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Overview

Skadi is a server running on Oracle Cloud’s free tier, primarily used for hosting a Personal Data Server (PDS) and providing aarch64 build capabilities. This system demonstrates efficient use of free cloud resources for specialized workloads.
Named after the Norse goddess associated with winter and mountains, Skadi operates efficiently in the Oracle Cloud environment.

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System specifications

Hosting

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (free tier)

Architecture

ARM64 (aarch64)

Storage

Ext4 root filesystem

Boot

systemd-boot loader

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Hardware configuration

Skadi uses a minimal Ext4 filesystem configuration: 
fileSystems = {
  "/" = {
    device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/3ac0d35f-0807-4553-a17e-24b227f1a3b1";
    fsType = "ext4";
  };

  "/boot" = {
    device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/ED86-8CB2";
    fsType = "vfat";
    options = [
      "fmask=0022"
      "dmask=0022"
    ];
  };
};
Reference: systems/skadi/hardware.nix:2-16
The simple two-partition layout (root and boot) minimizes complexity and overhead for this cloud-based ARM instance.

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Enabled profiles

Skadi is configured as a headless server with Oracle-specific optimizations: 
profiles = {
  headless.enable = true;
  server.enable = true;
  oracle.enable = true;
};
Reference: systems/skadi/default.nix:5-9
  • Headless: No graphical interface
  • Server: Server-optimized settings
  • Oracle: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure optimizations

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Device configuration

device = {
  cpu = null;
  gpu = null;
};
Reference: systems/skadi/default.nix:11-14 As an ARM cloud instance, Skadi doesn’t specify CPU or GPU types, relying on the Oracle profile for hardware detection.

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Boot configuration

system = {
  boot.loader = "systemd-boot";
};
Reference: systems/skadi/default.nix:16-18

systemd-boot

Using systemd-boot for simple, reliable booting in the cloud environment

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Services

Skadi runs a focused set of services optimized for its use case: 
services = {
  nginx.enable = true;
  uptime-kuma.enable = true;
  pds.enable = true;
};
Reference: systems/skadi/default.nix:20-24

Nginx

Web server and reverse proxy

Uptime Kuma

Self-hosted monitoring and status page

PDS

Personal Data Server for AT Protocol (Bluesky)

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Personal Data Server (PDS)

The PDS service provides a self-hosted Personal Data Server for the AT Protocol, giving you full control over your Bluesky/ATProto data and identity.
Running a PDS allows you to:
  • Host your own AT Protocol identity
  • Control your data storage and access
  • Participate in the decentralized Bluesky network
  • Run custom feed generators and other ATProto services

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Uptime Kuma monitoring

Uptime Kuma provides:
  • Real-time service monitoring
  • Status page generation
  • Downtime notifications
  • Response time tracking
Use Uptime Kuma to monitor not just Skadi’s services, but also endpoints on other systems in your infrastructure.

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What makes it unique

Skadi demonstrates how to maximize Oracle Cloud’s generous free tier, providing valuable services without cost.
As an aarch64 system, Skadi enables native ARM builds for NixOS packages, supporting the growing ARM ecosystem.
Running a Personal Data Server makes Skadi part of the decentralized social web, providing independence from centralized platforms.
Uptime Kuma on Skadi can monitor the entire infrastructure, providing a bird’s-eye view of service health.
With just three services and a simple configuration, Skadi shows how effective a focused, purpose-built server can be.

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Oracle Cloud free tier

Always Free Resources

Oracle Cloud’s free tier includes ARM-based compute instances with generous resource allocations, perfect for hosting lightweight services like PDS and monitoring tools.

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Benefits of Oracle’s free tier

  • ARM-based Ampere A1 compute instances
  • Up to 4 OCPUs and 24 GB RAM (total across instances)
  • 200 GB block storage
  • 10 TB outbound data transfer per month
  • Always free (not a trial)
While Oracle’s free tier is generous, ensure you stay within the free tier limits to avoid unexpected charges. Monitor your resource usage regularly.

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Use cases

Skadi is ideal for:
  1. Decentralized identity: Self-hosting your Bluesky/ATProto presence
  2. Cross-architecture builds: Building ARM packages for NixOS
  3. Monitoring: Central monitoring point for distributed infrastructure
  4. Experimentation: Testing configurations without using primary infrastructure

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