What a Homelab Is (and Why It Matters)

A homelab is a safe, always-available environment to learn, experiment, and self‑host services. It can be as simple as a Raspberry Pi on a shelf or as complex as a rack with multiple servers. The goal isn’t fancy hardware—it’s hands-on experience with the same concepts used in professional IT, cybersecurity, and DevOps: virtualization, networking, automation, monitoring, and backups.

Because it’s your lab, breaking things is part of the plan. You’ll iterate quickly, build confidence, and create a space to test ideas before touching production. If you’re working toward roles in sysadmin, cloud engineering, or security, a homelab is the most effective way to build portfolio-ready skills.

Core Components: Compute, Networking, Storage, Power

Compute

Start with what you already have and scale when needed. Common beginner-friendly choices:

• Repurposed Desktop (e.g., Dell OptiPlex 7060, HP Elitedesk) — Inexpensive, quiet, and great for Proxmox + Docker stacks. Aim for 32–64 GB Random Access Memory (RAM) and SSD storage.
• Mini PCs (Intel NUC/Minisforum/Beelink) — Low‑power nodes, ideal for 24/7 services like Home Assistant or Pi‑hole.
• Used Enterprise Servers (Dell R720/730, HP DL380) — High core counts and RAM, but consider noise and power draw; place in garage or closet if possible.
• Single-Board Computers (Raspberry Pi 5) — Perfect for light services and learning ARM builds.

Networking

• Router/Firewall: Options include Firewalla Gold SE (simple/visual), pfSense/OPNsense (DIY firewall with deep control), or Unifi Gateway for unified management.
• Switches: Prefer managed switches for VLANs and trunking. Even a small 8‑port managed switch unlocks segmentation and QoS.
• Wi‑Fi: Using APs that support multiple SSIDs + VLANs lets you isolate IoT/guest traffic from core services.

Storage

• Simple Network Attached Storage (NAS): A used Synology/QNAP or a DIY NAS (TrueNAS Scale) delivers SMB/NFS shares and snapshots.
• Disks & File Systems: For DIY, consider Zettabyte File System (ZFS) (RAID‑Z, snapshots, scrubs) or Btrfs (checksums, snapshots). Add an SSD for caching (L2ARC) if you serve many small files.
• Backups: Follow 3‑2‑1: three copies, two media types, one off‑site (cloud or a drive you keep off‑prem).

Power & Cooling

• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): A 1000–1500 VA UPS (e.g., CyberPower or APC) protects from brownouts and gives time for clean shutdowns.
• Airflow & Noise: Keep servers dust‑free, ensure intake/exhaust aren’t blocked, and consider quiet fans for desktop‑class nodes.
• Power Budget: Measure draw with a smart plug or watt‑meter. Idle consumption matters more than peak—optimize for services that need to be always‑on.

Your 2025 Software Stack

The goal is dependable, reproducible deployments. A common pattern is Proxmox for virtualization and Docker for apps, with IaC/automation to reduce manual work.

• Virtualization: Proxmox VE for VMs and LXC containers; optional Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) passthrough for Plex/Frigate.
• Container Runtime: Docker/Podman; compose files stored in Git for versioning.
• Reverse Proxy: Traefik or Nginx Proxy Manager for TLS (Let’s Encrypt) and clean URLs.
• Monitoring: Prometheus + node_exporter + Grafana; uptime checks (Uptime Kuma).
• Secrets: 1Password/Bitwarden; environment files kept out of Git; consider SOPS or Vault.
• Automation: Ansible for base OS config; Terraform for any cloud resources.

Proxmox Host (32–64 GB RAM)
├─ Virtual Machine (VM): pfSense/OPNsense (if not using standalone firewall)
├─ VM: NAS (TrueNAS Scale) or LXC for ZFS datasets
├─ LXC: Pi‑hole / Unbound
├─ LXC: Docker node (Portainer/Compose)
└─ VM: Plex/Jellyfin (optional GPU passthrough)

Beginner-Friendly Starter Projects

1) Network‑Wide Ad Blocking with Pi‑hole

1. Deploy Pi‑hole in an LXC or on a Raspberry Pi.
2. Point your DHCP/DNS to Pi‑hole; enable a backup DNS (e.g., Unbound).
3. Review Top Clients and Queries; add allow‑lists for services that break.

