linux-sysadmin-journey/projects/01-homelab-setup

Project 1: Home Lab Setup

Project Overview

This project documents the setup of a basic home lab environment using VirtualBox and Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS.

Environment Details

• Host System: Windows 11
• Hypervisor: Oracle VirtualBox
• Guest OS: Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS
• Resources Allocated:
  • CPU: 2 cores
  • RAM: 2GB
  • Storage: 20GB
  • Network: NAT + Host-only adapter

Setup Steps

1. VirtualBox Installation ✅

• Successfully installed VirtualBox
• Created project directory structure

2. Ubuntu Server VM Creation ✅

• Download Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS ISO
• Create new VM in VirtualBox
  • Configure VM settings (CPU, RAM, Storage)
  • Configure network adapters
• Install Ubuntu Server
  • Basic system configuration
  • Network setup

3. Network Configuration ✅

• Configure NAT adapter for internet access

  1. Verify IP address configuration ✅
  2. Test internet connectivity ✅

     ping 8.8.8.8      # Success
     ping google.com    # Success
     

• Configure Host-only adapter for direct host communication

  1. Verify second network interface ✅

     ip addr show enp0s8
     # Output shows:
     # inet 169.254.0.2/16 brd 169.254.255.255 scope global enp0s8
     

  2. Test host connectivity ✅

     # Successfully pinged host (169.254.167.242)
     # Round-trip time (RTT) avg: 2.846ms
     

• Document network configuration:

  • NAT adapter IP (enp0s3): 10.0.2.15/24
  • Host-only adapter IP (enp0s8): 169.254.0.2/16
  • Default gateway: 10.0.2.2
  • Host IP: 169.254.167.242

Current Status (Project Paused)

• ✅ Basic VM Setup: Complete
• ✅ Network Configuration: Complete
• ✅ Security Measures: Complete
• ✅ System Monitoring: Complete
• ✅ Service Deployment: Complete
  • Apache web server
  • MySQL database
• ⏸️ Advanced Networking: Paused
  • Future enhancement opportunity

Next Steps

1. Advanced Networking
   • DNS configuration
   • Network services
   • Advanced firewall rules

4. Basic Security Setup ✅

• User Management ✅

  • Created sysadmin user with sudo privileges
  • Enhanced hugh user security

• SSH Configuration ✅

  • Installed and configured OpenSSH server
  • Implemented key-based authentication
  • Disabled password authentication
  • Applied security hardening settings

• UFW Firewall Setup ✅

  • Installed and configured UFW
  • Set default policies (deny incoming, allow outgoing)
  • Allowed required services:
    • SSH (port 22)
    • HTTP (port 80)
    • HTTPS (port 443)
    • Host machine access (169.254.167.242)
  • Verified connectivity

5. System Monitoring and Maintenance ✅

• Monitoring Tools

  • Installed and configured htop
  • Set up Netdata for system metrics
  • Configured Logwatch for log monitoring

• Maintenance Procedures

  • Implemented backup strategy with rsync
  • Configured automated updates
  • Set up log rotation

Current Status

• ✅ Basic VM Setup: Complete
• ✅ Network Configuration: Complete
• ✅ Security Measures: Complete
• ✅ System Monitoring: Complete

Security Configuration Status

• User Management
  • Admin user created
  • Sudo privileges configured
• SSH Access
  • SSH server installed
  • Key-based authentication configured
  • Root login disabled
• Firewall
  • UFW installed
  • Basic rules configured
  • SSH access allowed

Commands and Configurations

Network Configuration Commands

### SSH Configuration
```conf
# Key SSH configuration settings (/etc/ssh/sshd_config)
PermitRootLogin no
PasswordAuthentication no
AllowUsers admin

UFW Rules

# View UFW status
sudo ufw status verbose

# Basic allowed services
sudo ufw status numbered

Additional Documentation

• Security Setup Details
• Lessons Learned & Challenges

Project Completion Summary

1. Successfully set up Ubuntu Server VM
2. Implemented basic security measures
3. Configured monitoring and maintenance
4. Deployed web and database services
5. Documented all configurations and procedures

Future Enhancements

• Advanced networking features
• Additional service deployments
• Performance optimizations