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Homelab Year in Review: 2025

· 2 min read
BankaiTech
BankaiTech
Homelab Enthusiast & Self-Hosting Advocate

As we wrap up 2025, I wanted to reflect on the changes to my homelab setup, what worked, what didn't, and plans for the new year.

The Numbers​

Let's start with some stats from this year:

  • 40+ containers running daily
  • 99.7% uptime (excluding planned maintenance)
  • 150TB of data managed
  • 3 major outages (all self-inflicted 😅)
  • 0 security incidents

Major Additions​

Jellyfin Migration​

Finally made the switch from Plex to Jellyfin. The reasons:

  1. No account required for local streaming
  2. Hardware transcoding works great without a subscription
  3. Open source = no surprise feature removals
  4. Active community development

The migration was smoother than expected. All my users adjusted within a week.

Arr Stack Overhaul​

Rebuilt my entire Arr stack from scratch using the full stack guide. Key improvements:

  • Moved to hardlinks for storage efficiency
  • Implemented proper folder structure
  • Set up cross-seed for ratio maintenance

Network Upgrade​

Upgraded my network infrastructure:

  • Replaced my aging Netgear Router with a UDM Pro paired with some Unifi APs
  • Added 10GbE between Gateway | NVR | Switch
  • Implemented proper VLANs (finally!)
  • Upgraded Internet plan to 2GB/1GB Fiber Optic

What Didn't Work​

Automated Everything​

Tried to automate too much, too fast. Spent more time fixing automation than it would have taken to just do things manually. Lesson learned: automate incrementally.

Lessons Learned​

  1. Backups are mandatory - Lost the majority of our family pictures when a drive failed. Now running syncthing backup strategy to all owned PCs/Laptops for multiple backups.

  2. Document as you go - Future you will thank present you.

  3. Start simple - The fancy solution isn't always the right solution.

  4. The community is helpful - Don't be afraid to ask questions. Everyone was a beginner once.

Plans for 2026​

Here's what's on the roadmap:

  • Set up proper monitoring with Grafana/Prometheus
  • Implement GitOps for configuration management
  • Build a dedicated backup server
  • Write more documentation and blog posts!

Thank You​

Thanks to everyone who's used this documentation, joined the Discord, or just stopped by. Building this community has been one of the highlights of my year.

Here's to more uptime, fewer 3 AM debugging sessions, and continued learning in 2026!

What were your homelab highlights of 2025? Share them in the Discord!