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i. Introduction to my Homelab Setup
In this first part of the series about my Homelab, we'll start with an introduction, explaining the starting point of my adventures in running my Homelab. Like many other IT hobbyists, it starts with getting an ISP for internet only, using a modem on a dial-up connection.
This is in the early 1990's for me, as far as I can remember, although I already used a dial-up connection to a BBS-like system before that. This evolved in to a ADSL connection (together with a cable TV connection) and eventually a fiber connection, with internet, TV and VoIP.
Starting point
So, where to start? First things first, i consider myself an IT hobbyist and definitely not a processional. I'm running this Homelab purely for my own pleasure or, if you like, useful spending my pension days. Even so, I tend to do this in a "professional" fashion as possible, because it all has to be save and secure of course.
I understand that from a professional standpoint, things could and would probably been done differently, but in the end it still comes down to feasibility's and possibilities, both personal and financial. So please be considerate, even I do things the way I do things, and would not hold up in a professional environment.
Preliminary
I have been planning to take up my computer hobby again for some time now that I have retired to take. I wanted to do this in the form of a so-called Homelab, in which various aspects of computers, networks and automation come together. Currently, my IT scene consists of some network switches and Network Attached Storage, not included the various devices and the ISP router.
At the time of writing, at the start of construction of the Homelab, the used NAS is the type DS415Play from Synology, a 4-drive NAS configured as RAID5 and with a total capacity of approx. 8TB. Because I intended, besides general digital documents, to store lots of videos, photos and music, I chose that size.
The network starts with the router setup, as provided by the ISP, in my case a Fritz!box 7590. Over the years I have added two switches for the necessary equipment, both from NetGear, type GS110TP with eight PoE ports and a eight port GS108T.
The latter has 7 regular 1GB ports and one special 1GB port, that can be utilized to feed this switch over PoE. It gets it's power connected to the GS110TP and it is used in the living room to connect all media devices (TV, DVD, etc.). This saved me yet another external adapter.
Current network
Situation Nov 2024
Let's call the current network version 0, as can be in the picture below. It depicts just about all connected devices, with exception of my pc, the printer and the NAS, which all resides on the 1st floor, in my "office" (for lack of a better word). Also, I left out the mobile devices.
Overview version 0 network
All connections run via the patch panel, which has 12 ports. At the top right is the Fritz!Box 7590 (FB7590), which is connected to the fiber optic modem (red line).
In addition to the two telephone lines (black lines), there is one network connection of the FB7590 connection linked directly to the TV (green line).
A second network connection is connected to the rest of the network, by connecting it directly to the GS110TP (orange line).
Double connections go from the patch panel to the living room (2x) and to the bedroom (1x). Furthermore, the four blue lines go to the 1st floor study - annex office (blue lines).
The yellow line is the downlink to the GS108T (PoE powered), which controls the various media equipment in it network connects.
The black line on port 3 of the GS110TP is connected to the WiFi repeater the bedroom.
These components, with the exception of the GS108T, are all located in the utility cabinet downstairs. To connect the network to the office on the 1st floor, I have drilled a hole from the office, straight down into the utility cabinet and finished it with a 40mm PVC sewage pipe.
In addition to the “blue” network cables from the 1st floor, for the connection between the patch panels, from above comes also a power cable for feeding the fiber optic modem, the router and the GS110TP switch. This was done with installing an UPS in mind, as one of the first Homelab components.
20250212-01