Run your own sovereign node at home (Raspberry Pi + Umbrel)
This is one of the most powerful steps you can take: running your own sovereign node at home. A complete, independent server under your full control.
Hardware choice (2026):
- Raspberry Pi 5 (8 GB) → Best for beginners.
- Refurbished Mini-PC (i5/i7) → Often similar price but more powerful (good if no AI planned).
- Powerful Mini-PC (Ryzen 7 8845HS or higher, 32 GB RAM) → Recommended if you want to run your own local AI model later.
This guide focuses on the Raspberry Pi 5. A separate guide for Mini-PC setups is coming.
One-time cost (Pi setup): €180 – €280 (or equivalent)
Monthly cost: ≈ €3 (electricity)
What you need (Pi setup)
Hardware recommendations + price comparison
- Raspberry Pi 5 (8 GB) → Search on Amazon
- Micro-SD card 128 GB → Search on Amazon
- External SSD 1 TB (recommended!) → Search Samsung T7 Shield 1TB on Amazon
- Power supply + Ethernet cable (usually included in starter kits)
Step 1 – Download UmbrelOS
Go to the Umbrel installation page and choose the correct version for your Pi.
Step 2 – Flash the image with Balena Etcher
- Download Balena Etcher
- Select the UmbrelOS file
- Select your SD card
- Click Flash!
Step 3 – Connect the hardware
- Insert SD card into the Pi
- Connect SSD via USB (if you have one)
- Plug Ethernet cable into your router
- Plug in power → Pi starts automatically
Step 4 – Start Umbrel
Open your browser and go to:
http://umbrel.local
Step 5 – First setup
Choose a strong password → your node is live!
You now have direct access to:
- Bitcoin + Lightning node
- Nostr relay
- Nextcloud (your own Dropbox)
- PhotoPrism (your own Google Photos)
- Many other apps with one click
⚠️ Disclaimer
Alle guides worden door de community voorgesteld en door het OIM-coreteam gecontroleerd voordat ze live gaan.
Toch blijft het uitvoeren van technische stappen jouw eigen verantwoordelijkheid.
Het Open Internet Manifest is niet aansprakelijk voor schade, dataverlies of andere problemen die kunnen ontstaan door het volgen van een guide.
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