Network and DNS
Pi-hole, split DNS, DHCP, VLAN-aware services, network visibility, and practical edge services.
Hands-On Labs
Build, validate, and document real infrastructure in small steps.
Labs are the execution layer for bigger ideas: build tracks, validation environments, and reproducible project work for DNS, monitoring, backup, remote access, automation, and self-hosted services.
7 guides
Storage and Backup
NAS patterns, snapshot verification, backup hygiene, and family-safe storage systems.
Virtualization and Containers
Proxmox, Docker, lightweight Kubernetes, dev environments, and reproducible service platforms.
Monitoring and Observability
Dashboards, health checks, logs, alert routing, and operational visibility for homelab services.
Remote Access and Security
WireGuard, Tailscale, identity, access controls, hardening, and low-friction remote administration.
PowerShell and Admin Automation
Reusable scripts, reporting tools, endpoint automation, and repeatable operator workflows.
Home Automation and IoT
Home Assistant, MQTT, Zigbee, Raspberry Pi utility nodes, and practical household automation.
Self-Hosted Services and Productivity
Documentation portals, dashboards, media utilities, note systems, and practical family or team services.
Published Guides
Current build library
Self-Hosted Services and ProductivityService Portals and MediaIntermediate1-2 hours
Build a Lightweight Internal Git and Script Catalog with Gitea
A practical setup for a lightweight internal Git repository and script catalog using Gitea, a self-hosted Git service.
GiteaDockerGit
Home Automation and IoTSensor and Camera AutomationIntermediate2-4 hours
Create a Local Camera and Sensor Event Pipeline with Frigate, MQTT, and Home Assistant Automations
Build a local event pipeline that turns camera and sensor events into Home Assistant automations without depending on a cloud service.
Home AssistantFrigateMQTTPython
Self-Hosted Services and ProductivityDocs and File WorkflowsIntermediate2-4 hours
Create a Self-Hosted Document Workflow with Paperless-ngx, OCR, and Backup Validation
Build a self-hosted Paperless-ngx workflow that turns scanned documents into searchable records and includes a backup check you can repeat.
DockerPaperless-ngxTesseract OCRUbuntu/Debian
Network and DNSLocal DNSIntermediateApproximately 2 hours
Create a WireGuard plus Split DNS Lab for Secure Remote Access to Self-Hosted Services
By completing this guide, you will establish a secure remote access setup using WireGuard and implement split DNS for your self-hosted services.
Linux (Ubuntu)WireGuardTechnitium DNS
Virtualization and ContainersDocker StacksIntermediate2-4 hours
Build a Homelab CI Pipeline for Docker Services with Rollback Support
A practical setup for a Continuous Integration (CI) pipeline in your homelab that automatically deploys Docker services from GitHub repositories and includes rollback capabilities.
DockerGitHubCI/CD Tool (GitHub Actions or Jenkins)Linux Server
Network and DNSNetwork VisibilityIntermediate4-6 hours
Build a Small Office Network Monitoring Stack with LibreNMS, Syslog, and Alert Routing
A practical setup for a small office network monitoring stack using LibreNMS for network visibility, syslog for log management, and alert routing for notifications.
Ubuntu 20.04LibreNMSRsyslogAlertmanager
PowerShell and Admin AutomationReporting and AuditsIntermediate1 hour
Build a Reproducible Devcontainer Environment for PowerShell, Terraform, and Azure CLI
Build a reproducible devcontainer for PowerShell, Terraform, and Azure CLI work so the toolchain is easy to rebuild.
PowerShellTerraformAzure CLIDocker
PowerShell and Admin AutomationOps ToolkitsIntermediate2-3 hours
PowerShell Onboarding Toolkit for Workstation Setup
Create a reusable PowerShell onboarding script for new Windows workstations: install standard apps, apply baseline settings, and leave behind a process the next tech can run.
PowerShellWindows Operating SystemSoftware Installation
Virtualization and ContainersRaspberry Pi HostingIntermediate2-3 hours
Raspberry Pi Home Assistant Utility Node with MQTT and Zigbee2MQTT
Turn a Raspberry Pi into a Home Assistant utility node for MQTT and Zigbee2MQTT with an update path you can repeat.
Raspberry Pi OSHome AssistantMosquitto MQTT BrokerZigbee2MQTT
Monitoring and ObservabilityLogs and AlertingIntermediate1-2 hours
Build a Windows Event Log Collector with PowerShell and Scheduled Tasks
A practical build for a lightweight Windows event log collector using PowerShell scripts and scheduled tasks, supporting cleanly incident triage and log management.
Windows OSPowerShellScheduled Tasks
Home Automation and IoTSensor and Camera AutomationIntermediate2-4 hours
Build a Smart Power Monitoring Lab with Home Assistant
A smart power monitoring lab that turns Home Assistant energy data into dashboards, thresholds, and household alerts.
