Network and homelab guides
Subnets, power, cooling, backups and documentation, worked out on paper first. Free calculators, step-by-step guides and templates for the home lab and the small office network.
- What is the 3-2-1 backup rule and how do I apply it to a homelab?The 3-2-1 backup rule means keeping three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy stored offsite.
- How do I subnet a home or small office network?Subnetting means cutting one block of IP addresses into smaller blocks, each one a separate network.
- How do I plan a PoE power budget for access points, phones and cameras?Plan a PoE power budget by adding up the maximum power each device can draw, comparing that total to the switch's overall PoE budget, checking each…
- How do I size a UPS for my homelab?You size a UPS for a homelab by measuring how many watts your gear actually draws and choosing a UPS whose watt rating comfortably exceeds that load.
- How should I split a homelab or home network into VLANs?Split your network by trust level: put untrusted or noisy devices (smart-home gadgets, guests) on their own VLANs, keep servers on another, and reserve…
- What does it cost to run my homelab each month?Your homelab's monthly cost is its average power draw in watts, times the hours it runs, divided by 1,000, times your electricity price per kWh.