Build and provision your own Matchbox
An hour-long demonstration of constructing, provisioning, and using OurBox Matchbox—the small form factor personal server you can truly own.
Video
About Matchbox
Small form factor
Built around a Raspberry Pi 5, Matchbox is a compact, always-on appliance designed to fit anywhere in your home while providing genuine computing power.
Privacy-first
No app stores, no proprietary relay services, no ad-tech business models. Your data stays under your roof, under your control.
Dual NVMe storage
Two separate M.2 NVMe SSDs: one for the OS, one for your data. Your files stay safe from system changes, and the OS can be updated or replaced without touching your storage.
Self-hosted
Run tasks, photos, messaging, and web services from hardware you own. No subscriptions, no surveillance, no permission needed.
What you'll see in this walkthrough
Construction
Step-by-step assembly of the Matchbox hardware, from bare components to a functioning appliance.
Provisioning
Installing and configuring OurBox OS, setting up storage, networking, and preparing for real-world use.
Practical use
Demonstration of running privacy-respecting services on your own hardware, at home.
Design choices
The "why" behind the hardware decisions, form factor constraints, and thermal considerations.
Real-world constraints
Power requirements, storage topology, network setup, and what it takes to keep it running 24/7.
Troubleshooting
Common issues, debugging approaches, and how to verify everything is working as expected.
Want the technical specifications?
The full hardware documentation, bill of materials, and architecture decisions live in our public repository.