- get computers. laptops, desktops, raspberry pis, custom-built ("whitebox") servers, old dell poweredges you got off ebay, etc etc. Install linux on them.
- plug servers into switches, switches into switches, and eventually into your router. Don't create cycles in your tree (unless you know your router/switches support it (STP), and unless you paid $1k for your switch, it doesn't support it)
- Figure out your router config to assign them static/reserved DHCP IP addresses so they always get the same IP.
- put those IPs in your hosts file. (optionally, set up a DNS server.)
- ssh-copy-id your ssh key to all servers
Now you have a bunch of machines you can ssh to. Which imo is the most basic definition of a homelab.
Lots of people get super creative and use fancy routers and switches and enterprise gear and do complicated networking and etc etc etc but all that stuff is just good fun and not necessary.
- get computers. laptops, desktops, raspberry pis, custom-built ("whitebox") servers, old dell poweredges you got off ebay, etc etc. Install linux on them.
- plug servers into switches, switches into switches, and eventually into your router. Don't create cycles in your tree (unless you know your router/switches support it (STP), and unless you paid $1k for your switch, it doesn't support it)
- Figure out your router config to assign them static/reserved DHCP IP addresses so they always get the same IP.
- put those IPs in your hosts file. (optionally, set up a DNS server.)
- ssh-copy-id your ssh key to all servers
Now you have a bunch of machines you can ssh to. Which imo is the most basic definition of a homelab.
Lots of people get super creative and use fancy routers and switches and enterprise gear and do complicated networking and etc etc etc but all that stuff is just good fun and not necessary.