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Building My Homelab: Learning, Breaking Things, and Having Fun

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#homelab#kubernetes#proxmox#pfsense#infrastructure-as-code

I’m building a homelab, and I’m documenting the entire journey on my Homelab Dad YouTube channel. This is where I experiment with technology, break things, and learn how systems actually work—all while being a working dad.

Why Build a Homelab?

My goals are simple:

  • Learn stuff: Get hands-on with technologies I use professionally
  • Have fun: Because tinkering with tech is genuinely enjoyable
  • Teach my son: Share knowledge and inspire curiosity
  • Control my digital footprint: Take ownership of my data and security
  • Build cool stuff: Turn ideas into working systems

What I’ve Built So Far

The Foundation: Custom Router

I started with the network. I replaced my off-the-shelf router with a Protectli Vault running pfSense. This gives me enterprise-level control over my home network—firewall rules, VLANs, VPN support, IDS/IPS, and DNS filtering. It’s the foundation everything else builds on.

The Compute: Proxmox Cluster

I’m running Proxmox on two Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny machines. These compact workhorses give me the compute I need without taking up much space or power. On top of Proxmox, I’ve built a Kubernetes cluster for container orchestration.

Infrastructure as Code

I’m using Packer to generate VM templates and Terraform to deploy infrastructure. This lets me tear things down and rebuild them quickly—essential when you’re learning and experimenting.

The Hardware

  • Protectli Vault V1410-4 (pfSense router)
  • 2x Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q Tiny (Proxmox hosts)
  • NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch
  • TP-Link EAP245 V3 Access Point
  • Raspberry Pi (for future projects)

What’s Coming Next

I have a long list of projects planned:

  • Network monitoring with SNMP
  • Prometheus and Grafana dashboards
  • VLAN segmentation (guest, work, IoT, etc.)
  • Self-hosted Minecraft server on Kubernetes
  • NAS for storage
  • Home automation
  • 3D-printed rack accessories

The Reality of Homelabbing as a Working Dad

This isn’t a quick weekend project. It takes time, money, and patience. I’m documenting everything—the wins, the failures, and the dumb mistakes—on my YouTube channel. If you’re building your own homelab or thinking about it, come follow along. I’d love to hear what you’re working on.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s learning by doing.