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Results include guide pages, the tutorials hub, the Homelab Journal, and useful site pages.
Tutorials
A practical tutorial hub for Jellyfin, Proxmox, backups, power usage, storage, mini PCs, and safe remote access.
Start Here: Build a Small Efficient Home Lab
A practical starter path for building a small efficient home lab with a mini PC, Jellyfin, backups, private access, and measured power usage.
Recommended Gear
Budget, mid-range, and higher-spec equipment ideas for a quiet small home lab.
About SmallGrid
What SmallGrid is, who it is for, and why it focuses on small, quiet, low-power home labs.
Best Cheap Jellyfin Client for Direct Play
Choose a low-cost Jellyfin client for reliable Direct Play. Compare smart-TV apps, streaming devices, mini PCs, browsers, codec support, subtitles, networking, and 4K requirements.
Jellyfin Direct Stream vs Direct Play: What Is the Difference?
Understand Jellyfin Direct Stream vs Direct Play, when remuxing happens, how server load changes, how to verify the playback mode, and whether Direct Stream needs fixing.
How to Check Why Jellyfin Is Transcoding
Find the exact reason Jellyfin is transcoding. Check the dashboard, playback information, codecs, subtitles, audio, bitrate limits, logs, and hardware acceleration step by step.
Jellyfin Cannot Access an External USB Drive on Ubuntu
Fix Jellyfin access to USB media drives on Ubuntu. Check mount paths, filesystem type, permissions, fstab options, and reboot behaviour step by step.
Jellyfin Docker Volume Paths Explained: Host Paths vs Container Paths
Understand Jellyfin Docker bind mounts, host paths, container paths, read-only media mounts, Compose mappings, docker inspect output, and why media folders appear empty.
Jellyfin Media Disappears After Reboot: Fix Missing Mounts
Fix Jellyfin libraries that disappear after reboot. Check mount points, UUID entries, fstab, service timing, permissions, and empty media folders.
Jellyfin Subtitles Causing Transcoding: How to Stop Burn-In
Fix Jellyfin subtitle burn-in and unnecessary transcoding. Learn which subtitle formats Direct Play, why PGS causes problems, and how to test client support.
Jellyfin Not Scanning New Files: Fix Missing Movies and Episodes
Fix Jellyfin when newly added movies or episodes do not appear. Check permissions, mounts, Docker paths, naming, scans, and logs step by step.
Best Mini PC Specs for Jellyfin: What Actually Matters
Choose practical mini PC specs for a Jellyfin home server, including CPU, Intel Quick Sync, RAM, storage, network, power use, and when you need hardware transcoding.
Best Video Format for Jellyfin Direct Play: MKV, MP4, H.264 and HEVC
Choose the best video, audio, subtitle, and container formats for Jellyfin Direct Play. Compare MKV vs MP4, H.264 vs HEVC, and avoid unnecessary transcoding.
Jellyfin Docker Permissions: Fix Media Folder Access and UID/GID Errors
Fix Jellyfin Docker permission denied errors. Check bind mounts, container paths, UID and GID values, read-only media access, active mounts, and file visibility step by step.
Jellyfin Hardware Transcoding on Ubuntu: Intel Quick Sync Setup
Set up Jellyfin hardware transcoding on Ubuntu with Intel Quick Sync, VAAPI, render permissions, and simple checks for low-power mini PCs.
Jellyfin Library Not Showing Files: Fix Scans, Paths and Permissions
Fix an empty Jellyfin library when scans find no media. Check storage mounts, paths, Linux permissions, Docker mappings, new-file access, scans, and logs in the correct order.
Jellyfin on a Mini PC: Build a Quiet Low-Power Media Server
Build a quiet Jellyfin media server on a mini PC with sensible hardware, storage, direct play, backups, and low-power home lab defaults.
Jellyfin Remote Access Safely: Tailscale, Reverse Proxy, or VPN?
Compare safe Jellyfin remote access options, including Tailscale, VPNs, reverse proxies, HTTPS, and why port forwarding should not be the default.
Jellyfin Direct Play vs Transcoding: Differences, CPU Use and How to Check
Compare Jellyfin Direct Play, Direct Stream and transcoding. Learn how each affects CPU use and quality, why transcoding starts, and how to diagnose it.
Give Jellyfin Access to Media Folders on Ubuntu
Fix Jellyfin permission denied errors on Ubuntu. Test the service user, find blocked parent folders, apply safe ACLs, verify inheritance, and check mounted-drive options.
Proxmox Snapshots vs Backups: What Beginners Get Wrong
Understand the difference between Proxmox snapshots and backups, when to use each one, and why snapshots are not a recovery plan on their own.
Which OS for a Home Server? Proxmox vs Bare Metal vs NAS Distros
A practical comparison of Proxmox, plain Linux, and NAS-focused distros for small, low-power homelabs.
Jellyfin Remote Access with Tailscale on Ubuntu
Access Jellyfin remotely with Tailscale on Ubuntu without port forwarding, DDNS, or a public reverse proxy. Includes setup, MagicDNS, testing, and fixes.
How to Measure Homelab Power Usage Properly
Measure your home server power usage, compare smart plugs and plug-in meters, and turn watts into realistic monthly and yearly costs.
Budget Mini PC Home Lab: Picking a Tiny Box That Can Actually Homelab
How to choose a used or budget mini PC for a small efficient home lab, Jellyfin, Docker, Proxmox, backups, and low-power home server use.
First Things to Self-Host: A Sane Starter Stack
A practical starter stack for a small homelab: services that are worth running yourself and won’t eat your time.
