πŸš€ Nginx Proxy Manager - Zero to Hero πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» | Full Home Lab Setup Guide

Ibrar AnsariIbrar Ansari
3 min read

Nginx Proxy Manager - Zero to Hero Playlist

Hey tech enthusiasts! πŸ‘‹
If you're diving into the world of self-hosting, homelabs, or managing your web applications more efficiently, Nginx Proxy Manager (NPM) is your best friend! It's a powerful, open-source tool that simplifies reverse proxy management with an easy-to-use web UI.

In this blog post, I've curated a comprehensive video series πŸ“Ί from the DevOps in Action channel that'll take you from Zero to Hero using Nginx Proxy Manager in your home lab setup.

πŸŽ₯ Full Playlist: Nginx Proxy Manager - Zero to Hero


🧱 Part 1: Deployment

Video: Watch here

This episode covers the foundational step β€” deploying Nginx Proxy Manager using Docker Compose. You'll learn how to get the UI up and running on your home network.

βœ… Perfect for: Beginners in Docker & NPM
πŸ“¦ Technologies used: Docker, Portainer (optional)


βš™οΈ Part 2: Configuration

Video: Watch here

Once deployed, it's time to configure the basics β€” like UI settings, environment variables, and preparing NPM for use.

βœ… Learn to: Set up database configs, UI password, and admin login


🌐 Part 3: Proxy Host

Video: Watch here

The real magic of NPM starts here β€” configuring Proxy Hosts! Easily direct traffic to internal services using subdomains.

βœ… Setup: Internal services like Home Assistant, Plex, etc.


πŸ” Part 4: Redirection Host

Video: Watch here

Redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS or from one domain to another using Redirection Hosts.

πŸ”„ Use case: Domain forwarding, URL redirection rules


🌊 Part 5: Streams Host

Video: Watch here

Learn how to forward TCP/UDP streams (not just HTTP). This is useful for things like SSH or game servers.

🌐 Protocol support: TCP & UDP


🚫 Part 6: 404 Host

Video: Watch here

Setup a default 404 page when users hit an unconfigured domain. Great for keeping things clean and secure.


πŸ” Part 7: Custom SSL

Video: Watch here

Use your own SSL certificates for custom security needs or enterprise use-cases. Great control for pros.


πŸ”’ Part 8: Let's Encrypt SSL

Video: Watch here

Get free HTTPS certificates using Let’s Encrypt β€” all within the NPM UI. Automatic renewals included! πŸ”


πŸ”‘ Part 9: Access Lists

Video: Watch here

Secure your apps using Access Lists (IP whitelisting, password protection, etc.). Great for sensitive services like dashboards.

πŸ›‘οΈ Ideal for: Limiting external access


πŸ‘₯ Part 10: User Management

Video: Watch here

Collaborate securely with teammates or family members by managing multiple user accounts in NPM.

πŸ‘€ Role-based access control included!


πŸ“ Part 11: Audit Log

Video: Watch here

Keep track of all changes made in your NPM instance. Perfect for debugging or monitoring usage.

πŸ“‹ Logs include: Who did what and when


🏁 Wrapping Up

By following this Zero to Hero series, you’ll master one of the most powerful reverse proxy tools available today β€” with a friendly UI and a lot of automation magic ✨.

Whether you're hosting personal apps, a homelab, or production workloads, Nginx Proxy Manager simplifies it all.

πŸ”— Watch the full playlist here
πŸ’¬ Drop a comment if you have any questions or thoughts!

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Written by

Ibrar Ansari
Ibrar Ansari

Hello! I'm a DevOps Engineer dedicated to continuous learning and contributing to the tech community. If you find value in what I share, feel free to spread the word to others who might benefit as well. Your support is greatly appreciated!