If you’re an intermediate tech enthusiast looking to expand your knowledge and skills, establishing a home lab can offer a plethora of opportunities. Home labs are not only educational but also immensely satisfying. Here, we are looking at the top 5 home lab projects that are perfect for intermediate users who want to take their skills to the next level.

1. Build a Personal VPN Server

For secure browsing and remote access, setting up a VPN server is a fundamental project to explore.

Prerequisites:

  • Basic understanding of networking
  • Access to a server (physical or cloud)

Steps and Code:

  • Install OpenVPN on Ubuntu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openvpn easy-rsa -y
  • Set up PKI
make-cadir ~/openvpn-ca
cd ~/openvpn-ca
nano vars  # Edit appropriately, including EASYRSA_REQ_COUNTRY
source vars
./clean-all
./build-ca
./build-key-server server
./build-dh
cd keys

This will set up the necessary keys and certificates for your server.

2. Create a Docker Swarm Cluster

Deploying a Docker Swarm cluster is an efficient way to manage multiple Docker nodes.

Prerequisites:

  • Familiarity with Docker basics
  • Several networked computers or virtual machines

Steps:

  • Initialize Docker Swarm Mode

On Manager Node:

sudo docker swarm init
  • Join Nodes to the Swarm

On Worker Nodes:

sudo docker swarm join --token <token> <manager-node-ip>:2377
  • Deploy a Stack

Create a simple stack file docker-compose.yml:

version: '3'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx
    ports:
     - "80:80"

Deploy the stack with:

sudo docker stack deploy -c docker-compose.yml my-web-stack

3. Set Up a NAS (Network Attached Storage)

Network Attached Storage is convenient for shared access and data redundancy.

Prerequisites:

  • Spare hardware or VM
  • Storage drives

Steps:

  • Install OpenMediaVault (OMV)

Follow the OMV Installation Guide for detailed steps.

  • Share a Folder

Once installed, use the OMV interface to create and share your files over the network.

4. Deploy a Kubernetes Cluster with K3s

K3s lets you deploy Kubernetes in less resource-intensive environments.

Prerequisites:

  • Understanding of Kubernetes concepts
  • Appropriate hardware or cloud instances

Steps:

  • Install K3s

On Master Node:

curl -sfL https://get.k3s.io | sh -
  • Join Worker Nodes
curl -sfL https://get.k3s.io | K3S_URL=https://<MASTER_IP>:6443 K3S_TOKEN=<NODE_TOKEN> sh -

5. Implement a CI/CD Pipeline with Jenkins

Automating the deployment process enhances efficiency and helps in streamlining software delivery.

Prerequisites:

  • Basic knowledge of Jenkins

Steps:

  • Install Jenkins on Ubuntu
wget -q -O - https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian-stable/jenkins.io.key | sudo apt-key add -
sudo sh -c 'echo deb http://pkg.jenkins.io/debian-stable binary/ > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jenkins.list'
sudo apt update
sudo apt install jenkins
  • Start Jenkins
sudo systemctl start jenkins
sudo systemctl status jenkins

Jenkins Configuration File

After installing, configure Jenkins by visiting http://<your_server_ip>:8080 and unlocking it with the password found in /var/lib/jenkins/secrets/initialAdminPassword.

Each of these projects not only strengthens your technical prowess but also provides practical solutions to common tech challenges. Delve into each, experiment, and don’t be afraid to break things—remember, a good chunk of learning happens through troubleshooting and fixing. Happy Home Lab Building!