Home AssistantRaspberry PiSmart Energy Monitoring DevicesYAML Configuration
Network and DNSLocal DNSIntermediate2-3 hours
PowerShell Health-Check Pack for Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and Certificate Expiration
Create a PowerShell health-check pack for Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and certificate checks in a small Windows network.
PowerShellActive DirectoryDNSDHCP
Remote Access and SecurityAdmin AccessIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Secure Remote Admin Toolkit with Tailscale, RDP Hardening, and Access Controls
A practical build for a secure remote administration toolkit using Tailscale for secure networking, along with RDP hardening techniques and access control measures to ensure a safe remote management experience.
TailscaleWindows Remote DesktopWindows Firewall
Monitoring and ObservabilityLogs and AlertingIntermediate2 hours
Build a Log Aggregation Starter Lab with Loki, Grafana, and Service-Specific Dashboards
Set up a starter log stack with Loki and Grafana so service logs land in one place and can be checked during incidents.
DockerLokiGrafana
PowerShell and Admin AutomationReporting and AuditsIntermediate2-3 hours for initial setup and testing
PowerShell Toolkit for Rotating Local Admin Passwords and Auditing Privileged Access Drift
Create a PowerShell toolkit for rotating local administrator passwords and checking privileged access drift across Windows machines.
PowerShellWindows Task SchedulerActive Directory (optional)
Self-Hosted Services and ProductivityDocs and File WorkflowsIntermediate1-2 hours
Create a Lightweight k3s Lab for Self-Hosted Services
By following this guide, you will set up a lightweight k3s cluster capable of running self-hosted services with ingress and persistent volumes.
k3sDockerTraefikKubernetes
Self-Hosted Services and ProductivityDocs and File WorkflowsIntermediate2-4 hours
Self-Hosted Dashboard Homepage for Homelab Services
Create a self-hosted dashboard that provides live status tiles for your homelab services and quick access to maintenance links.
DockerNode.jsNginx
Home Automation and IoTHome Assistant CoreIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Home Assistant Starter Lab with Dashboards, Backups, and Room-by-Room Entity Organization
By following this guide, you will set up a Home Assistant lab that includes customizable dashboards, automated backups, and organized entities for each room in your home.
Raspberry PiHome AssistantYAML
Network and DNSNetwork VisibilityIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Home Network Visibility Dashboard with ntopng, Syslog, and VLAN Traffic Summaries
Build a home network visibility dashboard with ntopng, syslog, and VLAN summaries for quick traffic checks.
Linux (Ubuntu)ntopngSyslogRouter with VLAN support
Virtualization and ContainersVirtualization PlatformsIntermediate3-5 hours
Proxmox Starter Cluster Guide with Templates, Backups, and Service Placement Rules
Build a small Proxmox starter cluster with templates, backups, and placement rules you can reuse for later services.
Proxmox VEKVMLXCNFS/iSCSI for storage
Network and DNSLocal DNSIntermediate2-3 hours
Small Office DHCP and DNS Audit Toolkit with PowerShell
A practical toolkit for a DHCP and DNS audit toolkit using PowerShell. The toolkit will include scripts for checking lease conflicts and exporting the results for further analysis.
PowerShellWindows ServerDHCPDNS
Network and DNSLocal DNSIntermediate2 hours
Create a Raspberry Pi DNS Secondary Server with Pi-hole Sync and Failover Testing
Build a secondary Pi-hole DNS node on a Raspberry Pi, sync core configuration from the primary resolver, and prove client failover before changing router DHCP options.
Raspberry Pi OSPi-holersyncBash
PowerShell and Admin AutomationReporting and AuditsIntermediate1-2 hours
Build a Reusable PowerShell Script for Software Inventory Reporting
Build a reusable PowerShell software inventory script that exports clean CSV reports from Windows endpoints.
PowerShellWindows Management Instrumentation (WMI)CSV
Self-Hosted Services and ProductivityDocs and File WorkflowsIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Self-Hosted Password Vault Lab with Vaultwarden
A self-hosted Vaultwarden password vault with backups, recovery notes, and practical safeguards for family use.
DockerVaultwardenLinux
Network and DNSRemote NetworkingIntermediate2-3 hours
Creating a WireGuard Jump Host with MFA-Friendly Access Patterns
Create a WireGuard jump host for remote access that keeps internal services private and leaves room for MFA-friendly access patterns.
WireGuardPAMSSHLinux
Monitoring and ObservabilityUptime and StatusIntermediate1-2 hours
Create a Homelab Uptime Dashboard with Docker, Grafana, and Simple Service Health Checks
A practical setup for a homelab uptime dashboard using Docker and Grafana.
DockerGrafanaPrometheusNode Exporter
PowerShell and Admin AutomationReporting and AuditsIntermediate1-2 hours
Build a Safe File Server Permission Audit with PowerShell
Build a read-only PowerShell permission audit for Windows file shares, export remediation candidates, and preserve evidence for an access review without changing ACLs.
