HOMELAB · 6 min read
Building My Enterprise Homelab
The hardware, networking, and security tools behind Project Atlas.
Why I built Project Atlas
Project Atlas is my hands-on learning environment for networking, Linux, virtualization, and cybersecurity. Instead of relying only on simulations, I use physical equipment and virtual machines to practice real administration and troubleshooting tasks.
The infrastructure
My Dell OptiPlex 7060 runs Proxmox VE, hosting virtual machines and containers. A Cisco Catalyst 3750 switch provides a platform for VLANs and switch configuration. A Raspberry Pi 5 runs supporting services such as Pi-hole and Uptime Kuma.
- Proxmox VE: virtualization and container hosting
- Cisco Catalyst 3750: switching, trunks, and VLAN practice
- pfSense: routing, firewall rules, and lab segmentation
- Wazuh: security event monitoring
- Raspberry Pi 5: DNS filtering and uptime monitoring
What I practice
I use this environment to troubleshoot connectivity, manage Linux services, study firewall behavior, and document changes. Separating lab networks helps me experiment without intentionally disrupting the main household network.
Next steps
My goals include improved monitoring, automated backups, better documentation, and publishing repeatable tutorials. This site is part of that work.