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

• ✅ NAT adapter: Working (Internet access)
• ✅ Host-only adapter: Working (Host communication)
• ✅ Network connectivity: Verified

Next Steps

Now that networking is configured, we can proceed to:

1. Basic Security Setup
   • Create non-root user with sudo privileges
   • Configure SSH access
   • Set up UFW firewall

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

Next Steps

1. Service Deployment

   • Web server setup (Apache/Nginx)
   • Database server
   • Basic web application

2. Automation and Scripting

   • Shell scripting basics
   • Automated maintenance tasks
   • System health checks

3. Advanced Networking

   • DNS configuration
   • Network services
   • Advanced firewall rules

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