Home Lab can be based entirely on virtualization! Modern technology is based on virtualization!
Everything in the cloud (minus actual birds/planes/clouds) is based on virtualization!
Virtualization is taking over, and we need it!
anyone can create a home lab.
Choose your Media files to
start your roadmap
All the Operating systems and file are opensource and can be found and accessed through regular straight forward means. the links and information needed will be provided below.
Windows Server 2019
You can get a free version, for 180 days, you just have to put in your personal info! Carries a lot of special packets to install the necessary servers that you will need.
Oracle VirtualBox
The real backbone of the ‘network lab’ setup. This is the package that hosts and holds everything together. This is 100% free.
Windows 10 Installation Media
If you have a PC or laptop with windows 10 running on it, you can use the creation media to make a ISO copy of the windows you have, to reinstall where you like.
Kali Linux
This is free, and provides several options for download depending on where you want to run the OS.
may need to install a turrent to get the file.
Sufficiently enough, there are two ways in which we can create a home lab. both include some form of resources that may not be readily available for you, or might cost too much to acquire.
- you will need a PROPERLY functioning desktop system or laptop. It will need a minimum of 8-16Mbs of Ram, with at least a i3-i5 processor, with a at least 100-150 GB of free space. I cannot stress this enough, if your machine is already struggling to keep up, it will not make it! This method is for a virtual lab, which is what I recommend.
- If you have an extra system or two that you can wipe clean and install the ISOs software directly onto it, then you can either invest in a small server/ ethernet adapter preferably Rj45 with ethernet connectors, then you can hard-wire your systems together, and create a small LAN. This method is more costly, as naturally the more machines you possess, or use, the more your electricity bills will be. For that reason I do not recommend this method just yet, unless you have everything you would need to duplicate an actual network.
You will need at least 4 softwares to make this virtual Home lab possible.
- Oracle Virtual Box
- Windows server 2019 ISO
- Windows 10 ISO
- Windows PowerShell
Considering that you may need to get a few things in order, and the length to explain these steps in writing, this is best done via video.
stay tuned, more to come.