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What to use for personal server setup automation?

4 points by jannesan ↗ HN
I'd like to automate setting up Linux VMs with some minimal stuff like installing some packages, copying my dotfiles and updating some configuration like ssh and firewall.

I know Ansible is used a lot for this kind of things, but is there anything simpler out there for the kind of minimal setup I am looking to automate? I see Ansible is not getting much love, not sure why, but that makes me think folks here may be using different tools at least for personal projects.

Curious to hear everyone's thoughts

4 comments

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zer00eyz
I run a pretty chunky box at home... Proxmox has been a blessing and https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/VM_Templates_and_Clones has been a treat.
sydbarrett74
Could you tell us about your hardware build? I've got an ageing Dell PowerEdge T30 that I've been using as a NAS box. I'm looking to replace it with something a bit more current.
zer00eyz
I have:

A few beelink branded mini pcs. One of them is a proxmox box (home assistant VM and MQTT vm). The other is a linux desktop that's getting pop is put on it today!

I have a pair of AM4 boxes: One is going to get turned into the forbidden router (dual 10gb ethernet ports for my ISP upgrade) the other is maxed out ram (128gb) and runs proxmox and a pile of VM's. 1tb NVM and 3 6tb drives (spinning rust, zfs mirrored) for backups and gobs of data.

I run several RPI's (octoprint, camera servers etc) and gobs of ESP32 gear (presense, temp, led displays)

My next box will be a NAS, likely something with 8 bays. After that I would like to build an AM5 box and get a solid GPU in it for local LLM's

I may also invest in another beelink or nuc style box to run other utility apps on (think frigate NVR and a coral tpu)