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Getting Started with Your First Homelab

So, you're inspired to build your own homelab? Fantastic! It might seem daunting initially, but starting is easier than you think. This guide will walk you through the initial steps to get your homelab up and running.

1. Define Your Goals (What do you want to learn?)

Before buying any hardware or installing software, ask yourself: What do I want to achieve? Your goals will dictate the kind of setup you need.

  • Learning Networking? You might focus on routers, switches, and firewall software like pfSense/OPNsense (small business), a small CCNA lab if trying to break into enterprise networking, or purely software tools like GNS3.
  • Exploring Systems Administration? You'll need hardware capable of running multiple virtual machines (VMs) and a hypervisor like Proxmox.
  • Diving into Self-Hosting? A reliable machine (even a Raspberry Pi or old PC) to run Docker containers or VMs for services like Nextcloud or PiHole could be your starting point (how I got into it).
  • Experimenting with AI/ML? You might need a machine with a decent CPU and potentially a compatible GPU for running local models. These days (early 2025, nvidia based is still king).
  • Mastering Home Automation? A low-power device like a Raspberry Pi or an Intel NUC for Home Assistant is ideal.

Don't try to do everything at once! Pick one or two primary goals to start. Your lab can always evolve.

2. Assess Your Resources (Budget and Space)

  • Budget: Homelabs can range from free (using hardware you already own) to thousands of dollars. Set a realistic budget. Remember, you can start small and upgrade later.
  • Space: Where will your lab live? Consider noise, heat, power consumption, and physical space. A closet, basement, or corner of a room might work.
  • Time: Learning takes time. Be realistic about how much time you can dedicate each week.

3. Choose Your Initial Hardware

You don't need expensive enterprise gear right away.

  • Reuse Old Hardware: An old desktop or laptop can be a perfect starting point for running a hypervisor or basic services. Max out the RAM if possible!
  • Raspberry Pi: Excellent for low-power tasks like Pi-hole (network-wide ad blocking), Home Assistant, or simple container hosting.
  • Mini PCs / NUCs (Next Unit of Computing): Small, power-efficient, and surprisingly capable for running multiple VMs or containers. Great balance of performance and footprint.
  • Used Enterprise Gear: Sites like eBay or local classifieds offer used servers (Dell PowerEdge, HP ProLiant) and network equipment at lower prices. Be mindful of noise, power consumption, and potential compatibility issues. I would only go this route if you already have expierence with enterpris equipment - the power draw, noise, and size alone are negative, but also racking, quirks, so on might be overwhelming at first.
  • Build Your Own: If you're comfortable building PCs, you can create a custom machine optimized for virtualization or specific tasks.

Key Specs to Consider: - RAM: Crucial for virtualization. 16GB is a decent start, 32GB+ is better for running multiple VMs, but 8gb if you're starting with a Pi4/Pi5 with Docker. - CPU: More cores/threads are generally better for virtualization. Even older server CPUs can be powerful, BUT they draw a lot of power and generate heat. - Storage: SSDs are highly recommended for running operating systems and VMs due to speed. HDDs are fine for bulk storage (e.g., media files, backups). Consider NAS (Network Attached Storage) if you need shared storage. - Network: A Gigabit Ethernet port is standard. You might add more ports later for advanced networking.

4. Select Your Core Software

  • Hypervisor (for Virtualization): This software lets you run multiple operating systems (VMs) on a single physical machine. Popular choices:
    • Proxmox VE: Free, open-source, Debian-based. Feature-rich with web UI. Great community support.
    • Hyper-V: Built into Windows Pro/Enterprise/Server. Good option if you're primarily a Windows user.
    • VirtualBox/VMware Workstation: Run on top of your existing OS (Windows, macOS, Linux). Easier start but less efficient than bare-metal hypervisors like Proxmox/ESXi.
  • Operating Systems: You'll need OS images for your VMs. Linux distributions (Ubuntu Server, CentOS Stream, Debian) are free and widely used. You can also get evaluation copies of Windows Server.
  • Containerization (Optional but Recommended):
    • Docker: Lightweight way to run applications in isolated containers. Often more resource-efficient than full VMs for running single services.

5. Basic Networking Setup

You don't need a complex network initially.

  • Connect to Your Home Network: Plug your homelab machine(s) into your existing home router/switch.
  • IP Addresses: Understand how your router assigns IP addresses (usually via DHCP). You might want to assign static IPs to your core lab machines later for easier access.
  • Remote Access: Learn how to SSH (for Linux) or use Remote Desktop (for Windows) to manage your lab machines without needing a dedicated monitor/keyboard.

6. Start Small and Iterate

  • Install your Hypervisor: Get your chosen hypervisor running on your hardware.
  • Create Your First VM: Install a simple Linux server (like Ubuntu Server). Learn basic commands and remote access (SSH).
  • Deploy a Service: Try setting up something simple, like a Pi-hole using Docker or a basic web server.
  • Document: Keep notes! What did you install? What configurations did you change? What problems did you encounter and solve? This is invaluable.
  • Backup: Think about backups early, even if it's just copying VM files manually.

How I would do it

Depending on your path and budget here are what I would go with:

Network Engineering

Option 1: Go to cablesandkits.com (or other site) and find a couple 2811 routers and a couple 3550/3560 switches. These are NOT new and don't expose them to the internet, BUT they are fantastic to learn on. I deployed dozens of these in the early 2010s and rock solid devices for labbing. I'd only go this route if you do not have any expierence with physical network equipment, there is something to be said about racking, consoling in, and the different physical interconnects (fiber/crossovers/stackwise) that you cannot learn by a virtual lab.

Option 2: Download GNS3 and build labs. You'll need a decent PC with more cores the better (4c/8t, 16+ gb ram).

Systems Admin + DevOps + Data Science

This one is where the fun is for me these days. There are a lot of options and a huge range for the budget, power draw, size, noise, and which can be wife approved (if applicable).

Option 1: Entry level admin - high power + high noise + low budget TBD

Where to buy

https://cablesandkits.com -> Fantatsic site I have used to buy routers, switches, cables, SFPs, so on. Hell at my prior company I bought spares here when we had to cut back our smartnet contract due to budget constraints. https://serverpartdeals.com/ -> Second hand and refurb hard drives and SSDs. I haven't purchased here (yet), but seen quite a few good reviews from Linus Tech Tips (@LinusTechTips) and Level 1 Techs (@Level1Techs) on this site. I wouldnt trust for producution, but for a lab that is backed up with 3/2/1 methods, it is probably fine and buy a cold spare. https://www.servermonkey.com/-> Second hand and refurb enterprise servers. Another site that I haven't purchased from yet, but good reviews on reddit and other sites.