AJ's Blog

Setting up NFS on Ubuntu 22.04

A Network File System (NFS) server is a network protocol that allows a system to share its files and directories with other systems over a network. NFS is commonly used in *nix environments to enable file sharing between systems. A basic NFS server is easy to set up and you can choose what directory to share with other systems.

Ubuntu setup

On Ubuntu, first you install the nfs server packages and then enable a system daemon to manage the server and client connections.

Adguard Home self-hosted DNS

AdGuard Home is a network-wide software for blocking ads and tracking. When used as your network DNS server, you can also manage custom DNS records in your local network. Once configured as your DNS server, all devices on your network will have ads and trackers blocked.

DNS is a distributed naming system for translating domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses (such as 192.168.1.1) that computers understand.

DNS resolves human-readable domain names to machine-readable IP addresses, enabling users to access websites, send emails, and connect to other networked resources using memorable domain names rather than numeric IP addresses. Together, DHCP and DNS form the backbone of modern networking infrastructure.

Setting up ZFS storage pools on Ubuntu 22.04

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. This operating system is a stable base to set up SMB file shares for Windows clients, AFP for macOS, NFS for Linux, iSCSI for block storage, rsync daemons, and FTP servers.

Homelab, 2024 stage 3 Servers

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.

Homelab, 2024 stage 2

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. You want to ensure that only authorized connections are allowed inbound to your public IP address as anyone who knows your IP address can attempt to open connections to your gateway.

Homelab, 2024 stage 1 Networking

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. These networks are designed to be accessed only by authorized users or devices, offering a higher level of security compared to public networks like the internet. Most people do not realize that their internet service provider sets up a private network for them. For a homelab, you control the network rather than a business or other institution. Here are the basics: