Ever wanted to get hands-on DevOps experience without spending a fortune? I turned my old laptop into a fully functional home server that I can access from anywhere — and you can too! Here's how I did it, step by step.
Why Build a Home-lab?
Learn Linux system administration and networking
Gain practical DevOps skills (beyond theory!)
Host and experiment with personal projects
Control your environment, privately and securely
What I Used
| Item |
Description |
| 💻 Hardware |
eME730 laptop (Intel i3 M 350, 4GB RAM) |
| 🧊 Cooling |
Custom plastic enclosure for ventilation |
| 🐧 OS |
Ubuntu Server 24.04.2 LTS (lightweight, stable) |
| 🌐 Connectivity |
Wired Ethernet + SSH |
| 🔐 Remote Access |
Tailscale VPN |
Step-by-Step Setup
1. Clean the Old Laptop
Removed unnecessary parts like the broken display
Replaced thermal paste and ensured good airflow
Built a custom enclosure for better cooling (Here I used old plastic box)
2. Install Ubuntu Server
Download Ubuntu Server 24.04.2 : https://ubuntu.com/download/server
Create a bootable USB with Balena Etcher or Rufus
Install using minimal setup (no GUI) to save resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2m52F0S2w8
### 3\. Network Configuration & SSH Setup
Connect the laptop to your router via Ethernet for a stable connection.
Install basic networking tools:
sudo apt install net-tools
Use ifconfig to check your local IP address:
ifconfig
✅ Verify SSH Access
Try accessing your server from another device:
ssh username@your-local-ip
Replace username and your-local-ip with your actual credentials (you can find the IP from ifconfig under inet).
If it is successful, show like below.
❗ Troubleshooting SSH
If SSH is not working, follow these steps:
Check if SSH is installed:
dpkg -l | grep openssh-server
If not installed, install it:
sudo apt install openssh-server
Start and enable the SSH service:
sudo systemctl start ssh
sudo systemctl enable ssh
Check SSH status:
sudo systemctl status ssh
🔒 Tip: Allow SSH in your firewall (if UFW is enabled):
sudo ufw allow ssh
Absolutely! Here's the updated Point 4 and 5 in markdown format, with the additional notes on remote access, account authentication, and accessing from other devices:
4. Set Up Remote Access with Tailscale
Install Tailscale on the server machine (a simple, secure VPN for remote access):
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
sudo tailscale up
Sign in using your Tailscale account to register the server : https://tailscale.com/
Important:
When setting up, use the same Tailscale account across:
Your server (homelab laptop)
Any other device (e.g., personal laptop, phone) you use to access it
✅ Tailscale Tip:
If the setup is correct, you will see a “Connected” status with a green dot next to your device in the Tailscale dashboard when it’s online.
5. Basic Server Configuration & Security
Update the system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Install essential tools:
sudo apt install htop git ufw fail2ban
Set up firewall with UFW:
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw enable
Optional but recommended: Enable fail2ban to protect against brute-force attacks:
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban
sudo systemctl start fail2ban
💬 Got a Better Way?
If you’ve set up your own home-lab differently or have suggestions to improve this setup, I’d love to hear from you!
💡 Share your thoughts:
Did you use another remote access method like OpenVPN, or WireGuard?
Have tips to optimize performance on low-spec hardware?
Got questions or need help with a similar setup?
👇 Drop a comment below - let’s learn from each other!
