How to build a SmallGrid-style homelab
This is the opinionated path to a quiet, low-power homelab that doesn’t become a second job: pick sensible hardware, set up backups, add Jellyfin, then layer on Proxmox and remote access.
Choose a small, efficient box
Start with a used mini PC or small form-factor machine instead of a noisy rack. You want decent CPU, iGPU (for media), and low idle power.
Pick a mini PC under £200 →Set up backups before you get attached
Before you migrate everything, give yourself a way back. A simple 3-2-1 backup with a USB disk and an offsite copy is enough to avoid sad-face data loss.
3-2-1 for home servers →Add Jellyfin for media
Turn your box into a low-power media server with sane permissions, tidy libraries, and optional hardware transcoding.
Jellyfin on Ubuntu (low-power) →Add safe remote access
Don’t open ports to the internet if you don’t have to. Use a mesh VPN like Tailscale to reach your services from anywhere without exposing them publicly.
Remote access with Tailscale →Move to Proxmox (when you’re ready)
Once you’re comfortable, put Proxmox underneath your services. A simple one-node setup gives you clean VM/container separation and proper backups.
Proxmox for normal humans →Keep it quiet and low-power
Place the hardware somewhere sane, dampen vibration, and choose drives and enclosures that won’t make you hate being in the same room.
Quiet storage without datacentre noise →Where to go next
From here you can add Home Assistant, DNS-level ad blocking, monitoring, and more — but the core pattern stays the same: small, efficient, backed up, and boringly reliable.
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