So you want out of Big Streaming and their constant price increases? Good. You’re in the right place.
I’m Steve—online, you’ll find me as KryptikWurm—and I’ve been building, breaking, and rebuilding home media servers since before most people knew what Kodi, Jellyfin, and Plex were. This blog is the cheat sheet I wish I had when I started. No fluff. Just real-world homelab advice from someone who’s been in the trenches.
It all started in 2010. Cable TV sucked. Streaming was a mess. I wanted a clean setup where my media actually worked for me. So I built it. Then I rebuilt it. Then dockerized it. Then Proxmoxed LXC’d it. Then dockerized it again. And now? It runs like a dream (mostly).
This site exists so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did. Or at least not all of them.
What This Blog’s Really About
DIYMediaServer is your blueprint for ditching the noise and building a home media empire that’s:
- Private
- Powerful
- Fully under your control
I cover everything from the essentials to the edge cases:
- Proxmox and virtualized media stacks
- Docker, containers, and self-hosted apps
- Plex, Jellyfin, and the full Arr suite
- Usenet, torrents, and automation
- Storage strategies with MergerFS, SnapRAID, and ZFS
- Networking, VPNs, and remote access, without selling your soul to Google
If you’ve ever screamed at Snap for breaking your stack or sat through a 3AM “why won’t Sonarr start” panic, welcome. You’ve found your people.
My Philosophy
Keep It Simple, Stupid.
You don’t need enterprise gear or 12 certs to run a killer setup. You need the right tools, some guidance, and a system that makes sense for your life.
I’m not here to sell you on “one right way.” I’m here to help you find your way and ensure you don’t throw a perfectly good computer out the window in the process.
Why I Built This
Because I spent way too many hours piecing together forums, Reddit rants, and YouTube half-truths. I wanted a place that cut through the noise. A place that teaches real solutions, not just dry how-tos. This is that place.
Whether you’re setting up your first NAS or refining your 12-container media stack, my goal is simple: Help you take control, avoid landmines, and enjoy the ride.
Join the Mission Got a better way to run Sonarr in Docker? Want to nerd out about BTRFS vs. ZFS? Cool. This site isn’t just me on a soapbox—it’s a community of digital tinkerers who actually use their setups and aren’t afraid to break stuff along the way.
Let’s build smarter. Let’s build together.