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@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ In 2015, I upgraded to a Raspberry Pi 2, seeking better performance to run multi
By 2018, the need for more RAM led me to a Raspberry Pi 3, allowing me to run even more applications. My 3 little machines were running happily together, in a quite ordered mess. By 2018, the need for more RAM led me to a Raspberry Pi 3, allowing me to run even more applications. My 3 little machines were running happily together, in a quite ordered mess.
Finally, in 2019, my new job made me discover the virtualization, with virtual machines and above all Docker. I wanted to try that at home, I took a significant step forward with a compact yet powerful headless PC that laid the foundation of my homelab. Finally, in 2019, my new job made me discover the virtualization, with virtual machines and above all Docker. I wanted to try that at home, I took a significant step forward with a compact yet powerful headless PC that laid the foundation of my homelab.
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## Why a Homelab ? ## Why a Homelab ?
I wanted my own playground, a space where breaking things was not just okay, but encouraged. Its the best way to learn how to fix them and, more importantly, to really understand how they work. I wanted my own playground, a space where breaking things was not just okay, but encouraged. Its the best way to learn how to fix them and, more importantly, to really understand how they work.
@ -30,6 +32,8 @@ The first big challenge I set for myself was building a Kubernetes cluster. Sure
I also wanted to spawn new virtual machines at will, rebuild them from scratch, and apply Infrastructure as Code principles. I could have done all of that in the cloud, but I wanted full control. I also wanted to spawn new virtual machines at will, rebuild them from scratch, and apply Infrastructure as Code principles. I could have done all of that in the cloud, but I wanted full control.
Initially, my goal was to provide high availability for my existing services. One server wasnt enough. So, I wanted a second node. But in most HA setups, three nodes are the sweet spot. And just like that, I was on my way to building what would become my homelab. Initially, my goal was to provide high availability for my existing services. One server wasnt enough. So, I wanted a second node. But in most HA setups, three nodes are the sweet spot. And just like that, I was on my way to building what would become my homelab.
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## Shaping the Lab ## Shaping the Lab
First, I needed to define what my homelab was actually supposed to do. I wanted it to host my existing services reliably, but that wasnt enough, I wanted a true playground, capable of simulating a more complex enterprise environment. First, I needed to define what my homelab was actually supposed to do. I wanted it to host my existing services reliably, but that wasnt enough, I wanted a true playground, capable of simulating a more complex enterprise environment.
@ -49,6 +53,8 @@ Of course, reality doesnt always align with ambitions. Heres what I was up
- **Power Draw:** Running 24/7, the power consumption had to be kept in check. I couldnt afford to triple my electric bill just to tinker with VMs. - **Power Draw:** Running 24/7, the power consumption had to be kept in check. I couldnt afford to triple my electric bill just to tinker with VMs.
- **Budget:** I wasnt going to drop thousands on enterprise-grade hardware. The balance was finding reliable, second-hand gear that wouldnt break the bank. - **Budget:** I wasnt going to drop thousands on enterprise-grade hardware. The balance was finding reliable, second-hand gear that wouldnt break the bank.
- **Temperature**: Im not gonna lie, I forgot about it.. Mini PCs dont generate much heat, but network gear? Thats a different story. Lesson learned. - **Temperature**: Im not gonna lie, I forgot about it.. Mini PCs dont generate much heat, but network gear? Thats a different story. Lesson learned.
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## Infrastructure Overview ## Infrastructure Overview
Lets break down the components that make up my homelab. Lets break down the components that make up my homelab.
@ -111,7 +117,7 @@ Here what is look like
![homelab-rack-legend.png](img/homelab-rack-legend.png) ![homelab-rack-legend.png](img/homelab-rack-legend.png)
![homelab-enclore-open-closed.png](img/homelab-enclore-open-closed.png) ![homelab-enclore-open-closed.png](img/homelab-enclore-open-closed.png)
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## Software Stack ## Software Stack
### Hypervisor ### Hypervisor
### Network ### Network