Building My Ultimate Home Lab: A Journey into Networking Mastery

It will all begin with a simple idea: to build a home lab where I can experiment, learn, and push the boundaries of my networking skills. Little do I know, this journey will transform my understanding of network configurations and introduce me to the world of VLANs, VPNs, and advanced routing. Here’s how it will unfold.

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The Initial Spark

One evening, while browsing through tech forums and reading about various home network setups, I will feel an itch. My current home network will be basic — a single Nighthawk C7000v2 router provided by my ISP, handling all the traffic without any segmentation or advanced features. It will work fine for everyday tasks, but it will be far from the robust, flexible network I envision. I will want a setup that can handle virtualization, containerization, and provide a secure VPN for remote access. And so, the journey will begin.

Assembling the Gear

First, I will need the right hardware. After some research, I will decide on the following equipment:

• Nighthawk C7000v2: Already part of my current setup, this trusty modem/router combo will be repurposed to serve as the secondary router.
• Nighthawk RAX80: The powerhouse primary router, capable of handling advanced configurations.
• GS108Ev3: An 8-Port Gigabit ProSAFE Plus Switch to manage VLANs and ensure efficient traffic flow.

With the hardware in hand, it will be time to dive into the configuration.

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Setting the Stage

Step 1: Configuring the Nighthawk C7000v2

I will start by accessing the admin interface of the Nighthawk C7000v2. This device will still act as the modem but will now serve as a secondary router with its DHCP disabled.

• LAN Setup: I will set the IP range to 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.100.
• Disable DHCP: This step will be crucial to prevent IP conflicts and allow the Nighthawk RAX80 to manage IP assignments.

Step 2: Configuring the Nighthawk RAX80

Next, I will tackle the primary router, the Nighthawk RAX80. This beast will handle all the advanced features and configurations.

• WAN Setup: I will connect the WAN port of the RAX80 to a LAN port of the C7000v2.
• LAN Setup: I will set the LAN IP range to 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.100 and enable DHCP.
• VLAN Configuration:
• VLAN 1 (Default): 192.168.1.0/24 for general network devices.
• VLAN 10: 192.168.10.0/24 for my virtualization and containerization servers.
• VLAN 20: 192.168.20.0/24 for guest devices and specific use cases.
• VPN Configuration: I will enable OpenVPN on the RAX80, allowing secure remote access to my home network.

Photo by U. Storsberg on Unsplash

Step 3: Configuring the GS108Ev3 Switch

The switch will be the backbone of my VLAN setup. It will ensure traffic is efficiently managed and segmented.

• VLAN Setup:
• Port 1: Connected to the Nighthawk RAX80 (trunk port, allowing all VLANs).
• Port 2–4: VLAN 1 for general network devices.
• Port 5–6: VLAN 10 for servers.
• Port 7–8: VLAN 20 for guest network devices.

The Moment of Truth

With everything configured, it will be time to bring the network to life. I will restart all connected devices to ensure they obtain new IP addresses from the Nighthawk RAX80’s DHCP server. To my relief, everything should work seamlessly. Devices will connect to the appropriate VLANs, and the network traffic will flow efficiently through the switch.

Integrating Static IPs

To optimize the network further, I will decide to assign static IPs to critical devices. This will ensure consistent and reliable connections, especially for my virtualization and containerization servers.

• Static IP Range: I will reserve IPs from 192.168.10.101 to 192.168.10.150 for my servers.
• Device Configuration: I will manually assign static IPs to my servers, ensuring they match the VLAN 10 range.

Reflecting on the Journey

Looking ahead, building my home lab will be more than just a technical project; it will be a learning experience that deepens my understanding of networking. I will have a robust, segmented network capable of handling various advanced tasks, from virtualization to secure remote access via VPN.

The journey will teach me the importance of planning, patience, and continuous learning. Each step, from configuring VLANs to assigning static IPs, will bring me closer to my goal of mastering home networking. And as I sit back and enjoy the seamless performance of my home lab, I will know this is just the beginning. There will always be more to learn, more to configure, and more to explore in the vast world of networking.

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering building your own home lab, my advice is simple: dive in. Start with a clear plan, gather the right hardware, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The journey might be challenging, but the rewards — a deeper understanding of networking and a powerful, custom-built home lab — will be well worth the effort. Happy networking!