Welcome to Bas Rutjes Blog

I write about running real-world homelabs: Docker infrastructure, self-hosting without drama, and the automation that keeps it all upright. Expect practical guides, configs that ship, and lessons learned from breaking and fixing my own stack.
Career transition

New chapter: From Equinix to Topicus

After more than seven years at Equinix, I’m making a change. On February 1st, I’ll be starting as Team Lead and Product Owner at Topicus. The Equinix chapter When I joined Equinix back in 2019, I had no idea what the journey would look like. I started as a Deployment Engineer—hands-on, technical, focused on getting things done. Over time, that role evolved into something completely different: Product Owner. The company transformed around me too. What was once a local team became part of a truly international organization. I learned what it means to collaborate across borders, time zones, and cultures. Working with colleagues from APAC, EMEA, and the Americas taught me more about communication and alignment than any training ever could. ...

January 16, 2026 · 2 min · Bas Rutjes
Self-Hosted Docker Infrastructure

My Self-Hosted Docker Infrastructure

My Self-Hosted Docker Infrastructure Why Self-Host? Before diving into the technical details, let me explain why I chose this path. Self-hosting gives me: Control over my data - No third-party has access to my files, passwords, or personal information Privacy - Everything runs on my own hardware, behind my own firewall Learning opportunities - Running production services teaches you things you can’t learn from tutorials Cost savings - One-time hardware investment vs. ongoing subscription fees Customization - I can tweak and optimize everything to work exactly how I want But self-hosting isn’t just about avoiding Big Tech. It’s about building something you understand from the ground up. ...

December 2, 2025 · 6 min · Bas Rutjes
Docker Swarm using DietPi

Docker Swarm using DietPi

Docker Swarm using DietPi Why DietPi? DietPi strikes the perfect balance: it’s lightweight, actively maintained, runs on tons of devices, and is incredibly easy to configure. Whether you’re using Raspberry Pi, other single-board computers, or even virtual machines on Proxmox or VMWare, DietPi makes cluster deployment straightforward. Note: This guide assumes you’re using Raspberry Pi or similar SBCs. If you’re running on Proxmox or VMWare, some steps—especially editing dietpi.txt—will differ slightly. ...

November 18, 2024 · 6 min · Bas Rutjes