2) Media Server (Plex or Jellyfin)

1. Attach a storage dataset for media; organize by Movies/, TV/, Kids/.
2. Run Plex/Jellyfin in Docker; map transcode directory to an SSD.
3. Optional: enable hardware transcoding (Quick Sync / NVENC) if your hardware supports it.

3) Home Automation (Home Assistant)

1. Deploy Home Assistant Container or VM; integrate Zigbee/Z‑Wave via USB coordinator.
2. Create separate Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)/SSID for IoT; restrict east‑west traffic to your core network.
3. Automations: presence‑based lighting, door‑open alerts, energy monitoring.

4) Reverse Proxy + TLS

1. Run Traefik or Nginx Proxy Manager (NPM); request Let’s Encrypt certs via HTTP‑01 or DNS‑01.
2. Expose services at https://app.yourdomain.tld with auth (Authelia/SSO) for sensitive apps.
3. Don’t expose admin dashboards directly—use a VPN or SSO.

5) Automation Primer with Ansible

1. Write a playbook that installs Docker, adds your user to the docker group, and pulls your core stacks.
2. Template your docker-compose.yml files; store everything in Git.
3. Run the playbook when you rebuild a node—minutes instead of hours.

Networking Best Practices (VLANs, DNS, VPN)

• VLANs: Separate LAN (users), SERVICES (servers), IOT (smart devices), and GUEST. Tag trunks between router ↔ switch ↔ APs.
• DNS: Run Pi‑hole/Unbound; block ads and telemetry; keep a secondary resolver.
• VPN: WireGuard or Tailscale for encrypted remote access. Avoid exposing services directly to the internet.
• DHCP & IP Plan: Use reservations for servers; document subnets and gateways.
• Security: Default‑deny firewall rules between VLANs; allow only what you need.

Budget Builds & Buying Used Hardware

You can start small and grow into more advanced gear. Here are two realistic starting points:

Starter (~$250–$400)

• Used SFF desktop (i7, 32 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD)
• Managed 8‑port gigabit switch
• Raspberry Pi (optional) for Pi‑hole or Home Assistant
• CyberPower 1000–1500 VA UPS

Enthusiast (~$800–$1,500)

• Proxmox host with 64–128 GB RAM + Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) cache
• TrueNAS Scale (DIY with 4–8 HDDs on ZFS)
• Unifi/OPNsense firewall, managed PoE switch, dedicated Access Point (AP)
• Rackmount UPS, PDU, and structured cabling

Buying used tips: Check SMART data on drives, inspect fans for wear, verify RAM slots and BIOS versions, and factor in shipping on heavy servers.

Monitoring, Backups & Documentation

• Monitoring: Prometheus + Grafana dashboards for Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, disk, network; alerts for high temps and low disk space.
• Backups: Proxmox snapshots + off‑box backups (Proxmox Backup Server or restic to cloud). Test restores quarterly.
• Logs: Centralize with Loki or ELK; forward syslog from network devices.
• Docs: Keep a README in Git with network diagrams, IP plans, VLAN tags, and Ansible/Terraform commands used to deploy.

Upgrade Path: From Single Node to Cluster

1. Phase 1: Single Proxmox host + Docker LXC + Pi‑hole.
2. Phase 2: Add a NAS (TrueNAS) and move stateful data off the hypervisor.
3. Phase 3: Add a second Proxmox node for HA; configure shared storage or PBS for backups.
4. Phase 4: Introduce automation (Ansible/Terraform) and secrets management; expand monitoring.

My Current Setup (Example Topology)

This is a representative example to help you visualize a real deployment. Adapt to your environment and hardware.

• Firewall: Firewalla Gold SE (remote WireGuard (WG) server) or pfSense/OPNsense VM
• Switch: 24‑port managed (VLAN‑capable)
• Proxmox host: 64 GB RAM, NVMe cache
• TrueNAS Scale: ZFS pool with snapshots and replication
• Services: Pi‑hole, Plex/Jellyfin, Home Assistant, Traefik/NPM, Uptime Kuma

FAQ

Where to Go Next

• Deploy Pi‑hole with Unbound (Step‑by‑Step) (coming soon)
• Install Proxmox VE and Create Your First VM (coming soon)
• Docker + Traefik Reverse Proxy with Let’s Encrypt (coming soon)
• Home Assistant on a Dedicated VLAN (coming soon)