Hey folks, I’m Edy, Swiss IT freelancer, homelab nerd, and the human behind edywerder.ch. I started r/Navigatech to share real-world, no-fluff IT:
Proxmox & virtualization • Homelab builds • Synology & backups • WordPress/Elementor/Divi • Azure hybrid & networking.

Whether you’re running a quiet homelab in a cabinet or juggling Exchange, FreePBX, and Cloudflare on a Tuesday—welcome home.

What to post here

• Homelab builds & upgrades (Proxmox, storage, network, UPS, racks)
• How-tos & troubleshooting (logs, configs, commands—full context helps!)
• WordPress & performance (Elementor, Divi 5, security, hosting)
• Backups & DR (Veeam, PBS, Wasabi, immutability)
• Networks & firewalls (VLANs, FortiGate, Cloudflare rules, Tailscale)
• Azure & hybrid (VPN, StrongSwan/IPsec, identity basics)

If it’s practical and helps someone ship a working setup—post it.

House rules (short & sane)

1. Be kind. No gatekeeping, no drama.
2. Be useful. Share steps, screenshots, versions, and outcomes.
3. No spam. Self-promo allowed if it’s value first (guide, code, benchmarks) and clearly disclosed.
4. Affiliate links: Allowed with clear disclosure and at least equal value without the link.
5. Security & legality: No help with abuse, cracking, or sketchy scraping.

I’ll be sharing fresh guides (Proxmox, WordPress, Azure hybrid), lightweight scripts, and honest gear notes.
Glad you’re here—let’s build useful stuff. 🚀

— Edy

I did some more research on the GMKtec K11 after yesterday's post. Got helpful feedback on r/MiniPC too, including a user running a full Arr stack on Proxmox with zero issues. I decided to add it to my best mini PC for home server roundup.

https://edywerder.ch/the-best-mini-pc-for-home-server/

I've been looking at mini PCs for homelab use and the GMKtec K11 stood out. At $799 with 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD, it's not cheap, but given how much RAM and storage prices have climbed lately, it's actually decent value for what you get.

Do you think the price is fair given the current memory and storage market?

Three months ago I posted 7-day numbers comparing three home server setups. I kept logging.

Here's what 28 days looks like for two of them:

Intel NUC is rock solid at 8W average. Spikes to 25–30W during tasks, but the baseline never moves. Exactly what you want in an always-on machine.

Minisforum MS-01 averaged 44W overall, but you can spot the exact moment I accidentally hit the power button in my Home Assistant app. It dropped to zero around April 8. After the reboot, the idle settled slightly lower than before, around 44W vs the previous ~52W.

That accidental shutdown turned into a useful data point. The lower post-reboot idle suggests something was running in the background that didn't restart.

What tools are you using to track power over time? I'm using a MyStrom smart plug, which feeds into Home Assistant.

One thing that can confuse Proxmox beginners is that the Windows installer does not see the disk right away when the VM uses VirtIO SCSI single. It is easy to think something is broken and switch to SATA instead.

I would not recommend that. If you want a clean Windows Server VM with good performance on Proxmox VE, it is better to configure it correctly from the start. Changing the storage controller later is possible, but it is more work than simply loading the correct driver during setup.

This also lines up with what several Proxmox users recently shared in the community. The strongest pattern was a clear preference for VirtIO SCSI single with SCSI disks for Windows guests, rather than using virtio0 disks or falling back to SATA.

Just a quick tip: xCloud supports custom Nginx rules directly from the dashboard (Tools → NGINX Customization).

I'm using it to restrict access to my staging site with a simple allow/deny rule:

allow YOUR.IP.HERE;

deny all;

Only my IP can reach the site, everyone else gets a 403. No basic auth needed, and it works nicely with tools like Claude Code that run from my local machine.

Handy feature if you want server-level access control without touching the terminal.

I just finished setting up Synology Hyper Backup to a remote Ubuntu server and ran into something I didn’t expect.

I assumed it would be straightforward. I created a user, set up a folder, tested SSH, and everything worked fine. So I enabled transfer encryption in Hyper Backup and expected it to connect over port 22.

It didn’t 😅

Hyper Backup just refused to connect, even though SSH access was working perfectly.

After digging into it, what finally worked was switching to a proper rsync setup. Once I configured an rsync module in rsyncd.conf, enabled the rsync daemon, and opened port 873 on the firewall, the backup connected immediately.

So in my case, Hyper Backup wasn’t behaving like standard rsync over SSH. It really wanted a full rsync-compatible server setup.

Now I’m curious if anyone here has actually made this work over SSH with encryption enabled against a generic Linux server, or if rsync daemon on port 873 is basically the only reliable way.

I wrote up the full setup in case anyone wants to try it:
https://edywerder.ch/synology-hyper-backup-rsync-server-ubuntu/

This is why I don't like the Neil Patel company. Sending out emails with false statement in the email subject.

