Core is built to be secure and always up to date. To that end, I chose to install Ubuntu Core which automatically installs updates, so requires minimal maintenance. I don’t want to have to do too much in the way of management. Since I had a Pi in a case doing nothing, I figured this would be a great way to put it to good use.

Procure Private PiĪfter a little research, I discovered easy-openvpn in the Snap Store, a simple Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution that can run on a low-end machine such as a Raspberry Pi. I also wanted a solution that would work easily on my mobile devices, and those of the rest of my family. However, doing that is somewhat manual and not user-friendly. Previously, I would setup SSH with port forwarding to a machine on my home LAN to establish a single, secure connection, which is great for connecting from my laptop. Which can pose a problem if I’m away from home and want to access those files.

This includes self-hosting important shared files, photos and media at home. As part of a personal drive to be less dependent on 3rd party Internet services, I’ve moved some things in house, under my own control.

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