I’ve been interested in self-hosting for a while, but didn’t really know where to start. I’ve never messed with Linux before and wanted to jump ship from Windows since Microsoft decided to start putting ads everywhere. I came across this post [https://lemmy.world/post/6542543] which was exactly what I was looking for to start, and seemed like a straight-forward guide. I have two laptops, one I want to act as my media server with Docker and the other as my everyday device. Except I’ve been met with setback after setback from the start. I tried installing Ubuntu Server on the media server laptop but just could not get it up and running. I was suggested to try using a more beginner-friendly distro, so I went with Mint. I also liked the idea of a GUI I can mess around with.

Docker was a success, but then I got to the Adguard part and when I try the docker-compose.yml step, grub just hangs. Decided to skip that part and go onto Jackett. Nope, more errors. Tried Prowlarr, different errors.

I don’t want to give up on this because its something I really want to get going for my media, home automation, cameras, etc etc. But I feel like I’m flying blind here.

I have a lot of homework to do to learn Linux, but is there a different, beginner-friendly guide out there for me to follow for now?

    • h3ndrik@feddit.deEnglish
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      5 months ago

      I’d recommend YunoHost, too. It’s pretty beginner friendly and you’ll probably get some positive results without learning all at once. I mean you have quite something on your plate if you’re learning Linux, Docker, Docker-Compose and maybe networking and Dev-Ops all at the same time.

  • GreenDot 💚@le.fduck.netEnglish
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    5 months ago

    Do you have sample of what kind of errors you’re getting? are they docker related or service related? as in jackett can’t connect/reach sonarr for example?

    • SecretSauces@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
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      5 months ago

      I actually didnt know how to start the Jackett install from the guide I posted, so I just googled and tried following a guide. One of the first steps says sudo mkdir /home/ubuntu/jackett_config

      I get a “No such file or directory”. Makes sense, ubuntu isn’t this user’s name. So I change it to point to “/home/user/jackett_config” and get the same result.

      This is what usually stops me from proceeding further.

      • doeknius_gloek@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
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        5 months ago

        If you try to spin up multiple services but get stuck on creating a directory, you’re moving too fast. I think you’ll need to start a bit slower and more structured.

        Learn how to do basic tasks in the terminal and a bit about how linux works in general. There is a learning curve, but it will be fun! Then move on to docker and get one service up and running. Go on from there with everything you learned along the way and solve the other problems you’ll encounter - one at a time.

  • d416@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    5 months ago

    Without knowing anything about your specific setup I’d guess the issue is with docker not playing nice with your OS or vice versa. Can you execute the standard docker hello-world app? https://docker-handbook.farhan.dev/en/hello-world-in-docker/
    If not then my money’s on this being an issue the OS. How did you install docker on mint, using sudo with a package install?
    Fyi don’t feel bad - I installed docker on 3 different Linux distros last month and each had their quirks that I had to work my way through. Docker virtualization is some crafty kernel-level magic which can go wrong very fast if the environment is not just right.

    • SecretSauces@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
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      5 months ago

      Docker installed great! Hello-World returns what it should. I reach problems whenever I try to do anything within Docker, like setting up AdGuard, Jackett, etc.

  • AbidanYre@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    5 months ago

    Can you give some more details on the errors you’re seeing? Grub and docker-compose shouldn’t be anywhere near each other.

  • wizardry_8@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    5 months ago

    I can resonate with feeling lost when first starting out with Linux. If you like learning from books, I can recommend the “Unix and Linux system adiministration handbook” by Evi Nemeth. It includes information and tips on all things Unix/Linux, including step by step tutorials on home to set up a media server etc.

    Get used to Linux and keep persevering, you got this! :)

  • mydude@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    5 months ago

    This guy has a guide for Rpi5, debian, some disk config, docker, nginx,-proxy-manager, immich. Backup/restore… If you like hands on stuff, this is ok I think…

  • realbadat@programming.devEnglish
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    5 months ago

    So a few comments…

    • I’m not a fan of Ubuntu server, in part because their distribution of docker through snap can conflict with snap from the docker repo. My preference here is either Debian or Proxmox (debian + great virtualization setup). Mint is good, though I like LMDE (Debian edition) more, in part because I prefer Debian in general.
    • You may want to check out dockge. You do need to have docker running for it, but it’s a simple setup, and it has a clean interface for docker compose. Good for getting used to it imo.
    • grub has no part in docker, so it’s something else hanging.
    • What are the exact errors when you enter “docker-compose up”?
    • what is in your docker-compose for each of these?
  • phanto@lemmy.caEnglish
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    5 months ago

    There’s a series of Lemmy posts called the Linux upskill challenge that goes step by step through setting up and using Linux. I tried self hosting and jumping straight in too, and it sucked.

    What worked for me:

    1. Start using open source versions of stuff, like switching from Chrome to Firefox, Office to Libre Office.
    2. Set up Virtual Box, and practice running server apps on Linux on virtual machines, until you’ve done a few Linux VMs and gotten used to the interfaces and commands.
    3. Dual boot a laptop or desktop, one by one getting your daily use apps working in Linux.
    4. Distro hop a bit. I never thought I’d land on Fedora, but here I am.
    5. Get used to running and configuring servers from the command line.
    6. Host some stuff with VMs and get used to the networking and bridging and stuff.
    7. Containers!

    I’m still in the middle of 6+7. Not super comfy with Docker quite yet, but getting there. I really do love having my stuff self-hosted though. Well worth the effort.

    • aStonedSanta@lemm.eeEnglish
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      5 months ago

      To expand on this also. If you are just wanting something that works. You can always install docker on your windows PC and play around with it there before worrying about Linux and its intricacies. Or hell run something like pop_os or Linux mint as your main. And windows as your “server pc” and once it’s setup you rarely have to use the windows server pc it’ll just do its thing.

      • phanto@lemmy.caEnglish
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        5 months ago

        You mean I didn’t need to spend years and thousands of dollars learning Linux and servers? Oh man! Oh wait, I’m getting ads in Windows on the start menu. Yeah, I’m happy.

  • Humorless4483@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    5 months ago

    As a beginner myself I would recommend you installing portainer (a gui for docker) and if you need compose files I have them for all of my services on my GitHub.