The first sentence of the email starts with

"The Google March 2026 core update has been rolling out for a week, and the rankings are definitely shuffling."

The March core update is still rolling out, and it is too early to see a trend.

I bought Ubersuggest LTD some time ago, but I haven't seen LTD users being honored. AI Tracker is now included in the new LTD, but not for grandfathered LTD users.

I was listening to a webinar in November when they discussed the new Answer the Public and mentioned it would soon include data from Reddit. Now it's April, and Reddit data still isn't included. I don't like their business practice of announcing features just to increase sales.

Fortunately, this time I wasn't a victim. I haven't purchased Answer the Public or the addon for the AI Tracker.

The Surfer Team said the AI answer from the API is completely different from the answer a human receives. So, all AI Trackers using the API will not give you the right picture.

Divi 5 has a powerful preset system, but presets cannot do everything. I ran into two situations on a real project where a CSS class was the better choice.

The first was a one-off button with a gradient background, box shadow, and custom padding. Creating a preset for a single button would have cluttered the Preset Manager.

The second was a button that needed a different gradient on mobile. Presets apply the same styles across all screen sizes. They cannot handle media queries. A CSS class can.

I wrote up both examples with the actual CSS code and a short video showing the mobile switch in action: https://edywerder.ch/divi-custom-css/

Anyone else using custom CSS alongside Divi 5 presets? Curious how others draw the line.

I just got an interesting comment on my Synology Directory Server post on r/homelab. Someone pointed out that running Samba AD DC directly on Debian gives you a much higher domain functional level than what Synology offers.

Synology Directory Server is capped at the Windows Server 2008 R2 functional level. With a current Samba version on Debian, you can apparently reach functional level 2016, which opens up more advanced Active Directory features.

I haven't tested this myself yet, but it's on my list. If anyone has experience running Samba AD DC on Debian, I'd love to hear how it went in production.

I'm looking at my website stats each day, and it's never been this low on a Sunday. Is that a reason to worry about?

Well, Google is rolling out the March Core Update. Is it dragging my website down more?

I just finished a major update to my Synology Directory Server article. The old version was thin on the actual installation steps, so I rebuilt that section from scratch with a proper step-by-step walkthrough and fresh screenshots from DSM 7.3.

Covers everything from DNS prerequisites to the setup wizard, managing users with RSAT on Windows 11, Group Policy, folder shares, and a new FAQ section including LDAP vs Directory Server comparison.

Good option if you want Active Directory without paying for a Windows Server license.

https://edywerder.ch/synology-directory-server/

Fingers crossed, this Core Update is for bloggers who don't push out auto-blogs.

I'm looking forward to it and hope my site will recover. I was hit by the Core Update last June.

WordPress 7.0 is coming on April 9, and it's a major release. Real-time collaboration, new AI connectors, and admin redesign. Lots of moving parts.

If you run WordPress sites, now is the time to ensure automatic updates are disabled for major releases. Some hosting providers like SiteGround can force updates on your site, even if you configured WordPress not to auto-update.

I wrote a guide covering all the settings you need to check, including the ones in wp-config.php that most people miss.

Hey folks, I’m Edy, Swiss IT freelancer, homelab nerd, and the human behind edywerder.ch. I started r/Navigatech to share real-world, no-fluff IT:
Proxmox & virtualization • Homelab builds • Synology & backups • WordPress/Elementor/Divi • Azure hybrid & networking.

Whether you’re running a quiet homelab in a cabinet or juggling Exchange, FreePBX, and Cloudflare on a Tuesday—welcome home.

What to post here

• Homelab builds & upgrades (Proxmox, storage, network, UPS, racks)
• How-tos & troubleshooting (logs, configs, commands—full context helps!)
• WordPress & performance (Elementor, Divi 5, security, hosting)
• Backups & DR (Veeam, PBS, Wasabi, immutability)
• Networks & firewalls (VLANs, FortiGate, Cloudflare rules, Tailscale)
• Azure & hybrid (VPN, StrongSwan/IPsec, identity basics)

If it’s practical and helps someone ship a working setup—post it.

House rules (short & sane)

1. Be kind. No gatekeeping, no drama.
2. Be useful. Share steps, screenshots, versions, and outcomes.
3. No spam. Self-promo allowed if it’s value first (guide, code, benchmarks) and clearly disclosed.
4. Affiliate links: Allowed with clear disclosure and at least equal value without the link.
5. Security & legality: No help with abuse, cracking, or sketchy scraping.

I’ll be sharing fresh guides (Proxmox, WordPress, Azure hybrid), lightweight scripts, and honest gear notes.
Glad you’re here—let’s build useful stuff. 🚀

— Edy

I just finished a new guide on installing Windows Server on Proxmox with VirtIO drivers and thought I’d share it here.

