Raspberry Pi Self-Hosting Server

Foundational OS Prep (DietPi IS RaspOS) with some handy optimized packages ...

1. Downloaded latest DietPi via https://dietpi.com/#download and followed along with latest Installation Guide
   // Used DietPi_RPi-ARMv8-Bullseye.7z (~135 MiB Download) //

2. Easiest to start DietPi install with Ethernet, keyboard & monitor then switch to ssh after first boot

3. Login (root/dietpi), wait for updates ... then ... Change passwords & Disable serial/UART (~5min)

4. Couple of configuration tweaks via Dietpi-Config utility (in menu).  Minimally, set the following:

   • DietPi-Config/Language&Regional->Local=en.US.UTF-8 + Timezone + Keyboard[us]
     // Season to taste, keyboard and country -  IF not already done //

   • DietPi-Config/Network Adapters-> Ethernet
     // Set static IP for Ethernet adapter, we will need it for Pi-hole //

   • DietPi-Config/Security Options->Change Hostname
     // Changing Hostname will force reboot //

   • SSH Server->OpenSSH

5. Reboot here and ssh in for the rest of this

Here's whats/where at this point (ports):

1. ProFTPD is on port 21

2. DietPi-Dashboard @ http://<ServerPi-IP>:5252

3. grafana @ http://<ServerPi-IP>:3001

4. Pi-Hole @ http://<ServerPi-IP>/admin

5. Homer @ http://<ServerPi-IP>homer

6. Lighttpd (Web Server) on Port 80.  Placeholder Page @ http://<ServerPi-IP>/

7. Homebridge (Apple Homekit).  Web interface @ http://<ServerPi-IP>:8581

8. Syncthing  @ http://<ServerPi-IP>:8384

9. Samba Server @ Address = \\<ServerPi-IP>>\dietpi

A few app touchups:

ProFTPD:   Config @  /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf.  

• Season to taste (RootLogin, DefaultRoot, etc)

DietPi-Dashboard:  Config @ /opt/dietpi-dashboard/config.toml

• Set security (password protection)

• Additional nodes as needed to watch over other Pi's (HomePi, SentinelPi ...)

Grafana:  Connect via http://<ServerPi-IP>:3001

• uc/pw=admin/<yourdiepipw>

• Add data sources and import dashboard(s) as needed.  (e.g.  access SentinelPi in our world)

• Set Default Dashboard via Administration -> Default Preferences

PI-Hole: Connect via http://<ServerPi-IP>/admin

• Login with password you remembered to record during install!

• Doc @ https://docs.pi-hole.net/

Homer to tie it all together:  Config @ /var/www/homer/assets/config.yml

• • Worth the read:  https://github.com/bastienwirtz/homer/blob/main/README.md 

  • See also:  https://github.com/bastienwirtz/homer/blob/main/docs/customservices.md

  • Migration Notes:  Stuff to remember when moving after a rebuild.  Don't forget /var/www!

    • /var/www/admin - is pi-hole admin, move at your own risk.  May be best to install fresh 

    • /var/www/homer

    • /var/www/html 

    • /var/www/pihole

Homebridge:  

• First run "Getting Started" to set up Admin user

• Homebridge @ https://homebridge.io/.  Nice doc and help @ https://github.com/homebridge/homebridge/wiki

• Homebridge UI Backup/Restore worked like a charm for the move from HomePi 

Lighttpd:  Config @ /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf

• Redirect default (/) homepage to homer (inserted right after server.document-root stuff)
  # TPed was here - attempt to make homer startpage
  # Redirect directive for default homepage
  url.redirect = ("^/$" => "/homer/index.html")

• Also enabled directory listings so it displays files/directories stored under /var/www/html
  # TPed was here again - enable directory listing
  server.dir-listing = "enable"

Samba:  Config @ /etc/samba/smb.conf

•  Helpful Info @ https://singleboardbytes.com/3352/setting-up-a-samba-share-on-dietpi.htm

September 2024:  

• Cloned/Split ServerPi into 2.  Original (Homebridge + Pi-Hole) on isolated IOT subnet, and New ServerPi  (Homer, Syncthing, Grafana, samba ...) on private subnet 

• So I don't forget:  nmap & ip html formatting

  • nmap

    • Save Scan Results as Nmap XML Format

    • Transform via:  xsltproc <scanfile.xml> -o <scanfile.html>

  • Home net

    • Paste Unformatted text into 'PrettyNet"

    • Export/Save as XHTML

April 2024:  New Internet connection!  ServerPi gets Speedtest-Tracker and temporary upgrade to RPi4 for Gigabit Ethernet tests.  Breadcrumbs in case I need to revisit:

• Installed via ServerPi's Portainer using Docker Compose ... too easy!  Disable when not in use.

• Access via http://ServerPi:8080 ... login as admin@example.com/password 

• Homer Custom Service @ https://github.com/bastienwirtz/homer/blob/main/docs/customservices.md#SpeedtestTracker

Later in October .... Have to be careful to watch requirements of Homebridge plug-in's.  Dietpi can't watch over these

• Added ffmpeg via dietpi-software because I noticed Homekit cameras were not responding.

October 2023 - Rebuild with fresh Dietpi (Bookworm) because Homebridge is in Dietpi's list of optimized software!

• Added Apple HomeKit Services to ServerPi's list of duties.  HomePi has served it's time and ServerPi seemed to have plenty of horsepower.  HomePi is now retired. 

• Eliminated Play-Stuff ... no docker/portainer (until needed), OwnCloud wasn't really needed since ServerPi will now remain relatively static, no grampsweb, etc   

• Migration to new ServerPi to ... pretty easy

  • Homebridge via UI:   Download Backup on old, Restore backup on new!   

  • Homer:  FTP Drag 'n Drop

 Sept 2023 - Figuring out Portainer ... using grampsweb (geneology).  Deployed OK (watch for duplicate ports) but ate the PI alive!  

• Looked like memory usage and swapping/thrashing ... stopped/removed stacks, containers and frinds .... Will regroup

9/3/2023 - Added Avahi so we can find/access serverpi.local 

[*] 152  Avahi-Daemon: Hostname broadcast via mDNS (Zeroconf, Bonjour)