Computer Play

[Computer Play] Even a Code-Illiterate Built It! My Home Server Journey (1) – Starting with SER9 MAX, Windows 11, WSL2, and Docker 💻🚀 (feat. Claude & Claude Code)

Hello, I’m Toaster! 🙋‍♂️ Today, I’d like to share the first story of an exciting project I embarked on: building my own home server. To be honest, I’m completely illiterate when it comes to code or computers. Yet, driven by growing costs of cloud services and concerns about my data sovereignty, I decided to create ‘my own playground.’ The journey began with a mini PC, the Beelink SER9 MAX. A special highlight is that this entire journey started with Claude, and the installation process was seamlessly handled by Claude Code!

1. Why Did I Want to Build a Home Server? And Why SER9 MAX? ✨

Initially, I used cloud servers. However, as time went on, the monthly costs became a burden, and I felt a vague unease about my precious data being stored somewhere else. So, I decided to ‘manage a server directly with my own hands.’ I dreamed of a digital playground operated in my own space, under my own rules. 🏰

I spent a lot of time considering which hardware to choose for building a home server. After comparing several mini PCs, the Beelink SER9 MAX caught my eye. 10 Gigabit Ethernet, dual M.2 NVMe slots, DDR5 memory, and an efficient AMD Ryzen 7 H255 processor! It boasted incredible specs for its small size. I vividly remember the excitement of ordering it from Amazon and waiting for its arrival. 📦 Throughout this entire process of exploration and decision-making, Claude provided invaluable assistance with various information searches and comparative analyses.

2. Is Windows 11 Suitable as a Home Server OS? 🤔

When I received the SER9 MAX, I found that Windows 11 was pre-installed. Typically, when people think of a home server, Linux often comes to mind, but I’m familiar with the Windows environment, and installing a new Linux server OS right away seemed cumbersome. So, I decided to use Windows 11 as is.

The advantages were clear. The familiar UI/UX made initial setup incredibly convenient, and its compatibility with various Windows software was excellent. For purposes like a media server or simple file sharing, it was quite appealing. However, there were also clear drawbacks. Compared to Linux-based server operating systems, Windows generally consumes more system resources like CPU and RAM, meaning that 24/7 stable operation requires more attention. The absence of advanced features like Remote Desktop Server and Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home was also a downside.

3. A Small Linux World Within Windows: My WSL2 Installation Journey 🐧

I learned that `WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux 2)` was essential for installing `Docker` on my home server. This is because `Docker Desktop` uses the `WSL2` backend to run Linux-based containers on Windows. At first, I was worried it might be complicated, but I entrusted the installation to Claude Code, and it handled everything seamlessly.

Opening PowerShell with administrator privileges and entering the `wsl –install` command automatically installed `WSL` along with a default `Linux` distribution (for me, `Ubuntu`). Even setting `WSL2` as the default version after rebooting was handled by Claude Code without any fuss, leading to a successful and quick setup! It felt amazing to have my own mini Linux server within Windows. 🤩

4. The Magic of Containers: Docker Desktop Installation and Integration 🐳

With `WSL2` installed, it was time to install `Docker Desktop`, the core of my home server. `Docker Desktop` is a truly powerful tool that enables easy building and running of Linux-based containers on `Windows` via the `WSL2` backend.

I downloaded the `Docker Desktop for Windows` installer from the official `Docker` website and began the installation. During the process, I carefully ensured that the ”Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V” option was selected. After installation, I went to the `Resources > WSL Integration` tab in `Docker Desktop` settings and enabled integration with the `Ubuntu` distribution. Claude Code took care of all these steps automatically, so I simply had to observe.

Finally, when I opened the `Ubuntu` terminal and entered the `docker –version` and `docker run hello-world` commands, I felt a sense of accomplishment seeing the “Hello from Docker!” message. 🎉 Now, even complex server environments can be managed simply at the container level!

5. Conclusion: Taking the First Step in Building My Home Server 💖

Thus, starting with the SER9 MAX, I successfully took the first step in building my own home server by installing `Windows 11`, `WSL2`, and `Docker`. Throughout this entire process, Claude and Claude Code were like capable assistants, with Claude providing accurate information and Claude Code executing the commands, which was incredibly reassuring. I realized that even someone like me, who knows little about code or computers, can achieve this. 🤝

In the next installment, I plan to discuss how to deploy various home server services using `Docker Compose` on the environment built today, and how to configure network settings for secure external access. Please look forward to it! 😉

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