
Uptime Kuma monitors the health of all Docker containers, providing HTTP(S), DNS, TCP and Ping checks. Real‑time alerts and uptime history help quickly identify and resolve broken services.
Portainer – Docker Management UI
Portainer’s clean web UI simplifies container deployment, volume mapping and network configuration. It’s an essential control panel for troubleshooting and managing multiple Docker stacks with just a few clicks.
Pi‑hole – Network‑Wide Ad Blocking
Pi‑hole, paired with Unbound DNS, acts as a DNS sinkhole that blocks ads, trackers and malicious domains across every device on the network. It improves speed, privacy and protects family members from phishing and spam.
- All containers run continuously on a $100 mini PC.
- Each service is tuned for low resource usage.
- The setup reduces reliance on external cloud services.
- Combined, they provide media streaming, photo backup, file sync, smart‑home control, password management, monitoring and network security.