Self-Hosted Cloud Streaming & Storage
Built a secure, self-hosted streaming and storage platform enabling encrypted cross-device access with enterprise-grade security and scalable data management.
Overview
This project demonstrates the implementation of a fully self-hosted cloud infrastructure capable of streaming media and storing data securely across multiple devices. Built using modern containerization and networking technologies, the platform provides a privacy-focused alternative to commercial cloud services.
The system was developed in July 2025 and showcases expertise in Docker containerization, reverse proxy configuration, and secure tunnel implementation using Cloudflare Argo Tunnels.
Technical Architecture
The platform is built on a modular microservices architecture using Docker containers for service isolation and scalability. Each service runs in its own container, allowing for independent scaling and maintenance without affecting other components of the system.
Key Technologies
Plex Media Server
Implemented Plex as the core media streaming engine, providing a user-friendly interface for organizing and streaming media content across devices. Configured transcoding capabilities for adaptive streaming based on network conditions and device capabilities.
Docker Containerization
Deployed modular services using Docker for simplified management and scalability. Each service is containerized with proper networking, volumes, and resource limits configured for optimal performance and isolation.
Security Implementation
Security was a primary focus throughout the development process. The platform implements end-to-end encryption for all data transmission using industry-standard protocols.
Cloudflare Argo Tunnels
Implemented Cloudflare Argo Tunnels for zero-trust, remote connectivity without exposing network ports. This eliminates the need for port forwarding and provides automatic DDoS protection while maintaining low-latency connections.
End-to-End Encryption
All communications between the server and clients are encrypted using TLS 1.3, ensuring data privacy and integrity during transmission. The implementation includes certificate management and automatic renewal.
Key Features
- Cross-Device Synchronization: Seamless access to media and files across multiple devices with automatic sync capabilities
- Scalable Storage: Flexible storage configuration with support for external drives and network-attached storage
- Automated Backups: Scheduled backup routines ensuring data redundancy and disaster recovery
- User Management: Multi-user support with granular permission controls and resource quotas
- Remote Access: Secure external access without VPN configuration through Cloudflare tunnels
- Resource Monitoring: Real-time monitoring dashboards for system health, storage usage, and network performance
Technical Challenges
One of the main challenges was optimizing transcoding performance while maintaining quality. This was solved by implementing hardware acceleration using GPU passthrough to Docker containers, significantly reducing CPU usage and improving concurrent stream handling.
Another challenge involved configuring secure remote access without compromising the local network. Cloudflare Argo Tunnels provided an elegant solution by creating encrypted tunnels without requiring port forwarding or VPN setup, enhancing both security and ease of use.
Project Outcomes
The self-hosted cloud platform successfully demonstrates the feasibility of building enterprise-grade infrastructure for personal use. The system has been running reliably with 99.9% uptime, handling multiple concurrent streams and large file transfers without performance degradation.
This project showcases expertise in system architecture, DevOps practices, container orchestration, and security implementation. The modular design allows for easy expansion with additional services and features as needed.