Homelab

Network
In 2024, I replaced my mixed home network with Ubiquiti components. This change helped me build a more reliable and organized network, which is essential for any home or homelab. Using devices from a single vendor made setup and management much easier, especially with features like VLANs and multiple Wi-Fi networks. Managed switches also gave me better control over traffic, allowing me to separate IoT devices like smart lights and 3D printers from my main computers for improved security and performance.
However, relying on one vendor has its downsides. Vendor lock-in can make upgrades more expensive and limit your ability to add devices from other brands. On this page, I’ll explain how I set up my network, the devices I use, and the reasons behind my choices.
- Router and Gateway:
- Router: Still using the old fiber-router from the ISP. It has been downgraded to primarily act as a device that delivers internet to the UniFi Gateway Ultra.
- UniFi Gateway Ultra: Acts as the central gateway for the network, handling internet traffic, firewall rules, and VLAN configurations. It provides advanced routing capabilities and integrates seamlessly with other UniFi devices.
- Switches:
- UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE: A compact 8-port switch with PoE (Power over Ethernet) support, perfect for powering devices like access points or IP cameras. It offers managed switch capabilities, allowing for VLAN setup and traffic monitoring.
- Access Points:
- UniFi U6+: Provides strong and reliable Wi-Fi coverage across the home. Supports Wi-Fi 6 for faster speeds, better performance in dense environments, and the ability to create multiple wireless networks for separating devices like IoT and personal computers.
Servers
- Miniserver computer#minisforum-tl-50-i5-1135g7 A small server with 2 TB of drive space, sufficient for running essential services and experiments:
- Nextcloud: Personal cloud storage and file sharing.
- Minecraft: Dedicated game server.
- Factorio: Automation and factory-building game server.
- Playground LXC: For testing and experimenting.
- Docker Host LXC: Docker container testing LXC.
- NAS /computer/#asustor-as6702t: Centralized storage and Docker host, seamlessly integrated into the homelab network:
- 2 x 1 TB NVMe drives: For user home directories and Docker configurations.
- 2 x 4 TB NAS HDDs: Used for backups, media, and long-term storage.
- Docker Applications:
- TubeArchivist: YouTube archiving.
- Navidrome: Music streaming.
- AudioBookShelf: Audiobook and podcast library.
- Backups: Stores backups from the miniserver.
Services
- Virtualization and Containers: Docker setups, VMs, and Portainer management.
- Network Services: VPN, DNS, or other services you’re running.
- Automation and Monitoring: Any tools or systems in place (e.g., Grafana, Prometheus, or scripts).
Equipment
Is listed on the computer page.
Documentation
- Unifi Gateway Ultra Setup
- Unifi IoT Firewall Rules
- setting-up-adguard-home-for-the-vlans
- TBD: Links to guides or step-by-step setups I found useful while setting up my homelab.
- TBD: A section for troubleshooting tips and resources.
Inspirations and References
- TBD: Blogs, forums, or videos that inspired your homelab setup.
- TBD: Tools and services you find helpful.