Homelab Use Cases
Updated
NetBird helps homelabbers securely access their home infrastructure from anywhere and connect multiple home networks together.
Common Scenarios
- Remote NAS Access: Access your Synology, QNAP, or TrueNAS from anywhere
- Home Automation: Reach Home Assistant, smart home devices, and IoT systems remotely
- Media Servers: Stream from Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby while traveling
- Family Network Sharing: Connect your home network with family members' networks
- Self-hosted Services: Access Pi-hole, Nextcloud, and other self-hosted applications
Getting Started
For connecting entire home networks (accessing devices that don't have NetBird installed), see the Remote Access overview.
Guides
NetBird on MikroTik Router
Run NetBird directly on your MikroTik router for whole-network connectivity
Access Home Devices
Set up VPN-to-Site access to reach home network devices from anywhere
Connect Home Networks
Link multiple home networks together using Site-to-Site routing
Recommended Setup
For most homelabbers, we recommend:
- Install NetBird on your devices - Laptop, phone, and any servers you access directly
- Set up a routing peer - Use a Raspberry Pi, NAS with Docker, or dedicated device
- Configure network access - Use Networks (recommended) or Routes (legacy)
| Scenario | Recommended Feature |
|---|---|
| Access home devices from laptop/phone | Networks |
| Connect two home networks | Networks |
| Run NetBird on router | MikroTik Guide |