Data Protection Day

Proxmox Backup Nightmare: Avoiding Disaster in My Home Lab

In Uncategorized by dbtech

Self-hosting has become a popular choice for individuals and families looking to regain control over their digital lives. It not only allows for greater personalization of services but also enhances security and privacy. If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at self-hosting, or if you’re already engaged in this hobby, my journey will offer some valuable insights into both the benefits and pitfalls you may encounter.

The Allure of Self-Hosting

Self-hosting can be a compelling option for various reasons:

  • Cost Savings: By setting up your own servers—like a Plex media server or an Emby server—you can save on ongoing subscription fees from third-party providers.
  • Enhanced Privacy: Staying away from popular third-party services can help you avoid data breaches that have plagued many of them in recent years.
  • Customization: You can tailor your server to meet exact needs—whether it’s a media library, a password manager, or a secure storage solution.

Initial Steps Towards Self-Hosting

When diving into self-hosting, I began with straightforward services. Setting up a self-hosted password manager was essential for protecting sensitive data, especially after realizing that premium password managers had compromised my information. After some exploration, I found a self-hosted solution that has served me well for years.

Equally important was implementing a DNS-level ad blocker. I utilized AdGuard for its superior interface and features, providing the necessary shield against malicious ads, which the FBI also recommends.

The Importance of Backups

As my home lab grew, I realized the significance of having a robust backup strategy. A crucial part of this was setting up a Proxmox backup server; however, I faced challenges due to limited hardware specifications on my Synology DS923+.

The RAM limitation posed a problem because
Proxmox recommends at least 4GB for basic operations, which I didn’t have initially. Fortunately, Synology offered to assist me in producing content for Data Privacy Day, which gave me the opportunity to request additional RAM to improve my system’s capabilities.

About Data Privacy Day

Data Privacy Day occurs annually on January 28th, promoting data protection best practices across the globe, including in the U.S., Canada, and 47 European countries. It was serendipitous that my need matched an opportunity to enhance data protection awareness.

Overcoming Technical Hurdles

After receiving the new RAM from Synology, I was eager to set it up and implement the Proxmox backup server. However, my excitement quickly turned to dismay when the server failed to boot properly. An administrative task became a learning experience about maintaining server health:

  • Check systems regularly: It’s essential to monitor your self-hosted services to preemptively identify potential issues. Regular checks can help avoid the fallout from unexpected downsides.
  • Keep backups updated: My initial backup server encountered problems that led to lost data because I missed out on crucial backup notifications. Regularly checking your system notifications can keep you well-informed.

Lessons Learned in Self-Hosting

Ultimately, my experience reinforced several key principles:

  1. Always verify your backups: Running verification on backups is crucial, so you’re not left in the lurch if recovery is needed.
  2. Adopt redundancy: Create multiple layers of backup to minimize risks of data loss from technical failures.
  3. Engage in continuous learning: Every mishap can teach you something; staying curious is fundamental in the self-hosting realm.

I was able to recover much of my setup by creating a new Proxmox backup server on another device. This setup allowed me to re-establish operational integrity through regular sync jobs back to my main server—providing redundancy in case of future errors.

Affiliate Links To Synology Stuff

Surveillance Station:

Resource Links:

AdGuard Docker:

Plex Docker: