How to Start a Home Lab: Beginner’s Guide to Planning, Networking, Virtualization, & Linux!"

Рет қаралды 31,591

Күн бұрын

Hey tech enthusiasts! 🚀 If you’re looking to level up your IT skills, build your own private cloud, or simply experiment with virtualization and networking, setting up a home lab is the perfect way to do it. In this video, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to start your very own home lab, from defining your goals to picking the right hardware and software. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, there’s something here for everyone!
🔹 What is a Home Lab?
Learn what a home lab is and why it's the best way to hone your skills in a safe, customizable environment.
🔹 Define Your Goals
Before diving in, it’s crucial to set clear goals for your lab. Whether it’s mastering Linux, running Docker, or setting up a NAS, your objectives will shape your home lab setup.
🔹 Virtualization
No hardware? No problem! Start with virtualization on your existing PC or laptop using platforms like VirtualBox, VMware, or Proxmox.
🔹 Learning Linux
Linux is at the heart of most IT infrastructure. I’ll show you why mastering Linux is a game-changer and how you can get started with beginner-friendly distros like Ubuntu.
🔹 Docker & Portainer
Discover how Docker can simplify your home lab with lightweight containers that you can self host, and how to manage them visually using Portainer.
🔹 Expanding with Hardware
Ready to take it up a notch? Learn how to add physical servers, switches, and other hardware to create a more advanced lab setup on a budget.
🔹 Networking in Your Home Lab
Dive into networking by simulating complex setups with tools like GNS3 or using physical switches and routers to test VLANs and firewalls.
🔹 Cloud Labs
No space for hardware? Learn how to leverage cloud platforms like AWS and Google Cloud for your home lab experiments.
🔹 Documentation & Continuous Learning
Keep track of your progress and stay connected with online communities and courses to continuously grow your knowledge.
💬 Have questions? Drop them in the comments below! Let’s build an awesome home lab together. Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell 🔔 for more tech tutorials!
##diy #Networking #TechTutorial

Пікірлер: 32

@enriquemorales8419 12 күн бұрын

I am being working with computer my whole live but I never experiment with Homelabs. I worked with networks equipments and servers and know the language and the jargon but everything I work with is already done or began by another tech. I think it is time for me to do it by myself from the beginning. Thank for you explanation and simplicity for us not to be scare to begin. Good Video.

@HillPhantom 11 күн бұрын

Thanks again! Yes you got the spirit, and you will make a fine home labber! It is very enjoyable hobby let me know if you need any help! Cheers.

@THEimposterFOSTER 22 күн бұрын

Love that I found this video, I had just acquired hardware to begin the process of my own homelab. I'm mostly going through this process for my job in IT, but also for fun things that I would like to have for my friends and family. Media Server, Remote File/Image storage, & hosted remote applications that I sometimes find myself hosting on my personal Desktop (FoundryVTT for DnD & Game Servers). This is very informative on where to start looking and appreciate it.

@HillPhantom 22 күн бұрын

That is awesome! Thanks so much for the feedback as well! You sound very well suited for this wonderful hateful world lol. JK JK its so fun. Let me know if you need any help mate. Cheers!

@otorisamson4253 3 ай бұрын

This ! I mean this right here, is what I've been looking for. Thanks for this video.

@HillPhantom 3 ай бұрын

Heck yea man appreciate the watch. We will keep it pushing so hope you'll come along for the ride. Appreciate you.

@discfree1 Ай бұрын

A very good video and the information i can understand precise and without to much extra stuff on "you need this and that", some of the other videos on yt are to high tech for beginners but not this one👏👍

@HillPhantom Ай бұрын

Hey thank you so much! I really appreciate that so much. Happy New Year!

@russ021-s6m 13 күн бұрын

I am totally new to designing a home lab. I just want to experiment with networks that are in modern systems.

@HillPhantom 13 күн бұрын

In that case I would consider building your own router, or buying one from like PFsense, and getting a managed switch. This way you can learn the basics and change the basics if you want. You can do things like set up Virtual LANs and mess around. The good of this, well, if you want to then add nodes (computers, NAS, IOT, WIFI, MESH, RADIO) later on, you have the backbone ready to go. So my take, its starts with the internet coming into your home, then to experiment with modern networks, you bring it into a router you control/built not a netgear or something, a switch you control, and you can deploy virtual LANS for security but also to simulate a multi tennant environment like you find in coorporations. You can also look at Ubiquity equipment, they are perhaps on the cutting edge. I built my router, and use PFsense (can buy a router from them pre built too), I use an Ubiquity managed switch, and Ubiquity Wifi nodes in my mesh at the house.

@TheYrius 24 күн бұрын

Awesome video! Ransomware recently hit my home lab with ESXi. Unfortunately, I lost access to all my VMs, and the CISA guide can no longer help. Do you have any thoughts on this?

@HillPhantom 24 күн бұрын

Oh no! Sorry to hear that! That can be tricky I assume you ran all the scans you could? Have you ID'd the bad code? Hard to say without seeing logs or anything. Was it a ESXi exploit?

@TheYrius 17 күн бұрын

Unfortunately, I didn’t have much to do since my hands were tied, and I couldn’t see much. However, I discovered a bug and vulnerability in ESXi, supposedly fixed in patch 8.0U3c. I reimaged my server and used Proxmox for a couple of days. It is a great operating system and relatively light compared to ESXi. However, I decided to switch back to ESXi because it is easier to use and doesn’t require tweaks, especially if I need a VM without an .iso image.

@DavidMwihia 7 күн бұрын

I am aiming to setup a home cloud through a mini rack server any recommendations

@HillPhantom 7 күн бұрын

So I use a smaller one, called Tedgetal 12U Wall Mount Server Cabinet Network Rack and I like it. I keep it on the floor, did drill a hole in back to fish wires, and I added a sanded plywood top that I drilled holes in top (think like speaker holes with a bunch of small dots in a circle for ventilation, it's also where fan exhaust comes out if you are going use fans in the rack. Not sure how big you need? There are some open designs, I guess it all depends what you are going to fill it with. I think I have a video with it in it I show briefly here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap7ZeK2Jd8lsgsksi=xfiVialItudBbWws&t=138

@HillPhantom 7 күн бұрын

If you want to keep it small, I am really interested in these kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2KqdHytgdJmn9Usi=Z-k3uQSaGd_jm0Qq&t=764

@Rosarak 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for your amazing explanation! I’ve started building my own virtual homelab to practice networking and security, but I have a question about the network setup: how can I isolate my virtual homelab from my home Wi-Fi network? Is it possible to do this virtually, given that I only have a router/modem as hardware at home? So far, I’ve installed Kali Linux and Ubuntu inside VirtualBox and plan to add Windows Server for Active Directory, a PfSense firewall, and some security and monitoring tools. However, I’m concerned that my laptop’s performance might not be sufficient for all of this. Can I shift to the cloud for such a setup and add more RAM? I'm not sure how. Thanks again for your help! I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed about how to connect everything into one integrated homelab.

@HillPhantom 2 ай бұрын

That is awesome! And if your are feeling overwhelmed then you are now becoming part of the home lab crew. We are always overwhelmed, that never changes lol. So this is hard with VM's as you can do what we call "virtual switches" but it would require you to have an addition network card on your computer. One for your main traffic then one for the "virtual lan". And honestly you would most likely want a switch that can do Virtual LAN creation, especially if you are planning PfSense You can some used switches on EBAY that are not that expensive just make sure they support Virtual LANS. This is how I have my lab set up, PFSense, to two wifi routers, and one managed switch that has the ability to support VLANS. Now there is another concept, I have never done it but....what you could do is use Virtual IP's on PfSense this would allow you to have different subnet masks on the same network. You would likely not be able to use DHCP on the Virtual IP set but thats ok you could just manually assign static IP's. Then you would just firewall rules, just like we do with manage switches, and allow or block traffic between you main home lan and this new "virtual IP" lan. It's not the most elegant but it should work. I will say this, Pfsense and the network routing and learning all that part, took for me the longest. I had a great desire to isolate traffic and networks. I struggled with the set up but once I got it, it all clicked. If you can afford it strongly suggest a managed switch with VLAN that paired with PfSense is rock solid, expandable, and much more straight forward. However, if you research a bit on it, I think a virtual IP via PfSense would work well.

@Gregoire-ic4fv Ай бұрын

Very nice video❤❤, it 's very interesting and well produced, I will subscribe

@HillPhantom Ай бұрын

Thank very much 🙏

@DigitalPawWorkshop 20 күн бұрын

Home lab does seem interesting but I am having trouble trying to figure out what having one can do.

@HillPhantom 20 күн бұрын

I actually just posted a video today walking you through some of the apps I self host. You can check it out here. It can do a whole bunch more but give you and idea. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4SaY5qEoNWkpc0

@kamranmoazzamansari7289 Ай бұрын

say, u have good money... would you suggest to have a homelab for say playing games, professional video editing and some pretty heavy stuff rather than using a pc.... presupposing that the virtual machine has insane processors/memory... yoo

@HillPhantom Ай бұрын

Hey Kam ...those activities won't really benefit from a home lab per day. We other than having a safe a private space to store you video files. The actually editing and playing games is more GPU centric so building a PC with good ram, storage, and GPU would be the best route for you. You can use a virtual machine a pass thru the GPU on the system to the VM but it can be tricky. For those use cases you mentioned id just build a beefy gaming rig. Cheers