Networking

What You’ll Need A dedicated device or virtual machine to install pfSense. A basic understanding of networking concepts. Access to your home network’s router for setup. Step 1: Install pfSense Download pfSense ISO: Visit the official pfSense website and download the ISO. Choose the correct architecture for your hardware (e.g., AMD64). Create a Bootable USB Drive: sudo dd if=/path/to/pfsense.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=1M Replace /path/to/pfsense.iso with the path to the ISO file. Replace /dev/sdX with the correct USB drive identifier. Install pfSense on Your Device: ...

A well-designed network is essential for a secure and efficient homelab. VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) allow you to segment your network into separate logical groups, improving security, performance, and manageability. In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of VLANs and walk you through setting them up in your homelab. What You’ll Need A managed switch that supports VLANs (e.g., TP-Link, Netgear, or Ubiquiti). A router or firewall capable of VLAN tagging (e.g., pfSense, OPNSense). Basic understanding of IP addresses and subnetting. Step 1: Understand VLAN Basics What Are VLANs? VLANs divide a physical network into multiple virtual networks. Devices on different VLANs cannot communicate directly without a router or Layer 3 switch. ...