My Homelab
A compact self-hosted environment built around Proxmox, pfSense, and Linux.
Architecture Overview
Internet
ISP Connection
↓
pfSense
Firewall • Router • VLANs
↓
Proxmox VE
Hypervisor • VMs • LXC Containers
↓
Linux Services
Debian / Ubuntu • Docker • Apps
Hardware
Main Server (Proxmox)
- Dell Precision T3500
- Intel Xeon W3565 @ 3.20 GHz
- 8 cores / 1 socket
- 20 GB RAM
- Multiple storage drives
- Runs 24/7 as the main hypervisor
Networking
- pfSense firewall / router
- Zyxel 8-port managed PoE switch
- 2× TP-Link EAP610 access points
- VLANs for Trusted / Lab / IoT
- Tailscale for secure remote access
Other Devices
- Raspberry Pi (4 GB RAM) — running ADS-B
Proxmox VE
Running on the Dell Precision T3500 (Xeon W3565, 8 cores, 20 GB RAM).
- Full virtual machines for heavier workloads
- LXC containers for lightweight services
- Regular snapshots before making changes
- Built-in backup system to local storage
- Web interface for easy day-to-day management
pfSense
Handles all routing, firewalling, and network segmentation for the lab.
- Primary firewall and edge router
- VLAN segmentation (Trusted, Lab, IoT, Guest)
- DNS resolver + DHCP server
- Traffic monitoring and logging
Tailscale
Used for secure remote access to the homelab.
- Mesh VPN based on WireGuard
- Easy access to internal services from anywhere
- No need to open ports on the firewall
- Works across all devices (phone, laptop, etc.)
Linux Stack
Almost every service inside the lab runs on Linux.
- Debian 12 and Ubuntu Server as base systems
- Docker for many self-hosted applications
- Common services: reverse proxy, monitoring, media, automation
- SSH + key-based authentication only
- Regular updates and minimal attack surface
Goals of the Lab
- Learn networking, virtualization, and Linux administration
- Host personal services instead of relying on the cloud
- Keep the setup simple, reliable, and low-maintenance
- Experiment safely with snapshots and isolated networks