A Modern Proxmox Docker Architecture with Disposable VMs, VirtIO-FS, and ZFS

Homelab fans cheer the setup, then instantly start a Docker vs Podman food fight

TLDR: The article argues that splitting home server apps into separate lightweight virtual machines is safer and more practical than old all-in-one setups. Commenters mostly liked the concept, but one instantly launched a Docker-vs-Podman and Debian-vs-RHEL debate while another just shouted that Proxmox rules.

A home server tinkerer dropped a detailed guide on how to run apps in tiny throwaway virtual machines instead of stuffing everything into one big pile, and the comment section immediately did what comment sections do best: turn a careful how-to into a mini civil war. The big idea is simple enough for non-experts: keep your personal apps separated so if one goes bad, it can’t snoop through everything else. The author argues this is safer, cleaner, and a better fit for modern Linux rules that have made older setups more annoying over time.

But the community wasn’t content to just nod politely. One camp basically said, “Cool build, wrong choices.” The loudest hot take came from a reader who liked the overall design but questioned the use of Docker, saying Podman would fit the vibe better because it’s more locked down by default. They also tossed in a bonus jab at Debian, suggesting another flavor of Linux would’ve made more sense. In classic internet style, praise arrived wrapped in critique, like a gift basket full of side-eye.

Then there was the other end of the spectrum: pure, unfiltered fandom. One commenter simply declared, “Proxmox is awesome,” which honestly feels like the entire mood of a certain type of home-lab nerd distilled into three words. So yes, the article is about safer app separation and smarter file sharing — but the real show is the peanut gallery debating whether the author built a fortress or just chose the wrong brand of bricks.

Key Points

  • The article revisits a 2021 Proxmox container approach that originally used unprivileged LXC because of limited hardware resources.
  • keyPoints

Hottest takes

"I like this although I would not have chosen Docker" — saltamimi
"It'd probably be easier to use a RHEL spinoff like Alma or Rocky" — saltamimi
"Proxmox is awesome" — Melatonic
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