Safe Experiments: Snapshots and Test Environments for Your Homelab
Use snapshots, test VMs, and simple clones so you can tinker without breaking your working homelab.
Updates Without Drama: Keeping Your Homelab Patched Safely
A simple update routine for homelabs that keeps things secure without breaking everything every weekend.
Backups That Don’t Lie: 3-2-1 for Home Servers
A simple home server backup strategy built around 3-2-1, automatic copies, offsite protection, and tested restores.
Jellyfin on Ubuntu: Low-Power Setup, Media Folders and Reboot Checks
Build a reliable low-power Jellyfin server on Ubuntu. Install Jellyfin, mount storage, fix media access, favour Direct Play, measure power, and verify the server after reboot.
Proxmox for Normal Humans: One-Node Starter Setup
A clean one-node Proxmox setup for small homelabs: simple layout, backups, test VMs, and low-power defaults.
Quiet Storage: Add Disks Without Turning Your Home Into a Datacentre
Add storage to a home server quietly with better drive placement, airflow, vibration control, sensible enclosures, and realistic power choices.
Homelab Journal #25: Rebalancing storage took much longer than expected
Week twenty-five of the SmallGrid homelab: adding a used 4TB hard drive, moving data from the drive it replaced, and discovering how long a safe storage rebalance really takes.
Homelab Journal #24: The setup finally feels boring, which is the point
Week twenty-four of the SmallGrid homelab: reaching a useful, stable baseline and choosing small improvements over constant rebuilding.
Homelab Journal #23: Turning notes into SmallGrid guides
Week twenty-three of the SmallGrid homelab: turning beginner mistakes, fixes, and repeated checks into useful guides for the site.
Homelab Journal #22: Making the setup less embarrassing to explain
Week twenty-two of the SmallGrid homelab: simplifying the mental model so the setup can be explained without a whiteboard and a nervous laugh.
Homelab Journal #21: The first tidy rebuild plan
Week twenty-one of the SmallGrid homelab: planning how I would rebuild the server if I had to, without pretending memory counts as a disaster recovery plan.
Homelab Journal #20: Documentation, because future me is unreliable
Week twenty of the SmallGrid homelab: writing down server paths, service ports, backup steps, and the things I keep pretending I will remember.
Homelab Journal #19: Quiet storage and the anti-jet-engine policy
Week nineteen of the SmallGrid homelab: making storage quieter, tidier, and less likely to become the loudest thing in the room.
Homelab Journal #18: Monitoring without building mission control
Week eighteen of the SmallGrid homelab: adding simple checks for uptime, disk space, and temperature without creating a dashboard addiction.
Homelab Journal #17: Starter services and the menu problem
Week seventeen of the SmallGrid homelab: choosing a small self-hosted starter stack instead of installing every useful-looking service at once.
Homelab Journal #16: Docker looked useful, so I made rules
Week sixteen of the SmallGrid homelab: trying Docker carefully, keeping folders predictable, and avoiding a container-shaped mess.
Homelab Journal #15: The first proper test restore
Week fifteen of the SmallGrid homelab: restoring files on purpose instead of waiting for disaster to provide the learning opportunity.
Homelab Journal #14: DNS, where confidence goes to be corrected
Week fourteen of the SmallGrid homelab: testing a small DNS change on one device instead of accidentally annoying the whole house.
Homelab Journal #13: Snapshots are not backups, unfortunately
Week thirteen of the SmallGrid homelab: learning where snapshots help, where they do not, and why recovery still needs boring backup work.
Homelab Journal #12: Proxmox entered the chat, quietly
Week twelve of the SmallGrid homelab: testing Proxmox carefully without rebuilding the whole setup just because virtualisation sounded shiny.
Homelab Journal #11: Update day, also known as mild suspense
Week eleven of the SmallGrid homelab: creating a safe update routine instead of pressing upgrade and hoping the vibes were good.
Homelab Journal #10: The storage tidy-up I kept avoiding
Week ten of the SmallGrid homelab: sorting storage paths, mounts, and folders before they became a future troubleshooting gift.
Homelab Journal #9: Remote access without opening the front door
Week nine of the SmallGrid homelab: setting up private remote access and avoiding the temptation to expose services too early.
Homelab Journal #8: Backups, because confidence is not a strategy
Week eight of the SmallGrid homelab: setting up a basic backup routine and admitting that 'it will probably be fine' is not recovery planning.
Homelab Journal #7: Measuring power instead of pretending
Week seven of the SmallGrid homelab: using real power readings instead of vibes, optimism, and suspicious mental maths.
Homelab Journal #6: Learning how Jellyfin plays files
Week six of the SmallGrid homelab: checking Jellyfin playback mode before buying more hardware.
Homelab Journal #5: Naming files like an adult
Week five of the SmallGrid homelab: organising Jellyfin media folders properly and learning that metadata matching is not magic.
Homelab Journal #4: Jellyfin appeared, then permissions humbled me
Week four of the SmallGrid homelab: installing Jellyfin, creating media folders, and meeting Linux permissions in the traditional way — confusion first.
Homelab Journal #3: Installing the OS and immediately overthinking it
Week three of the SmallGrid homelab: choosing a simple OS, installing it cleanly, and resisting the urge to rebuild before anything works.
Homelab Journal #2: Inventory, denial, and one sensible cable
Week two of the SmallGrid homelab: taking stock of hardware, admitting the mess, and choosing one boring network path.
Homelab Journal #1: Starting small on purpose
Week one of building my own SmallGrid homelab — decisions, trade-offs, and what I deliberately didn’t do.