Compute and management
- Dell rackmount server with iDRAC remote access
- Debian as the primary operating environment
- RAID and storage concepts for resilience and maintenance
Homelab
The server setup I use to learn
I built this lab so I could work with real hardware, run services, change the network, and fix my own mistakes.
My Dell rackmount server on a stand I built, with the networking gear mounted nearby.
The Setup
What’s in the lab
It changes as I try new things, but these are the main pieces right now.
Network and access
- pfSense firewalling and segmentation
- VLAN separation for trusted, guest, and IoT traffic
- WireGuard for secure remote access
Visibility and security
- Logging and dashboards for service behavior
- Suricata-style intrusion detection practice
- Patch discipline and hardening baselines
What I Use It For
What I actually do with it
Server hardware practice
I use iDRAC for remote management, install and update Linux, work with storage, and recover things when I misconfigure them.
Segmentation and VPN access
I separate devices with VLANs and use WireGuard to reach the lab when I’m away from home.
Monitoring and response
I collect logs and monitor services so I can tell what changed when something starts acting differently.