K3s vs. Proxmox: Homelab Architects Clash Over the Ultimate Self-Hosting Stack
The common ground is undeniable: Docker, Kubernetes (k3s), and Proxmox are the dominant tools for running complex, self-hosted services like Nextcloud, Jellyfin, and Grafana.
The operational debate hinges on control versus simplicity. Some users, like [grk] and [eodur], are building massive, high-complexity infrastructure using k3s, vSphere, and FluxCD to achieve maximum control. Conversely, others, like [tofu], advise a slow, service-by-service rollout to prevent burnout. The field is littered with specific stacks: [boss] runs services on Hetzner with Traefik, while [Kage] masters Proxmox and multiple Docker Hosts. [appauled] advocates for Caddy reverse proxies for stack integration.
The consensus is that running a diverse array of services on commodity hardware is standard practice. The fault line exists between those who commit to massive, interconnected orchestration layers (Kubernetes masters) and those who prefer disciplined, incremental adoption.
Key Points
Containerization (Docker/K8s) is the accepted standard for self-hosting services.
Multiple users confirmed running core services like Pi-hole, Nextcloud, and Grafana within container environments.
Adopting a massive, interconnected Kubernetes stack offers maximum capability.
[grk] detailed complex setups involving vSphere and k3s clusters, while [eodur] cited managing services with FluxCD on a 6-node k3s cluster.
Starting too large or too fast is a path to paralysis.
[tofu] strongly advised users to learn the stack incrementally by deploying services one by one to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Centralized traffic management is critical for connecting diverse services.
[boss] utilized Traefik for central routing across his stack, and [appauled] mentioned Caddy for similar integration points.
Homelabs range from dedicated hardware to remote VPS providers.
Users cited running services across spare home hardware, NAS units, and rented cloud VPS instances (Hetzner).
True digital archaeology skills can be demonstrated outside standard tech stacks.
[pHr34kY] demonstrated a highly specialized skill by recovering an archived, defunct restaurant's PDF menu, showing unique data capture ability.
Source Discussions (3)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.