My homelab is more than a test bench — it’s a functioning IT environment where I design, experiment, and sharpen skills. Built on a mix of enterprise concepts and consumer hardware, it lets me replicate real-world infrastructure, troubleshoot complex systems, and collaborate remotely in a controlled setting.
Core Services & Capabilities
Networking & Security
OpenWrt router on repurposed hardware handles core routing, firewall/NAT, DHCP, and WireGuard tunnels. Symmetric fiber connectivity supports secure remote access, VPN tunnels to external VPS infrastructure, and low-latency collaboration.
Virtualization & Infrastructure
Proxmox hypervisor hosts domain controllers, an Asterisk PBX, and a reverse proxy for multiple internal web servers. This environment provides isolated domains, enterprise-style replication, and real-world topology testing.
Cross-Platform Domain Integration
Windows and Linux clients are joined to Active Directory using SSSD, simulating the heterogeneous environments common in production IT.
Collaboration & Remote Access
Colleagues can securely access my systems for joint projects and troubleshooting, with shared file storage on a NAS and centralized backups.
Representative Hardware
- Proxmox Virtualization Host — Threadripper CPU, 128GB RAM, NVMe datastore
- Synology DS923+ NAS — ~20TB usable storage (Btrfs/SHR), redundant backups, domain joined
- Windows 11 Workstation — Creative and gaming node, domain-bound for testing
- Linux Workstation (Manjaro) — Collaboration and dev/test node with AD integration
- Portable HP Laptop — Domain-joined system for field work and remote use
Why This Lab Exists
This lab reflects my ongoing goal: to build, test, and understand the systems that drive modern IT. From domain services and secure networking to virtualization and cross-platform management, it gives me the space to refine skills, explore new tools, and solve problems without the risk of production downtime.
It’s a personal training ground — one that evolves alongside my ambitions.