diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'content/blog/2020-05-03-homelab.md')
| -rw-r--r-- | content/blog/2020-05-03-homelab.md | 165 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 165 deletions
diff --git a/content/blog/2020-05-03-homelab.md b/content/blog/2020-05-03-homelab.md deleted file mode 100644 index 63a70bb..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2020-05-03-homelab.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,165 +0,0 @@ -+++ -date = 2020-05-03 -title = "An Inside Look at My Homelab" -description = "A retrospective on the first iteration of my home lab." -+++ - -# What is a Homelab? - -Starting as a developer, I have largely stayed away from hardware-based -hobbies (other than building a gaming desktop). However, as the -quarantine for COVID-19 stretches out further and further, I found -myself bored and in search of new hobbies. After spending the last few -months browsing the [r/homelab](https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/) -subreddit, I decided it was time to jump in and try things out for -myself. - -Since I am a beginner and just recently graduated from college, -everything I've done so far in my homelab is fairly low-budget. - -# Hardware - - - -## Raspberry Pi 4 - -Luckily, I had actually purchased a [Raspberry Pi -4](https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/) before -the quarantine started so that I could try to keep Plex Media Center -running, even while my desktop computer was turned off. I started here, -using the Pi to hold Plex and Pi-hole until I grew tired with the slow -performance. - -Here are the specifications for the Pi 4: - -- Broadcom BCM2711, Quad core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.5GHz -- 4GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM -- Gigabit Ethernet -- H.265 (4kp60 decode), H264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode) -- 64 GB MicroSD Card - -## Dell Optiplex 5040 - -Since I wasn't happy with the Pi as my main server, I turned to -Craigslist. I know a lot of other homelabbers use Ebay, but I can't -seem to ever trust it enough to purchase items on there. So I used -Craigslist and found a Dell Optiplex 5040 desktop computer on sale for -\$90. While this computer might be underpowered, it was one of the few -computers under \$100 that was available during quarantine. - -Here are the specifications for the Dell Optiplex 5040: - -- Intel Core i3 6100 -- 8GB RAM DDR3 -- Intel HD Graphics -- Gigabit Ethernet -- 500GB Hard Drive - -While this hardware would be awful for a work computer or a gaming rig, -it turned out to be wonderful for my server purposes. The only -limitation I have found so far is the CPU. The i3-6100 only has enough -power for a single 4k video transcode at a time. I haven't tested more -than three 1080p streams at a time, but the maximum amount of streams -I've ever actually used is two. - -## WD easystore 10TB & 8TB - -Application storage and temporary files are stored on the internal hard -drive of the server, but all media files (movies, tv, games, books, etc) -are stored externally on my WD easystore hard drive. Creating auto-boot -configurations in the `/etc/fstab` file on my server allows -the hard drives to automatically mount whenever I need to restart my -server. - -> Update: In March 2022, I shucked the hard drives out of their external -> cases, put some Kapton tape on the third power pin to prevent power -> shutdowns, and stuck them inside my server tower using internal SATA -> cables. - -## Netgear Unmanaged Switch - -To manage all the ethernet cords used by my homelab, my desktop, and my -living room media center, I purchased an 8-port gigabit ethernet switch -for \$50 at my local computer store. This is probably much more than I -should have spent on an unmanaged switch, but I am comfortable with the -choice. - -## TP-Link Managed Switch - -Since I use the unmanaged switch to group all living room devices -together, I use the managed switch to configure VLANs and secure my -network. - -## Arris TM1602A Modem & Sagecom Fast 5280 Router - -My default modem and router, provided by my ISP, are fairly standard. -The Arris modem supports DOCSIS 3.0, which is something that I -definitely wanted as a minimum. The Sagecom router is also standard, no -fancy bells or whistles. However, it does support DHCP and DHCPv6, which -is something you can use to route all household traffic through a -pi-hole or firewall. - -## TP-Link EAP - -In order to gain better control over the network, I use my own wireless -access point instead of the one included in the Sagecom router above. -Now I can control and organize all of my ethernet connections through -the VLANs on the managed switch and wireless connections through the -VLANS on the EAP. - -## Generic Printer - -The last piece to my homelab is a standard wireless printer. Nothing -special here. - -# Software - -## Ubuntu Server 20.04 - -While the 20.04 version of Ubuntu was just released, I always like to -experiment with new features (and I don't mind breaking my system - it -just gives me more experience learning how to fix things). So, I have -Ubuntu Server 20.04 installed on the Dell Optiplex server and Ubuntu -Server 19.10 installed on the Raspberry Pi. Once I find an acceptable -use for the Pi, I will most likely switch the operating system. - -## Docker - -I am *very* new to Docker, but I have had a lot of fun playing with it -so far. Docker is used to create containers that can hold all the -contents of a system without interfering with other software on the same -system. So far, I have successfully installed pi-hole, GitLab, Gogs, and -Nextcloud in containers. However, I opted to delete all of those so that -I can reconfigure them more professionally at a later time. - -## Plex Media Server - -Plex is a media center software that allows you to organize your movies, -TV shows, music, photos, and videos automatically. It will even download -metadata for you so that you can easily browse these collections. - -## Pi-hole - -Pi-hole is an alternative ad-blocker that runs at the DNS level, -allowing you to block traffic when it hits your network, so that you can -reject any traffic you deem to be bad. Pi-hole uses blacklists and -whitelists to decide which traffic block and, luckily, there are a lot -of pre-made lists out there on Reddit, GitHub, etc. - -## Nextcloud - -While I had trouble with the Docker version of Nextcloud, I was very -successful when setting up the snap version. Using this, I was able to -map Nextcloud to a subdomain of a domain I own in Namecheap. -Additionally, Nextcloud has an integration with Let's Encrypt that -allows me to issue certificates automatically to any new domain I -authorize. - -## Webmin - -To monitor my servers, and the processes running on them, I use the -Webmin dashboard. This was fairly painless to set up, and I currently -access it straight through the server's IP address. In the future, I -will be looking to configure Webmin to use a custom domain just like -Nextcloud. |