DIY Home Lab Setup and Improvement Guide

Core Network Cabinet Setup

1. Router/Firewall/Wireless AP:

Install a Draytek router/firewall that also functions as a wireless access point. This will act as the gateway for your network.

2. Core Switch:

Use an old but reliable NetGear switch (or upgrade if needed). Ensure it provides sufficient ports for your current setup and has room for future expansion.

3. Storage (NAS):

Deploy a Synology NAS with RAID5 for redundancy.

Configure a total storage capacity of 16TB.

Use the NAS for:

Media server

Home drives

Family-shared file storage

Server Setup

1. Main Server

Install an HP ProLiant DL360 Gen9 server running Windows Server 2019 Datacenter.

Configure storage:

RAID1 for the operating system (OS)

RAID5 for general storage

Use SSDs in all bays for optimal performance.

2. Virtualization:

Host two Domain Controllers (DCs) and one Applications VM, all running Windows Server 2022 Standard.

Ensure your host hardware is sufficient:

2x 20-core physical processors

384GB RAM for ample room to expand the VM pool

3. Redundancy and Management:

Utilize 4x NICs for VM network connectivity.

Configure management access through the dedicated iLO port.

Install dual PSUs to support power redundancy:

Connect one PSU to utility power.

Connect the other to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

4. UPS Configuration:

Protect your entire setup with a UPS.

Configure the server to save running VMs and shut down gracefully during utility power loss.

5. Backups:

Schedule nightly backups of all critical data to the NAS.

Improvement Plans

1. Network Segmentation

Plan and configure VLANs to segregate different types of traffic:

Physical devices

Virtual machines

Media servers, etc.

Update the switch and router configurations accordingly.

2. Physical Server Rack

Replace the current setup with a deeper 19-inch server rack to properly house the ProLiant server.

Ensure adequate airflow and cable management within the rack.

3. Network Core Upgrades

Upgrade your switches to support 10GbE copper connections.

Use these connections to link the server directly to the network core for faster data transfer and better performance.

4. Redundant Hypervisors and Storage

Add a second hypervisor to improve fault tolerance.

Move storage to a SAN for centralized management and enhanced performance.

Configure the Synology NAS as a quorum witness for your hypervisors to improve cluster resilience.

By following these steps, you'll create a robust, highly efficient, and scalable home lab setup with room for future expansion and experimentation.