PowerShellWindows ServerCSV Handling
Storage and BackupRecovery ValidationIntermediate2-4 hours
Build a Backup Verification Workflow for Hyper-V or Proxmox VMs with Scheduled Restore Checks
Build a backup verification workflow for Hyper-V or Proxmox so restores are tested before an outage forces the question.
Hyper-V or ProxmoxPowerShell or BashBackup SoftwareEmail Notification System
Home Automation and IoTHome Assistant CoreIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Family Notification Hub with Home Assistant
A family notification hub that uses Home Assistant calendar triggers, quiet hours, and clear escalation rules for household reminders.
Home AssistantGoogle Calendar APISmart Home Devices
Self-Hosted Services and ProductivityService Portals and MediaIntermediate3-5 hours
Build a Media Utility Server with Jellyfin
A Jellyfin media utility server with metadata automation, storage hygiene checks, and a repeatable layout for home media libraries.
Ubuntu ServerJellyfinDocker (optional)Bash scripting
Virtualization and ContainersRaspberry Pi HostingIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Raspberry Pi Environmental Monitor for Rack Temperature, Power State, and Service Alerts
By following this guide, you will create a Raspberry Pi-based environmental monitor that tracks rack temperature, power state, and provides service alerts.
Raspberry PiPythonFlaskSQLite
Storage and BackupRecovery ValidationIntermediate2-4 hours
Build a TrueNAS Replication Lab with Snapshot Schedules and Rollback Validation
Create a TrueNAS replication lab with snapshot schedules and a rollback test so you know the backup path works before you need it.
TrueNASZFSNetworking
Monitoring and ObservabilityUptime and StatusIntermediate2-3 hours
Create an Uptime Kuma and Grafana Homelab Monitor with Status Pages and Escalation Rules
A homelab monitoring stack that pairs Uptime Kuma status checks with Grafana views, status pages, and escalation rules.
DockerUptime KumaGrafanaNode.js
Virtualization and ContainersDocker StacksIntermediate1 hour
Create a Docker-based Reverse Proxy Stack with Nginx Proxy Manager and Automatic TLS Certificates
Set up a Docker-based Nginx Proxy Manager stack for internal services that need repeatable TLS and routing.
DockerNginx Proxy ManagerLet's Encrypt
Storage and BackupBackup PlatformsIntermediate2-4 hours
Family NAS Backup Plan with Snapshots and Offsite Sync
Create a family NAS backup plan with snapshot retention, offsite copy targets, restore notes, and a small proof restore so backup success is based on evidence instead of hope.
NAS devicersync or other backup softwareMarkdown editor for documentation
Remote Access and SecurityIdentity and SecretsIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Small Identity Lab with Authentik and Keycloak
Build a small identity lab with Authentik and Keycloak so you can test SSO flows, admin access, and recovery steps safely.
DockerAuthentikKeycloakSingle Sign-On
Storage and BackupBackup PlatformsIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Proxmox Backup Server Lab with Retention Policies and Monthly Recovery Drills
Build a Proxmox Backup Server lab with retention policy, backup job evidence, and a monthly restore drill so recovery confidence comes from tested restores.
Proxmox Backup ServerLinuxCron
Remote Access and SecurityAdmin AccessIntermediate2-3 hours
Build a Raspberry Pi Travel Gateway with WireGuard for Safe Remote Access to Your Home Lab
A Raspberry Pi travel gateway pattern for secure WireGuard access back to a home lab while away from the trusted network.
Raspberry PiWireGuardLinux
Storage and BackupBackup PlatformsIntermediate2-3 hours
PowerShell Home Lab Toolkit for Backup Checks and Service Management
Create a PowerShell toolkit for backup checks, service restarts, and daily status notes in a small lab environment.
PowerShellWindows Task SchedulerSMTP for email notifications
PowerShell and Admin AutomationReporting and AuditsIntermediate1 hour
Build a Patch Compliance Reporting Workflow for Windows Devices Using PowerShell and Scheduled Scans
Build a Windows patch compliance reporting workflow with PowerShell, scheduled scans, CSV evidence, and rollback notes for the scheduled task and local script files.
PowerShellWindows Task SchedulerCSV reportingWindows Update evidence
Storage and BackupBackup PlatformsIntermediate2 hours
Windows Server File Share Backup Audit with PowerShell and Stale Job Detection
A practical build for a PowerShell script that audits file share backups on a Windows Server and detects stale backup jobs.
Windows ServerPowerShellTask Scheduler
Virtualization and ContainersDocker StacksIntermediate2 hours
Build a Raspberry Pi Container Host with Docker Compose
A Raspberry Pi Docker Compose host with health checks, safer update habits, and a small-service layout that is easy to maintain.
Raspberry PiDockerDocker ComposeNginx