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Home Lab Explorers

1k members • Free

13 contributions to Home Lab Explorers
Kubernetes distros and home lab
What are you all using for Kubernetes in the home lab? Interested to see what is being used and any challenges faced there.
1 like • 7d
I'm very new to Kubernetes. A few days ago, I actually spun up a K8S cluster in my home lab. I have a master and three worker nodes all running on Ubuntu 24.04. I was able to successfully set up the cluster. I just need to learn how to deploy apps on it to where I can understand. I have been playing around with Docker as well. I have a separate Ubuntu server vm that is running my Docker containers. I set up vaultwarden, nextcloud, and other cool services and using Nginx Proxy Manager to access them from the Internet. But with this new K8S cluster I set up, I may try to migrate my containers from my docker host to the cluster. I'm still trying to understand how the nginx-ingress works. NPM is easy enough to use so may keep using that until I learn more about Kubernetes. With this cluster, I will be able to decom some of my vms : )
Gamers in our midst?
Are you a gamer in addition to your IT / Networking addiction?
Poll
12 members have voted
3 likes • 14d
PlayStation mostly but do enjoy PC games from time to time.
Domain Registrars
I want to hear other's opinions. What is your go to domain registrar? I've always used GoDaddy, however, I'm not opposed to trying another out, especially if the cost is different. I'm only asking because, I'm thinking about ditching commercial email all together and hosting my own email server on a domain name I choose. GoDaddy makes it easy to update your public facing records, but I've never tried out any other service. What are your thoughts?
How do you back up your home lab? Discussions please!
I wrote up a backup-focused blog and posted this morning. But definitely want to get some good discussions going here on how you do it, what tools you use, and methodologies: Ultimate Home Lab Backup Strategy (2025 Edition) https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/2025/10/ultimate-home-lab-backup-strategy-2025-edition/
How do you back up your home lab? Discussions please!
2 likes • Oct 6
I've been looking for a solid solution myself. Currently, I'm using the built in Windows Server backup for my Windows servers and rsync to a NFS share for my Linux servers. I've used Syncback in the past but now it seems you must pay for it. I liked Veeam, I used the CE version for my VMs initially, but I grew past 10 vms. I was able to obtain the "home lab" noncommercial license from Veeam for a year but that only supports 20VMs. I'm past 20vms lol. So, I'm using the native tools and backing up to a network shared folder. It's not the best solution since it only keeps one copy since it is on a shared network folder, but it's better than nothing. I tried using Bacula, but I honestly couldn't understand how to set it up. There's another one I tried "UrBackup" in a Docker container that works with Windows and Linux, but I had issues connecting it to remote storage. I'm also open to suggestions.
1 like • Oct 6
Oh I forgot to mention... I'm about to explore DPM. Data Protection Manager that is part of Microsoft's System Center since I'm immersing myself into that.
Do You Trust a Single DNS Server in Your Home Lab?
I'm curious what everyone here is running DNS-wise in the home lab. Do you run multiple servers? I am a big advocate of doing so. Not only do you learn a lot of nifty name resolution tricks, but it is just more resilient: https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/2025/10/why-i-run-multiple-dns-servers-in-my-home-lab-and-you-should-too/
Do You Trust a Single DNS Server in Your Home Lab?
2 likes • Oct 2
I run two domain controllers that handle DNS. The primary domain controller does DNS and DHCP and my secondary domain controller does DNS. I thought about setting up DHCP on the secondary as well and doing a split scope, but that's a little complex and overkill for a small network. I prefer doing this way because it's Active Directory integrated and dynamically updates my DNS records if an IP address changes. It also makes more sense since my day job is a Windows SysAdmin. I can statically set a DNS host record for my Linux servers, and it will synchronize between the two DCs. I'm also a little old school and set in my ways. If it works, why change it? I'm not opposed to using BIND or similar, just most familiar with Windows DNS.
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Jay Phillips
3
16points to level up
@jay-phillips-9377
IT Professional/SysAdmin

Active 4d ago
Joined May 2, 2025
Indiana
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