LEVEL 2 NETWORKING

BUILD YOUR
HOME LAB

Move beyond consumer router limitations. Learn enterprise concepts like VLANs, firewalls, and self-hosted services.

Firewall Basics

Introduction to pfSense and OPNsense. Why you might want to replace your ISP router with a dedicated firewall.

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VLAN Segmentation

Keep your IoT lightbulbs away from your bank details. A complete guide to setting up Virtual LANs.

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Self-Hosting (NAS)

Stop relying on the cloud. Host your own media, files, and password managers securely.

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The Lab Roadmap

Assess Needs

Do you need a full rack or just a Raspberry Pi? Determining your goals.

The Hardware

Refurbished thin clients vs new builds. Finding efficient hardware.

First Service

Setting up Pi-hole or AdGuard Home for network-wide ad blocking.

Network Upgrade

Adding a managed switch and wireless access points.