Tags: #homelab #obsidian #syncthing #truenas #docker #selfhosted #proxmox

!Image Description

📌 Objective#

Create a self-hosted, premium Obsidian experience that:

  • Syncs notes across devices (Windows, Android, future devices)  

  • Uses Syncthing to replace Obsidian Sync  

  • Runs a local Obsidian Docker instance accessible via Cloudflare Tunnel  

  • Leverages TrueNAS for data protection and redundancy  

  • Avoids vendor lock-in and monthly subscription fees  

🗂️ Step 1: Dataset and User Setup on TrueNAS#

✅ Create Dataset# 


# Create dataset

/mnt/[data-set]/obsidian

✅ Create User#

  • Username: obsidian

✅ SMB Share#

  • Shared path: /mnt/[dataset]/obsidian  

  • SMB enabled  

  • Set ownership and permissions appropriately

✅ Enable Snapshots & Replication#

  • Periodic Snapshot Task: Enabled  

  • Local Replication: Enabled  

  • Remote Replication (StarkAI site): Pulls the obsidian dataset  

🛠️ Step 2: Syncthing Setup on Proxmox#

✅ Create LXC Container#

Use Proxmox Syncthing Script

✅ Mount Dataset#

Edit /etc/fstab in the Syncthing LXC:


/mnt/[dataset]/obsidian /mnt/obsidian none bind 0 0

Then run:


mount -a

✅ Syncthing Configuration#

  • Folder added: /mnt/obsidian  

  • Devices connected:

  - Windows laptop  

  - Android phone  

🔁 All changes sync in near real-time across devices.

🐳 Step 3: Obsidian Docker Instance#

✅ Create Docker LXC#

Use Proxmox Docker Script

✅ Mount Obsidian Volume# 


/mnt/[dataset]/obsidian /mnt/obsidian none bind 0 0

Run:


mount -a

✅ Docker Compose Example#

Create a Docker Compose file for the Obsidian Web instance:


version: '3.8'

services:

  obsidian-web:

    image: ghcr.io/your/image/obsidian-web:latest

    volumes:

      - /mnt/obsidian/homelab:/homelab

    ports:

      - "8080:8080"

    restart: unless-stopped

📁 You can use linuxserver.io/obsidian or an unofficial community image.

🌐 Step 4: Access via Cloudflare Tunnel (TBA)#

🔒 Goal#

  • Use Cloudflare Tunnel for secure remote access  

  • Set up authentication with Zero Trust policies  

(To be completed…)

🧪 Future Improvements#

  • Add a watchdog to ensure Syncthing stays up  

  • Enable 2FA for Obsidian Web  

  • Deploy a read-only replica on mobile via web view  

  • Daily offsite backups of the dataset  

✅ Conclusion#

You now have:

  • Redundant, self-hosted, real-time synced Obsidian notes  

  • Cross-device compatibility  

  • Docker-based Obsidian access anywhere  

  • A setup that avoids cloud lock-in