I would suggest 2 pi-hole + unbound stacks on different hardware, preferably on different switches. That way you can restart/fiddle with things without your family going crazy about “internet not working”.
I would suggest looking into TiniMiniMicro used PC and let NAS do NAS things. Try to get a PC with decent number of thread and put as much RAM as it supports. Install ProxMox on it and go nuts. Learn Linux TV has a great series of videos on it.
I’ve been away 1-2k km for weeks and noticed no difference. With proper network setup DNS should be the least of your worries.
The only time you’ll notice it is with extremely bad mobile coverage when VPN has issues reestablishing the connection.
I’ve been using Zabbix for years now. Does what I need it to do.
This has been working for me for ages:
-f "bestvideo[height<=1080][dynamic_range=SDR]
https://www.servethehome.com/introducing-project-tinyminimicro-home-lab-revolution/
https://www.learnlinux.tv/proxmox-full-course/
https://tteck.github.io/Proxmox/
https://www.learnlinux.tv/easy-portainer-setup-run-your-first-docker-container/
This should keep you busy for some time. ;- ) =
Everything is complicated, till it isn’t any more.
I would suggest looking into TiniMiniMicro project.
And considering ProxMox as a platform. It will save you your nerves so much. Spin up a VM/LXC in a few seconds, play with it, delete it. Make a snapshot before update, if something fails - revert back. I’ve tried so many new projects because of how easy it is to do it.
This is what’s still keeping me on Plex. Waiting on that testflight.
FreshRSS with Full-Text RSS behind it, when needed. Web on desktop, Lire on iOS.
Why not S3 Glacier Deep Archive?
0.00099$
I use it for that exact same use case.
CE FTW
Also uptime kuma for fast and easy up/down, web services, etc.
I’ve been using Zabbix for ages now. It has issues but I got used to it.
Zabbix for everything here.
FreshRSS directly on desktop with Full-Text RSS. And Lire on iOS.
Thing is - “mini” PCs old enough to have 3.5 slots are probably way too old to have decent CPUs.