# Getting Started Guide Welcome to your AI-powered homelab! This guide will walk you through setting up your production-ready infrastructure with Dockge, Traefik, Authelia, and 60+ services. ## Getting Started Checklist - [ ] Clone this repository to your home folder - [ ] Configure `.env` file with your domain and tokens - [ ] Run setup script (generates Authelia secrets and admin user) - [ ] Log out and back in for Docker group permissions - [ ] Run deployment script (deploys all core, infrastructure & dashboard services) - [ ] Access Dockge web UI - [ ] Set up 2FA with Authelia - [ ] (optional) Deploy additional stacks as needed via Dockge - [ ] Configure and use VS Code with Github Copilot to manage the server ## Quick Setup (Recommended) For most users, the automated setup script handles everything: ### Prerequisites - **Fresh Debian/Ubuntu server** (or existing system) - **Root/sudo access** - **Internet connection** - **VS Code with GitHub Copilot** (for AI assistance) ### Simple Setup 1. **Connect to your server** via SSH >Tip: Use VS Code on your local machine to ssh in to your server for the easiest install! 2. **Install git if needed** ```bash sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt install git 3. **Clone the rep**: ```bash git clone https://github.com/kelinfoxy/AI-Homelab.git cd AI-Homeb 4. **Configure environment**: ```bash cp .env.example .env nano .env # Edit with your domain and tokens ``` **Required variables in .env:** - `DOMAIN` - Your DuckDNS domain (e.g., yourdomain.duckdns.org) - `DUCKDNS_TOKEN` - Your DuckDNS token from [duckdns.org](https://www.duckdns.org/) - `ACME_EMAIL` - Your email for Let's Encrypt certificates - `SURFSHARK_USERNAME` and `SURFSHARK_PASSWORD` - If using VPN **Note:** The `.env` file stays in the repository folder (`~/AI-Homelab/.env`). The deploy script copies it to stack directories automatically. Authelia secrets (JWT, session, encryption key) are auto-generated by the setup script - leave them with default values for now. 5. **Run the setup script:** ```bash sudo ./scripts/setup-homelab.sh ``` The script will: - Update system packages - Install Docker Engine + Compose V2 (if needed) - Configure user groups (docker, sudo) - Set up firewall (UFW) - Enable SSH server - **Generate Authelia secrets** (JWT, session, encryption key) - **Prompt for admin username, password, and email** - **Generate argon2id password hash** (30-60 seconds) - Create `/opt/stacks/` directory structure - Set up Docker networks (homelab, traefik, dockerproxy, media) - Detect NVIDIA GPU and offer driver installation **Important:** If NVIDIA drivers were installed, reboot your system now before continuing. 6. **Deploy homelab**: ```bash sudo ./scripts/deploy-homelab.sh ``` **The deploy script automatically:** - Creates Docker networks - Configures Traefik with your email and domain - **Obtains wildcard SSL certificate** (*.yourdomain.duckdns.org) via DNS challenge - Deploys core stack (DuckDNS, Traefik, Authelia, Gluetun) - Deploys infrastructure stack (Dockge, Pi-hole, monitoring) - Deploys dashboards stack (Homepage, Homarr) - Opens Dockge in your browser **Note:** Certificate generation may take 2-5 minutes. All services will use the wildcard certificate automatically. **Login credentials:** - Username: `admin` (default username - or the custom username you specified during setup) - Password: The secure password you created when prompted by the setup script **That's it!