Human Crayon

I’m going to say this now before anything happens: backup, backup, and backup. Make multiple copies, store them different places. Please dear god backup your data, because no one else will.

I have a trillium sync server setup, and connect to my network using a VM. The web interface works well enough for what I need it to do. I really wish there was an app for my phone, though.

Determination, patience, a willingness to learn anything you need to.

If you have those, in time, you will be able to get your lab up and running. I started mine with a minimal knowledge of Linux (I could install it from a USB and poke around). Now it’s the center of my families digital life.

You’ll get there in time.

I would highly suggest separating your storage from your compute. I’ve found this to be a cheaper and more flexible option over the years.

Mine is a snap install that started 3 years ago on virtual box and was ported over to proxmox. It has never broken, updates automatically, and generally seems to work just fine.

It doesn’t load instantly, but it doesn’t drag by any means.

I second the R5 case. I have one for my NAS and it’s been a dream to work in.

I’ve been using Trilium Notes for the better part of two years and love it. I have used Obsidian and similar markdown apps, and I find it frustrating to add images due to the need to store them in a separate folder and reference them instead of just pasting them into the page and being done with it. To me, that’s a barrier for notes when I’m trying to brainstorm. I really do like markdown, but it doesn’t work with my though process.

I have a sync server setup at home (with no outside access) and do my main writing inside my network. For notes on the go I use the Notes app on my iphone (its quick and easy) and then drop the notes into Trilium when I get home.

I have all my spare drives pooled together into a frankenNAS system in a spare Fractal R5 case. Whatever media fits gets a backup on there (in order of personal importance). Otherwise I will reacquire all my ISO’s should disaster strike.

I’m a big fan of separating my storage from my compute. I have plex running on one computer, and all the storage for it on a separate one. This allows you to have a lower powered NAS and just serves up files, and a higher spec’d (or smaller) computer for running Plex/Jellyfin.

I have a buddy who uses a mini PC with quicksync to serve up Plex to a few family members, and pulls everything from a larger NAS box running TrueNAS full of disks.

I have (more than I’d like to admit) recovered entirely from backups.

I run proxmox, everything else in a VM. All VMs get backed up to three different places once a week, backups are tested monthly on a rando proxmox box to make sure they still work. I do like the backup system built into it, serves my needs well.

Proxmox could die and it wouldn’t make much of a difference. I reinstall proxmox, restore the VMs and I’m good to go again.

Might I suggest Server Part Deals for drives? Excellent track record and very responsive. They are my goto for refurbished enterprise drives and have never let me down.

I do have a fair amount of music on there. I am able to get to white zombie using the arrows on the side to scroll through the list of artists.

I’ve been using it and have had zero problems so far. Just scrolled down to find White Zombie the other day.

Unfortunately I have no solutions for you. All I can tell you is that I’m running the latest version of PLEX, and iOS 17 on an iPhone 13 mini, and I plug into CarPlay using the USB to Lightning Plug cord. Not sure if any of that info is helpful for comparison.