Skip to main content

The Emergency Tookit

If you’re reading this, something has likely happened to me, and you may need access to important family data — especially photos, videos, and personal memories stored in the homelab.

First: take a breath. Nothing here requires deep technical knowledge. This documentation is written so that you can follow clear steps and recover what matters.

What This Section Covers​

This Emergency Toolkit explains:

  • Where our important memories are stored
  • How they are backed up
  • How to access them safely
  • How to restore them if a system has failed
  • What to do if the main server is no longer running
  • Who to contact (if relevant)
  • What accounts or credentials may be needed

The focus is on preserving and recovering photos, videos, and media, not maintaining the homelab long-term.

You do not need to understand how the homelab works — only how to retrieve what matters.

There Are Two Recovery Paths

Everything depends on one key question:

1️⃣ Do You Have Access to the Main Server Machine?

This means:

You can physically access the computer/server

You can turn it on

You can log into it

You can access its files

If yes, follow:

👉 Path A – Machine Access Available

This path explains how to:

Access the storage directly

Export family photos and videos

Copy data to an external drive

Safely shut down or preserve the system

2️⃣ You Do NOT Have Access to the Machine

This may mean:

The server has failed

The hardware is damaged

The location is inaccessible

You only have internet access

If yes, follow:

👉 Path B – No Machine Access

This path explains how to:

Access cloud backups

Restore from off-site storage

Download important data

Rebuild access on another computer

What Matters Most

The priority order is:

📸 Family photos (Immich library)

🎥 Personal videos

📁 Important documents

🎬 Media library (can be replaced if needed)

If time or technical ability is limited, focus on the first two.

Important Notes

Do not delete anything unless instructed.

Do not factory reset equipment.

Do not cancel any cloud services until data has been recovered.

If unsure, stop and read the relevant section carefully.

The Goal

This documentation exists so that:

Memories are never lost

You are not overwhelmed

Recovery is possible even without me

Start by determining which recovery path applies to your situation.

Then follow the instructions step-by-step.

You’ve got this.