My homelab is more than just a test bench — it’s a functioning infrastructure built for experimentation, collaboration, and skill development. It blends enterprise concepts with consumer-grade efficiency, anchored by a mix of virtualization, routing, domain services, and collaborative endpoints.
Every component here has a role — and every system is part of a broader plan to simulate real-world IT environments.
Network Core
The “Turbo Router” – MikroTik RouterOS 7 on Dell OptiPlex 3040 SFF
A repurposed small-form-factor desktop running MikroTik RouterOS 7 as a high-performance software router — with no hardware modifications required.
- Specs: Intel Core i5-6500, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Dual Intel Gigabit NICs
- Use Case: Handles core routing, firewall/NAT, DHCP, and WireGuard tunnels
- Why It Matters: Far more capable than consumer routers, this setup supports advanced traffic shaping, secure remote access to a colleague in Florida, and VPN connectivity to external VPS infrastructure — all on stock hardware, without any cooling or case modifications.
Upstream Connectivity – Symmetric Gigabit Fiber (ALLO Communications)
- Connection: 1 Gbps up / 1 Gbps down via fiber
- Terminated At: Calix GigaPoint 1100W Optical Network Terminal (ONT)
- Why It Matters: High-speed, low-latency connectivity allows me to remotely collaborate, self-host services for internal testing, and move large data sets between nodes quickly — all without bottlenecks.
WiFi & Switching
- WiFi: Netgear WAX610 (WiFi 6), PoE powered by a TP-Link injector
- Switch: 16-port Gigabit Ethernet switch with PoE
- Why It Matters: Clean wired backbone with managed power delivery, plus fast, reliable wireless access throughout the environment.
Core Compute & Virtualization
Virtualization Server – ESXi 8 on Threadripper
My primary virtual host, running VMware ESXi 8 and managing essential infrastructure services.
- Specs: Ryzen Threadripper 1900X, 128GB RAM, 275GB SATA M.2 boot SSD, 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD (datastore), GeForce GT 710 (console GPU)
- Board/Chassis: MSI X399 Gaming Pro Carbon AC, Corsair 4000D Airflow (white), Noctua 140mm cooler
- Networking: Onboard NIC for management, Intel Gigabit CT bridged to VMs
- Current Workloads:
- 2x Windows Server 2022 domain controllers
- Future roles: To be determined
- Why It Matters: A proper hypervisor lets me test isolated environments, domain-bound configurations, and simulate enterprise network topologies.
Workstations
Linux Workstation 1 – Manjaro (Collaborative Node)
A high-performance AMD-based workstation used for remote collaboration and Linux-focused tasks.
- Specs: Ryzen 9 7900X, 64GB RAM, 512GB + 1TB NVMe SSDs, Radeon RX6600
- Chassis/Board: Corsair 5000D Airflow (black), ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi
- Software: Manjaro KDE edition, SSSD + realmd for AD integration
- Use Case: Linux dev/test box; used collaboratively with a colleague (via TeamViewer from Florida)
- Why It Matters: Cross-platform testing and remote teamwork on a Linux-native OS within the same domain context.
Windows Workstation 2 – Windows 11 (Creative & Gaming Node)
Balanced between creative workflows and lightweight virtualization.
- Specs: Intel i7-10700, 64GB RAM, 512GB + 1TB NVMe SSDs, 4TB HDD, RTX 3050
- Chassis/Board: Corsair 4000D Airflow (black), MSI Z490-A PRO
- Use Case: Adobe Creative Cloud, light gaming, and VMs via VMware Workstation
- Why It Matters: Production workstation that integrates with domain services but stays flexible for multimedia and virtualization work.
Portable Node – HP Pavilion Laptop (Field Use)
- Specs: Ryzen 7 8840U, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD
- Use Case: Offsite work at libraries or remote visits; also domain-joined
- Why It Matters: Portability without sacrificing connectivity to the rest of the infrastructure.
Storage & Printing
NAS – Synology DS923+
- Disks: 4x8TB Seagate IronWolf SATA drives
- Use Case: Redundant file storage, shared backups, domain joined
- Why It Matters: Centralized storage that supports future file shares, snapshots, and VM backups.
Printer – Brother HL-L2305W
- Connected via WiFi for local document printing
- Reliable, no-nonsense laser printing from any domain-joined machine
Why This Lab Exists
This setup reflects my ongoing mission: to understand, test, and replicate real-world IT infrastructure. Whether I’m troubleshooting SSSD integration on Linux, joining workstations to AD, or fine-tuning MikroTik firewall rules, this lab gives me a safe, powerful environment to experiment, learn, and solve real problems.
It’s a personal training ground — and it’s constantly evolving.