CHRIS KIRBY
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01 homelab 02 agentic engineering 03 privacy 04 platform engineering 05 field notes
~/topics/homelab15 guides · updated 04 Jul 2026

Homelab

DNS that never goes down, a UniFi network that runs itself, and services on a shelf the whole house depends on.

This is the deepest vein on the site and the one I've been writing since 2014. Most of it is a running log of making home infrastructure boring: Pi-hole to AdGuard, VRRP to BGP anycast, VPN to Cloudflare Zero Trust. If you're new, start with the comprehensive guide, then follow the series that matches what you're trying to fix.

★ featured04 Jul 2026 · 13 min read
A UniFi firewall in the middle, a server cluster on the right, a Pi-Hole device on the left, illustrating highly available DNS routing
Highly Available DNS at home with UniFi and BGP anycastMy "highly available" DNS kept failing in the one way that makes the whole house think the internet is down. So I fired keepalived and let the router handle failover. Spoiler: it hasn't missed since.
★ featured24 Jan 2025 · 10 min read
Add free private AI chat to your HomeLab with Ollama and Open WebUIDeploy local AI Chat that is actually good, fast, and comparable to paid using metal you already own, no subscription required. We'll use Open WebUI as our ChatGPT like interface and Ollama as our local model runner. We'll integrate with premium online cloud models too!
★ featured26 Jul 2024 · 28 min read
DIY Homelab with fancy upgrades
Setting up and leveling up your HomeLab - a comprehensive guideI'm writing this homelab guide to share some of the things I've learned, so if you're starting out or looking for what to do next, perhaps you can grab an idea or two for your setup. I would always advise starting small, getting comfortable, and then deciding if you are ready for more.
~/series/hash-series-cloudflare-at-home4 parts
Cloudflare at homeReaching services at home through Cloudflare tunnels and Zero Trust instead of a VPN.
1Use your domain with Cloudflare to securely access services on your home network20222Load balanced highly available Cloudflare tunnels with Docker Swarm20223Replace your Homelab VPN with Cloudflare Zero Trust20224Web Browser SSH Terminal to Homelab with Cloudflare Zero Trust2023
~/series/hash-series-home-dns5 parts
Home DNSFive years of making home DNS boring: Pi-hole, Kubernetes, keepalived, AdGuard, and finally BGP anycast.
1Highly available Pi-hole setup with secure DNS queries to Cloudflare20212Highly available Pi-hole setup in Kubernetes with secure DNS over HTTPS DoH20233Load balanced and highly available local DNS with DNSDist and Keepalived20244Migrating from Pi-hole to AdGuard home, with some upgrades along the way20245Highly Available DNS at home with UniFi and BGP anycast2026
~/series/hash-series-taking-back-the-cloud2 parts
Taking back the cloudThe 2014 origin story of the homelab.
1Why and how I'm taking back the cloud - Part 1: Setup20142Taking back the cloud - Part 2: Plex is your next media server2014
~/technologies · site-wide
~/topics/homelab · ls -lanewest first
04 JulHighly Available DNS at home with UniFi and BGP anycast13 min read 24 JanAdd free private AI chat to your HomeLab with Ollama and Open WebUI10 min read 20 DecMigrating from Pi-hole to AdGuard home, with some upgrades along the way8 min read 21 SepAutomate your Unifi network firewall and traffic rules with Home Assistant7 min read 26 JulSetting up and leveling up your HomeLab - a comprehensive guide28 min read 20 FebLoad balanced and highly available local DNS with DNSDist and Keepalived4 min read 06 OctHighly available Pi-hole setup in Kubernetes with secure DNS over HTTPS DoH6 min read 19 SepRemotely access your home computer from anywhere, quickly and easily3 min read 09 FebWeb Browser SSH Terminal to Homelab with Cloudflare Zero Trust3 min read 15 DecReplace your Homelab VPN with Cloudflare Zero Trust6 min read 11 MarLoad balanced highly available Cloudflare tunnels with Docker Swarm3 min read 12 JanUse your domain with Cloudflare to securely access services on your home network4 min read 11 NovHighly available Pi-hole setup with secure DNS queries to Cloudflare6 min read 13 FebTaking back the cloud - Part 2: Plex is your next media server7 min read 03 FebWhy and how I'm taking back the cloud - Part 1: Setup10 min read