I am aware of the security implications of publicly disclosing my specific hardware and software. However, in the context of my threat model, impressing potential employers outweighs the risk.
I don't have space for a full sized server rack, So I had to get creative. The unique arrangement has heavily influenced my hardware choices.
Every Device is carefully tucked behind or around the living-room TV in an effort to maintain wife-appeal.
I am constantly tinkering, so this topology diagram is almost certainly outdated, but it gives a rough idea of my layout and the colors are pretty.
I started out by renting an all-in-one WiFi router from my ISP. However, the decision to segment my network to separate publicly hosted services meant I needed something more advanced. Initially, I considered virtualizing my router/firewall, but I quickly ran into a chicken-and-egg problem, so I purchased dedicated hardware instead.
The Protectli Vault FW4C is a silent mini pc that was purpose built for hosting open source firewalls. It has four 2.5GbE I226-v network interfaces.
OPNSense is an open-sourced firewall and router operating system based on FreeBSD. I started with pfSense for an OS, but eventually switched to OPNsens because I preferred its GUI layout.
My OPNSense hosts many services including:
I primarily chose this switch as it was the cheapest option while still checking all my boxes. I knew I needed a managed switch for vlans, and I wanted 10 Gigabit connections to connect my desktop and server. I bought the PoE version on a whim, but quickly appreciated that feature when it became time to set up my wireless access point. I only wish it had more ports, as I will need to upgrade someday.
The MokerLink POE-2G04210GSMX is a cheap no-name switch, but it has a good mix of features.
My Desktop is truly a multi-purpose machine. It is a web surfing beast, game console, home theater pc, AI server and backup target for some of my servers. I use it to manage my home-lab and develop this website.
I don't have space for a computer desk
I got this old hp computer for cheap from my old job. It fits nicely in the media cabinet under the TV. It was only designed to hold two hard drives, but with I bit of hacking and cutting, I found space for two more in the 5.25 inch bay. Since the chassis didn't come with drive sleds, I fashioned my own with black Styrofoam blocks. It's very janky, but it works.
The main operating system on the server is Proxmox, a type 1 hypervisor that is purpose built to host other virtual computers. It runs everything from Windows and MacOS to Linux, BSDs and Containers, all on one CPU. It is a powerful learning tool as it allows me to create, destroy, restore and experiment with various operating systems and software packages.
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