# Getting Started

This page will act as a guide through the five books that make up this lesson. We will be exploring how to self-host your own server from home using Do-It-Yourself guides paired with educational resources exploring the history of computing. Along the way, we will critically reflect on what it means for our communities to host your own server.

## 0. Background

<span class="icon-header"><span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="background-color: #859900;">info</span></span>

<details id="bkmrk-table-of-contents-fl"><summary>Table of Contents</summary>

<table border="1" class="align-center" id="bkmrk-stylus_laser_pointer" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 600px; border-width: 0px; height: 261.6px; border-spacing: 5px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 7.02367%;"></col><col style="width: 92.9744%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 43.6px;"><td class="align-center" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;"><span class="material-symbols-outlined">Flag</span>

</td><td class="align-left" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;">[**Your Personal Cloud**](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud "Your Personal Cloud")

- [Welcome](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/page/welcome "Welcome")
- [What is the Cloud?](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/page/what-is-the-cloud "What is the Cloud?")
- [Getting Started](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/page/getting-started "Getting Started")
- [Background](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/page/background "Background")
- [Understanding the Requirements](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/chapter/understanding-the-requirements "Understanding The Requirements")
- [About the Author](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/page/about-the-author "About the Author")

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details>Before getting started, we should know what we're building. Running your own server is an excellent avenue to explore what it means to think like a designer and a developer. By taking ownership of our own [digital security and privacy](https://hub.subspace.services/books/privacy-security "Privacy & Security"), we can help protect our families and communities.

[<button class="nav-button" type="button">Project Description</button>](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/page/background "Project Description")

## 1. Hardware

<span class="icon-header"><span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="background-color: #859900;">host</span></span>

<details id="bkmrk-table-of-contents-ho"><summary>Table of Contents</summary>

<table border="1" class="align-center" id="bkmrk-host-hardware-what-i" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 600px; border-width: 0px; height: 261.6px; border-spacing: 5px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 7.02367%;"></col><col style="width: 92.9744%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 43.6px;"><td class="align-center" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;"><span class="material-symbols-outlined">Host</span>

</td><td class="align-left" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;">[**Hardware**](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware "Hardware")

- [What is a Server?](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/page/what-is-a-server "What is a Server?")
- [Community Impact ](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/page/community-impact "Community Impact")
- [Quick-Start Examples](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/chapter/quick-start-examples "Quick-Start Examples")
- [Layers of Computing](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/page/layers-of-computing "Layers of Computing")
- [Firmware Configuration ](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/chapter/firmware-configuration "Firmware Configuration")

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details>Now that we [understand our hardware requirements](https://hub.subspace.services/books/your-personal-cloud/chapter/understanding-the-requirements "Knowing Your Requirements"), we need to [find a machine that supports them](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/chapter/quick-start-examples "Quick-Start Examples"). We can create an [open-source server using consumer hardware](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/page/what-is-a-server "What is a Server?"). Finally, there are some [firmware configuration](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware/chapter/firmware-configuration "Firmware Configuration") we should check before installing an operating system.

[<button class="nav-button" type="button">See the Hardware Guide</button>](https://hub.subspace.services/books/hardware "See the Hardware Guide")

## 2. Software

<span class="icon-header"><span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="background-color: #859900;">terminal</span></span>

<details id="bkmrk-table-of-contents-te"><summary>Table of Contents</summary>

<table border="1" class="align-center" id="bkmrk-terminal-software-wh" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 600px; border-width: 0px; height: 261.6px; border-spacing: 5px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 7.02367%;"></col><col style="width: 92.9744%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 43.6px;"><td class="align-center" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;"><span class="material-symbols-outlined">Terminal</span></td><td class="align-left" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;">[**Software**](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software "Software")

- [What is Linux?](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/page/what-is-linux "What is Linux?")
- [An Open Ecosystem ](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/page/an-open-ecosystem "An Open Ecosystem")
- [Installing an Operating System](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/chapter/installing-an-operating-system "Installing an Operating System")
- [Configuring Debian](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/chapter/configuring-debian "Configuring Debian")
- [Building Community](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/page/building-community "Building Community")
- [Collectives and Identity](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/page/collectives-and-identity "Collectives and Identity")
- [What is Docker?](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/page/what-is-docker "What is Docker?")
- [Installing Docker](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/chapter/installing-docker "Installing Docker")

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details>We need to [install Debian Linux](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/chapter/installing-an-operating-system "Debian") onto our computer to form a foundation. We will use [Docker](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/chapter/installing-docker "Docker") to create [secure, self-contained "virtual operating systems"](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software/page/what-is-docker "What is Docker?") that are easy to monitor and keep up-to-date. Importantly, we need to [create a backup](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/chapter/backup-solutions "Backup Solutions") solution and [setup remote access](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/chapter/network-access "Remote Access") for our server.

