What is This?
This, is my homelab notebook. Public, sure—but primarily for me. I run a Docker Swarm cluster because for me, it’s what I wanted to learn how to do. This site is not a recommendation, not a tutorial series, not a manifesto about why Swarm is better than anything else. It’s just… what I’m running. And I’m writing it down. If you get inspired to build your own homelab from this, that’s freaking awesome, but I am not trying to sell you on the idea that this is a “must have”.
Why Document Publicly?
Honestly? Because when I Google a problem at 2 AM, I find either enterprise documentation that assumes I have a team of 50, or abandoned forum threads from 2018. So I’m adding my notes to the pile. Maybe they help someone. Maybe they help future me when I forget why I made a decision six months ago.
What’s Here?
Configuration files I’m actually using Problems I’ve actually hit (and how I solved them) Decisions I’ve made and why I made them at the time Things that worked, things that didn’t, things I’m still figuring out
No grand architecture diagrams. No “10 Best Practices” listicles. Just the real stuff: the Stack files, the debug sessions, the “oh that’s why that wasn’t working” moments.
The Setup
My Docker Swarm running across mashed together hardware. A Beelink mini pc, Raspberry Pis, and a good ol mini itx build with a 2080 Super GPU and some high capacity hard drives for storage. That’s it. That’s the lab. No enterprise grade equipment. No limbs or organs sold to fund the idea of running a homelab. Other than the Pis, most of the hardware I am using I already hard lying around collecting dust. The ITX motherboard and GPU were parts that came from my gaming pc that I have been upgrading over time.
Why “FrostLabs”?
Because it sounds cool, to me of course. It was originally named Bitfrost, after the mythical rainbow bridging the gap between realms in noris mythology. Bridging the gap between life needs and technology in my case. But, as things progress, rapidly I might add, I started using FrostLabs as a sub-brand. Eventually I decided to run my entire homelab off of my swarm cluster, and thus, FrostLabs because the final name for my entire infurstructure.
Why are you here?
If you’re here, you’re probably Googling something specific or just someone who’s looking for inspiration, thinking about starting the homelabbing journey. Hope my notes help. If you found a better way to do something, cool—that’s how we all get better at this.