Hello Linux Format reader. Welcome to my section providing instructions on how to run selected services through rootless Podman. You’re here because you read my piece on setting up your home server and now the system is set up, you’re naturally impatient to do something with it.

We start with the best way to install Podman on Debian 12. The version in the system repos are woefully outdated, and using Debian’s testing repo can be dicey, so thankfully there’s a third-party repo that has everything we need. Just input the following commands:

source /etc/os-release

wget http://downloadcontent.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/alvistack/Debian_$VERSION_ID/Release.key -O alvistack_key

cat alvistack_key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/alvistack.gpg  >/dev/null

echo "deb http://downloadcontent.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/alvistack/Debian_$VERSION_ID/ /" | sudo tee  /etc/apt/sources.list.d/alvistack.list

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

sudo apt install aardvark-dns uidmap passt podman podman-netavark podman-compose

Once installed, type podman version and hit Enter to verify the latest version is installed (5.4.2 at time of writing). Next, create a shared bridge network for containers to use when required:

podman network create bridge-for-podman

This should display ‘bridge-for-podman’, which not only confirms the new network but verifies that Podman is set up and working correctly.

Set up new containers

With Podman in place, simply roll your mouse over Podman containers in the headline above to reveal guides for individual containers, or use the links below. I’ll keep adding as I explore more containers:

Nginx Proxy Manager (proxy to handle secure remote access to your server. Required for https access to the likes of Vaultwarden)

Wireguard (VPN server to allow you to dial into your home network securely when on the road – perfect for accessing and managing your containers without exposing them to public view or access)

Vaultwarden (self-hosted Bitwarden password manager)

Duplicati (backup tool for files and folders)