[<button class="nav-button" type="button">See the Software Guide</button>](https://hub.subspace.services/books/software "See the Software Guide")

## 3. Services

<span class="icon-header"><span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="background-color: #859900;">cloud\_circle</span></span>

<details id="bkmrk-table-of-contents-cl"><summary>Table of Contents</summary>

<table border="1" class="align-center" id="bkmrk-cloud-services-what-" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 600px; border-width: 0px; height: 261.6px; border-spacing: 5px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 7.02367%;"></col><col style="width: 92.9744%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 43.6px;"><td class="align-center" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;"><span class="material-symbols-outlined">Cloud</span></td><td class="align-left" style="height: 43.6px; border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;">**[Services](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services "Services")**

- [What is a Service?](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services/page/what-is-a-service "What is a Service?")
- [Considerations](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services/page/considerations "Considerations")
- [Evaluating Safety](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services/page/evaluating-safety "Evaluating Safety")
- [Selecting Your Services](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services/chapter/selecting-your-services "Selecting Your Services")
- [Managing Services](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services/page/managing-services "Managing Services")
- [Home Page](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services/page/home-page "Home Page")

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details>Through [Portainer](https://hub.subspace.services/books/portainer "Portainer"), an intuitive interface for installing Docker services through a browser. We will be using a simple structured syntax known as Docker Compose to pop-up services from pre-built images.

[<button class="nav-button" type="button">See the Services Guide</button>](https://hub.subspace.services/books/services "See the Services Guide")

## 4. Monitoring &amp; Maintenance   


<span class="icon-header"><span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="background-color: #859900;">build\_circle</span></span>

<details id="bkmrk-table-of-contents-bu"><summary>Table of Contents</summary>

<table border="1" class="align-center" id="bkmrk-build-monitoring-%26-m" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 600px; border-width: 0px; height: 261.6px; border-spacing: 5px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 7.02367%;"></col><col style="width: 92.9744%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;"><span class="material-symbols-outlined">Build</span></td><td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;">**[Monitoring &amp; Maintenance](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance "Monitoring & Maintenance")**

- [Sustainable Solutions](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/page/sustainable-solutions "Sustainable Solutions")
- [Network Access](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/chapter/network-access "Network Access")
- [Backup Solutions](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/chapter/backup-solutions "Backup Solutions")
- [Administration](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/page/administration "Administration")
- [Troubleshooting](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/page/troubleshooting "Troubleshooting")
- [Cleaning](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance/page/cleaning "Cleaning")

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details>When running your own server, it's important to have ways to monitor your system and perform any required maintenance. This server will always be operating which makes it even more important to take our system apart to remove dust and dirt.

[<button class="nav-button" type="button">See the Monitoring &amp; Maintenance Guide</button>](https://hub.subspace.services/books/monitoring-maintenance "See the Monitoring & Maintenance Guide")

## 5. World Wide Web

<span class="icon-header"><span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="background-color: #859900;">public</span></span>

<details id="bkmrk-table-of-contents-la"><summary>Table of Contents</summary>

<table border="1" class="align-center" id="bkmrk-language-world-wide-" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 600px; border-width: 0px; height: 261.6px; border-spacing: 5px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 7.02367%;"></col><col style="width: 92.9744%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;"><span class="material-symbols-outlined">Language</span></td><td class="align-left" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 5px;">**[World Wide Web](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web "World Wide Web")**

- [What are Computer Networks?](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/page/what-are-computer-networks "What are Computer Networks?")
- [How to Remotely Connect](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/page/how-to-remotely-connect "How to Remotely Connect")
- [Virtual Private Network](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/chapter/virtual-private-network "Virtual Private Network")
- [Web Domain Name](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/chapter/web-domain-name "Web Domain Name")
- [Digital Stewardship](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/page/digital-stewardship "Digital Stewardship")
- [Security &amp; Privacy](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/chapter/security-privacy "Security & Privacy")
- [Router Configuration](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/chapter/router-configuration "Router Configuration")
- [What Next?](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/page/what-next "What Next?")

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details>We will [configure our local network ](https://hub.subspace.services/books/local-networking "Local Networking")through our router to prepare for connection. We will use [SWAG](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/page/swag "SWAG"), a community-driven project to assist everyday people with creating a secure, self-hosted server. This solution uses a [reverse proxy server ](https://hub.subspace.services/books/reverse-proxies "Reverse Proxies")to route traffic from a domain address to your hosted services. Finally, we will configure your router to [connect your server](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web/page/connecting-your-personal-server-to-the-internet "Connecting Your Personal Server to the Internet") to the internet.

[<button class="nav-button" type="button">See the World Wide Web Guide</button>](https://hub.subspace.services/books/world-wide-web "See the World Wide Web Guide")