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 

 info 

 

 Table of Contents 

 

 

 

 

 Flag 

 

 

 Your Personal Cloud 

 

 Welcome 

 What is the Cloud? 

 Getting Started 

 Background 

 Understanding the Requirements 

 About the Author 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 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 , we can help protect our families and communities.  

 Project Description 

 

 1. Hardware 

 host 

 

 Table of Contents 

 

 

 

 

 Host 

 

 

 Hardware 

 

 What is a Server? 

 Community Impact  

 Quick-Start Examples 

 Layers of Computing 

 Firmware Configuration  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now that we understand our hardware requirements , we need to find a machine that supports them . We can create an open-source server using consumer hardware .  Finally, there are some  firmware configuration we should check before installing an operating system. 

 See the Hardware Guide 

 

 2. Software 

 terminal 

 

 Table of Contents 

 

 

 

 Terminal 

 

 Software 

 

 What is Linux? 

 An Open Ecosystem  

 Installing an Operating System 

 Configuring Debian 

 Building Community   

 Collectives and Identity   

 What is Docker? 

 Installing Docker 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We need to  install Debian Linux onto our computer to form a foundation.  We will use Docker to create secure, self-contained "virtual operating systems" that are easy to monitor and keep up-to-date. Importantly, we need to  create a backup solution and setup remote access for our server. 

 See the Software Guide 

 

 3. Services 

 cloud_circle 

 

 Table of Contents 

 

 

 

 Cloud 

 

 Services 

 

 What is a Service? 

 Considerations 

 Evaluating Safety 

 Selecting Your Services 

 Managing Services 

 Home Page 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Through 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. 

 See the Services Guide 

 

 4. Monitoring & Maintenance  

 build_circle 

 

 Table of Contents 

 

 

 

 Build 

 

 Monitoring & Maintenance 

 

 Sustainable Solutions 

 Network Access 

 Backup Solutions 

 Administration 

 Troubleshooting 

 Cleaning 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 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. 

 See the Monitoring & Maintenance Guide 

 

 5. World Wide Web 

 public 

 

 Table of Contents 

 

 

 

 Language 

 

 World Wide Web 

 

 What are Computer Networks? 

 How to Remotely Connect 

 Virtual Private Network 

 Web Domain Name 

 Digital Stewardship   

 Security & Privacy 

 Router Configuration 

 What Next? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We will  configure our local network through our router to prepare for connection.  We will use SWAG , a community-driven project to assist everyday people with creating a secure, self-hosted server. This solution uses a reverse proxy server to route traffic from a domain address to your hosted services.  Finally, we will configure your router to connect your server to the internet. 

 See the World Wide Web Guide