Welcome

You may know how to install a program on your computer, but might not even know where to start when asked how the cloud works.  This is to be expected – that's how they were designed! 

 

 Modern open-source software can offer familiar online services and put you in complete control. Host a  personal website , build a private cloud , or share with an online community .  Connect your server to the World Wide Web with a  domain name and modern router, or access all your services while away using a virtual private network . 

 cloud What is the Cloud? 

 In this five-part series, we will learn about the “cloud” – from the ground up – and use this new knowledge to  build our own server .   Aside from your curiosity, all you need to bring is an unused computer system – an excellent reason to explore the low-cost Raspberry Pi or repurpose an old computer . 

 

 Table of Contents 

 

 

 

 

 Flag 

 

 

 0. Your Personal Cloud 

 

 Welcome 

 What is the Cloud? 

 Getting Started 

 Background 

 Understanding the Requirements 

 About the Author 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 Host 

 

 

 1. Hardware 

 

 What is a Server? 

 Community Impact  

 Quick-Start Examples 

 Layers of Computing 

 Firmware Configuration  

 

   

 

 

 

 Terminal 

 

 2. Software 

 

 What is Linux? 

 An Open Ecosystem  

 Installing an Operating System 

 Configuring Debian 

 Building Community 

 Collectives and Identity 

 What is Docker? 

 Installing Docker 

 

   

 

 

 

 Cloud 

 

 3. Services 

 

 What is a Service? 

 Considerations 

 Evaluating Safety 

 Selecting Your Services 

 Managing Services 

 Home Page 

 

   

 

 

 

 Build 

 

 4. Monitoring & Maintenance 

 

 Sustainable Solutions 

 Network Access 

 Backup Solutions 

 Administration 

 Troubleshooting 

 Cleaning 

 

 

 

 

 

 Language 

 

 5. 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? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Through educational do-it-yourself guides we explore the  hardware and software requirements for a home server, including quick-start examples . This process uses  Debian Linux and Docker to quickly self-host your services through the browser-based interface.  

 

 Get Started