Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Modest Beginnings in Network Experimentation
My homelab journey started with a humble setup: a Dell Alienware laptop augmented with a USB network card. Initially, my understanding of networking was rudimentary at best. An early misstep was my attempt to use a USB WiFi card as an access point, which resulted in a less-than-ideal experience. Through self-education, I learned the correct setup: placing an access point ahead of the router. This led me to use an old router, enabling DHCP on the LAN side and connecting it in a way that shared the same subnet with my LAN, a makeshift solution that surprisingly worked well.
Transitioning from pfSense to OPNsense
My journey with pfSense began as I sought more control over my home network. I appreciated its capabilities but encountered limitations, notably the lack of support for WireGuard, a new VPN protocol I was eager to try. Despite initial reluctance, my curiosity and desire for innovation led me to migrate to OPNsense, a decision driven by its support for WireGuard. This transition was not smooth; accustomed to the pfSense UI, I found OPNsense’s interface and methodologies challenging at first. However, with time and patience, I adapted to OPNsense’s way of doing things, appreciating its solid web UI, monitoring, and extension capabilities. This phase marked significant growth in my understanding and management of home networking.
My OPNsense Journey and Expansion
With OPNsense, my homelab evolved significantly. I transitioned from a basic setup to a more sophisticated network, incorporating a dual-CPU server, a NAS for storage, and an end-of-life Cisco switch for a managed networking experience. My domain names, managed DNS via a pihole VM, and various Docker applications found a reliable backbone in OPNsense. My appreciation for WireGuard, facilitated by OPNsense, reinforced my decision to migrate. Over time, I learned to manage network devices through Proxmox, exploring Linux bridges and leveraging the multiple LAN ports of my DL380g9 server for enhanced network capabilities.
The Shift to VyOS
Despite my successes with OPNsense, a VLAN crash tested my resilience. A routine network restart led to a complete outage, challenging my ability to recover. In the face of these challenges, I considered alternatives. Consulting with a network expert introduced me to MikroTik products, but limitations and the quest for a cost-effective solution prompted me to explore VyOS. This decision to switch marked another significant pivot in my homelab journey, driven by the pursuit of knowledge and the best tools to support my evolving network needs.
