About this site
Gates to Moria is a technical publication and homelab journal created in November 2023 by David Stair, a Microsoft Engineer specializing in complex enterprise networking environments. The site exists to share real-world experience across DevOps, self-hosting, Proxmox, storage, automation, and Azure networking.
In addition to his work at Microsoft, David also operates as an independent consultant focused on DevOps, Self-Hosting, and Enterprise-grade Networking. His specialties include Proxmox virtualization, TrueNAS storage architectures, Docker and container orchestration, NGINX Proxy Manager, GPU-accelerated media platforms, DNS & Private Link design, and high-availability Azure networking solutions.
Gates to Moria is built for anyone who wants to deploy, scale, optimize, or troubleshoot their own environment using proven real-world methods. Subscribers gain full access to in-depth posts, guides, and walkthroughs, along with email updates as new content is released.
Your support keeps this project alive and enables the continued creation of resources that help others build, learn, and evolve their technical skills.
Welcome to the gates to Moria!
What this publication offers
A blueprint for self-hosting
Gates to Moria documents practical, repeatable setups built from the ground up:
Proxmox clusters, LXC deployments, TrueNAS pools, Nginx Proxy Manager, Ghost CMS, media servers, automation pipelines, and network-secure app hosting. Every guide is written to help you build reliable infrastructure in your home or small business.
Professional-grade networking insights
With years of experience in Azure Networking, David brings clarity to topics like:
Virtual networks, DNS, private endpoints, routing, reverse proxies, load balancers, and hybrid connectivity. These posts connect enterprise engineering with homelab simplicity.
Consulting and custom builds
Gates to Moria is also a place to reach out for one-on-one assistance.
Readers can request help with:
- Building or improving a homelab
- Designing self-hosted services
- Deploying secure web infrastructure
- Troubleshooting Proxmox, storage, or networking
- Setting up a website or application stack
Whether you need a simple webpage deployed or an entire small-business infrastructure designed end-to-end, Gates to Moria provides tailored consulting and implementation support.
Start your own thing!
If you’re interested in homelab design, Azure networking architecture, or custom self-hosted deployments, feel free to reach out directly.
Contact: david.stair.2@gmail.com