Ever found yourself staring at your homelab setup, wondering if you should containerize everything with Docker or stick with good old VMs? You’re not alone! Whether you’re blocking ads with Pi-hole, streaming with Plex, or just tinkering for fun, choosing the right tool can feel like a tech tug-of-war. But here’s the thing—it doesn’t have to be.
In our latest post on Blurbify, we dive into the real-world pros and cons of Docker and VMs for homelab setups. No jargon overload, just practical insights from hands-on experience. Here’s a sneak peek:
Docker: Think of it as the zippy scooter of the tech world—lightweight, fast, and perfect for running multiple services without draining your resources. Need a Pi-hole to block ads? You can have it up and running in under 10 minutes. Plus, you can juggle 30+ containers on a single machine with just 8GB of RAM. (Yes, really!)
VMs: These are the heavy-duty RVs—full OS environments with rock-solid isolation. They’re ideal for legacy software, GUI-heavy tools, or anything needing direct hardware access (like that GPU for Plex transcoding). But beware: they’re resource hogs.
So, which one wins? Spoiler: it’s not a cage match. Many homelab enthusiasts are mixing both for the ultimate setup—Docker for efficiency, VMs for stability. It’s like peanut butter and jelly—different vibes, but oh-so-good as a team.
We’ve got real examples, like spinning up a Pi-hole in Docker or running a Windows Server VM for those apps that refuse to retire. And let’s be honest, we’ve all tried to squeeze one more service into our homelab without maxing out the RAM. Docker might just be your new best friend for that! But sometimes, you need the heavyweight power of a VM.
Curious to learn more? Head over to Blurbify to read the full article and get practical tips on optimizing your homelab setup. Whether you’re a weekend sysadmin or a full-time tinkerer, there’s something for you!
What’s your go-to choice for your homelab—Docker, VMs, or a mix of both? Let us know in the comments! 👇