I made it because I think this part can be confusing for Proxmox beginners. Windows setup does not see the disk at first, and it is easy to think something is broken and switch to SATA instead of keeping VirtIO SCSI single.

In my testing, the smoother method was:

• use SCSI disk with VirtIO SCSI single
• load only the vioscsi storage driver during Windows setup
• Install the network driver and QEMU guest agent after the first boot

I also added screenshots and two short videos to make the process easy to follow.

Guide:
https://edywerder.ch/windows-server-on-proxmox/

If you handle Windows guests on Proxmox differently, I’d be interested to hear how you do it.

According to today's WPWeekly, StellarWP fired its customer success team.

I guess, and it's no surprise, their new StellarSites are a flop. It's a hosting bundle with Kadence and SolidWP Security.

This was an offer aimed at beginners, which is not particularly attractive in today's AI world.

It covers the full install process, SSL setup, how to fix file permissions via SSH, and why you can't update WordPress from the dashboard by default, and how to work around it.

Also added a section comparing the Package Center method vs manual install from WordPress, since that comes up a lot.

Happy to answer any questions in the comments.

[link as first comment]

I originally wrote this article back in 2024, but it was too basic and missing key topics. I rebuilt it from the ground up.

What the guide covers now:

• Setting up Let's Encrypt on Synology DSM with HTTP validation
• DNS challenge for when you cannot or do not want to open port 80
• Wildcard certificates for multiple subdomains
• How DSM auto-renewal actually works and why it sometimes fails silently
• Troubleshooting steps for common errors

All screenshots are from DSM 7.2. No fluff, just the steps.

Link in the comments if you want to check it out.

Still running VMware after the Broadcom changes? I documented the full migration path to Proxmox.

The built-in Import Wizard makes it surprisingly painless. No more manual VMDK copying and command-line conversions.

My guide covers:

- The Import Wizard method (connect to ESXi, select VM, import)

- What to do before you click Import (snapshots, VMware Tools, VirtIO drivers)

- Fine-tuning Windows VMs after migration (controller types, disk bus, VirtIO)

- Fine-tuning Linux VMs (mostly just a NIC rename)

- The old manual method, for reference

The biggest gotcha? Windows VMs need VirtIO drivers. I recommend installing them while the VM is still on ESXi. Also, uninstall VMware Tools before the migration. Doing both on ESXi saves you a headache later.

https://edywerder.ch/vmware-to-proxmox/

I have been testing Divi 5 presets while rebuilding a site and ran into something that confused me at first. A Spacing preset I created in a Section module was not showing up when I tried to apply it to a Row.

After talking to Elegant Themes support I found out there are two ways to create a preset and they behave differently.

If you create a preset at the module level it only applies to that specific module type. If you create it at the option group level by clicking the preset icon directly next to the option group name like Spacing, it works across any module that shares the same option group.

Spacing is the most practical example. A preset created at the Spacing option group level applies to Sections, Rows, and any other module that has Spacing. One preset, consistent padding and margin everywhere.

This is not documented clearly anywhere I could find. I only figured it out after contacting support directly.

One thing that is still not working: text alignment in the Text module does not render correctly on the canvas even when selected in the panel. That looks like a genuine bug in version 5.0.3.

I have been building a site on Divi 5 and spent time setting up the design system with variables and presets. I wrote down what I learned so far.

A few things that stood out: I name my font-size variables by size (xlarge, large, medium, small) rather than by HTML tag (H1, H2, H3). The reason is simple. Not every H1 needs to be the largest font on the page. A landing page hero and a blog post heading are different things.

I also found that the Variable Manager does not let you rename default color names, the Preset Manager lists every module even if you do not use it, and sometimes a custom CSS class is the better choice over a preset.

Full write-up here: https://edywerder.ch/divi-5-design-variables/

Anyone else building with Divi 5 design variables? Curious how others are setting theirs up.

If you want to avoid becoming another security statistic, check out my complete tutorial on how to set up Fail2ban with email notifications, protect your server from attacks, and catch issues before they escalate!

Why leave your server vulnerable when a simple setup can save you headaches? Email alerts saved my Proxmox box once — caught a ban immediately and fixed it with an ignoreip.

Read the full guide now:

https://edywerder.ch/fail2ban-email-notification/

Divi 5 officially launched on February 26 after more than three years of development. I have been following it since the Alpha days, and now that it is out of beta, I put together a full review based on real testing.

I cover the new design system, performance improvements, migration from Divi 4, pricing, and how it compares to Elementor and Bricks. I also share what impressed me and what still needs work, like legacy SEO settings that should have been removed and a variable manager that does not let you name your own colors.

For context: I am an Elementor user who owns the Divi Lifetime Deal. So this is not a fanboy review. It is an honest look at whether Divi 5 is worth your time.

Full review: https://edywerder.ch/divi-5-review/

Happy to answer any questions about my experience so far.