Setting Up Nextcloud with Docker on an Old Laptop — Your Own Google Drive in 30 Minutes

Part 2 of the home server series. A complete, step-by-step guide to installing Docker, running Nextcloud, setting up phone auto-backup, and getting desktop sync working." In Part 1 , I explained why I replaced Google One with a home server and showed the architecture. Now we build it. This post covers the heart of the setup — Nextcloud running in Docker . By the end of this guide, you'll have a fully working personal cloud that you can access from your browser, sync files from your desktop, and auto-backup photos from your phone. What you'll need: An old laptop or PC (I'm using an HP Pavilion x360, but anything with 4GB+ RAM works) Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS installed (the official install guide takes about 15 minutes) A wired or wireless internet connection About 30 minutes Let's go. Step 1: Give your server a static IP Before installing anything, your server needs a fixed IP address on your home network. Without this, your router might assign it a different IP every time it reboots, and