** Your homelab is ready. **Access Dockge at `https://dockge.yourdomain.duckdns.org`** ## What the Setup Script Does The `setup-homelab.sh` script is a comprehensive first-run configuration tool: **System Preparation:** - ✅ Pre-flight checks (internet connectivity, disk space 50GB+) - ✅ Updates system packages - ✅ Installs required packages (git, curl, etc.) - ✅ Installs Docker Engine + Compose V2 (if not present) - ✅ Configures user permissions (docker, sudo groups) - ✅ Sets up firewall (UFW with SSH, HTTP, HTTPS) - ✅ Enables SSH server **Authelia Configuration (Interactive):** - ✅ Generates three cryptographic secrets (JWT, session, encryption) - ✅ Prompts for admin username (default: admin) - ✅ Prompts for secure password with confirmation - ✅ Prompts for admin email address - ✅ Generates argon2id password hash using Docker (30-60s process) - ✅ Validates Docker is available before password operations - ✅ Saves credentials securely for deployment script **Infrastructure Setup:** - ✅ Creates directory structure (`/opt/stacks/`) - ✅ Sets up Docker networks (homelab, traefik, dockerproxy, media) - ✅ Detects NVIDIA GPU and offers driver installation **Safety Features:** - Skips completed steps (safe to re-run) - Timeout handling (60s for Docker operations) - Comprehensive error messages with troubleshooting hints - Exit on critical failures with clear next steps ## Manual Setup (Alternative) If you prefer manual control or the automated script fails, see the [Manual Setup Guide](manual-setup.md) for step-by-step instructions on installing Docker, configuring services, and deploying the homelab manually. ## Post-Setup Next Steps ### Access Your Services - **Dockge**: `https://dockge.yourdomain.duckdns.org` - **Authelia**: `https://auth.yourdomain.duckdns.org` - **Traefik**: `https://traefik.yourdomain.duckdns.org` ### Set Up 2FA with Authelia 1. Access `https://auth.yourdomain.duckdns.org` 2. Set up your admin user 3. Configure 2FA for security ### Deploy Additional Stacks Use Dockge to deploy stacks like: - `arr-apps.yml` - Media management (Radarr, Sonarr, Prowlarr, etc.) - `media-servers.yml` - Plex and Jellyfin - `downloaders.yml` - qBittorrent, Transmission, etc. - `monitoring.yml` - Uptime Kuma and metrics - `system-tools.yml` - Utility services - `automation.yml` - Automated workflows **Note:** The dashboards stack (Homepage and Homarr) is already deployed during initial setup. ### Set Up Homepage Widgets 1. Access Homepage dashboard 2. Get API keys from services 3. Configure widgets in `/opt/stacks/dashboards/homepage/config/` ## VS Code Integration 1. Install VS Code and GitHub Copilot 2. Open the AI-Homelab repository 3. Use AI assistance for: - Adding new services - Configuring Traefik routing - Managing Docker stacks ## Debloat or add custom service >Use VS Code on the server or on your local machine Tell the chat **Agent** what changes to make to the server. Be sure to choose an LLM that is good at code. Tell the AI what service you want to install or give it a docker based github repository or docker hub image. Use your imagination, the copilot instructions are configured with best practices and a framework to add new services. ## Troubleshooting ### Script Issues - **Permission denied**: Run with `sudo` - **Docker not found**: Log out/in or run `newgrp docker` - **Network conflicts**: Check existing networks with `docker network ls` ### Service Issues - **Can't access services**: Check Traefik dashboard at `https://traefik.yourdomain.duckdns.org` - **SSL certificate errors**: Wait 2-5 minutes for wildcard certificate to be obtained from Let's Encrypt - Check status: `python3 -c "import json; d=json.load(open('/opt/stacks/core/traefik/acme.json')); print(f'Certificates: {len(d[\"letsencrypt\"][\"Certificates\"])}')"` - View logs: `docker exec traefik tail -50 /var/log/traefik/traefik.log | grep certificate` - **Authelia login fails**: Check user database configuration at `/opt/stacks/core/authelia/users_database.yml` - **"Not secure" warnings**: Clear browser cache or wait for DNS propagation (up to 5 minutes) - **Check logs**: Use Dozzle web interface at `https://dozzle.yourdomain.duckdns.org` or run `docker logs ` ### Common Fixes ```bash # Restart Docker sudo systemctl restart docker # Check service logs cd /opt/stacks/stack-name docker compose logs -f # Rebuild service docker compose up -d --build service-name ``` ## Next Steps 1. **Explore services** through Dockge 2. **Configure backups** with Backrest/Duplicati 3. **Set up monitoring** with Grafana/Prometheus 4. **Add external services** via Traefik proxying 5. **Use AI assistance** for custom configurations Happy homelabbing! 🚀