This is a personal blog focused on computer software and hardware. Most projects are implementing software and hardware for a homelab. What is a homelab? I would say a homelab could be a single computer or dozens of computers connected in a network. You can also integrate with computers in the Cloud.
One of the most useful systems to set up in a homelab is shared storage. Making storage available over the network makes it easier to share files and make system backups. I have tried various setups for shared storage in my homelab and my latest iteration is an attempt at a simple setup. I am going to set up an Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Linux system with disk drives assigned to ZFS storage pools.
The next phase of my homelab is setting up Servers or rather computers where I can store data and run software applications. Once a network is configured, many computers can be connected together and exchange data between themselves and other networks like the Internet. Server systems I will be using computer hardware that is mostly from used consumer systems. This is not ideal for a “server” system that runs 24/7 however the power consumption of consumer computers is typically much lower than enterprise grade servers.
Stage 2 Security The next stage of setting up my homelab will include ensuring that my network is secure and I have a mechanism for monitoring my systems for malicious software or unauthorized access. I will be sharing my guidelines as I am not comfortable showing my own firewall rules and configuration. Network Security Network security begins at your gateway to the internet. Your internet service provider (ISP) will assign a “public” or internet accessible IP address that will be configured on a network interface of the gateway/router in your network.
updated 2024-04-28 Stage 1 Networking The backbone of the homelab will be the Network. In a US residential property, there will be a commercial telecommunications company that provides connection to the internet. This will vary based on where you live in the world. Once you have access to the internet, you need to connect your devices to a private network that shares access to the internet through your gateway. Private networks refer to networks that are restricted in access, typically within a specific organization, such as a business, educational institution, or government agency.
As part of a big move, I will be setting up the homelab from the ground up. I am also setting a new objective for the homelab. The homelab is an environment to learn about software and computer networks. I prefer to learn by example so my lab will be a do-it-yourself software factory. There are many roles in the Tech industry and a homelab is a good place to learn aspects of technology that go beyond writing code.
On macOS, you can run a Prometheus server by running the binary that is compatible with Apple silicon. If you are looking for information about what to do with Prometheus, check out a previous post to get an overview. Install If you are using a Mac, I recommend using homebrew to install Prometheus along with many other applications. 1 brew install prometheus Configure prometheus You can configure this Prometheus server by creating/updating the file /opt/homebrew/etc/prometheus.