LokesTech Field Notes / Homelab Track

Homelab Track Overview

Build it. Break it. Rebuild it cleaner. Document the damage.

This track documents the hands-on process of building a small systems administration lab for learning virtualization, networking, Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, PowerShell automation, Microsoft 365, endpoint management, and recovery from questionable decisions.

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Purpose

The Homelab Track is a working record of the process used to build, rebuild, and improve a small lab environment. The lab exists to practice real administration skills without risking production systems.

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The goal is not perfection on the first attempt. The goal is repetition, understanding, documentation, and the occasional “well, that exploded” learning moment.

Guiding rule: this lab is a working environment, not a museum. Systems will change. Virtual machines will be deleted. Designs will evolve. The notes are part of the lab.

Current Direction

The lab is being planned around a small home network with a Proxmox host, Raspberry Pi services, Windows Server virtual machines, Windows 11 clients, and Microsoft 365 cloud integration.

The environment is intended to support learning in both traditional on-prem systems administration and modern cloud/endpoint administration.

  • Networking fundamentals
  • DNS and DHCP concepts
  • Proxmox virtualization
  • Windows Server and Active Directory
  • Group Policy and file shares
  • PowerShell automation
  • Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Defender, and Intune
  • Documentation and recovery practices

Planned Lab Areas

1. Network Foundation

Router configuration, IP range, DHCP, DNS, static reservations, wireless decisions, VLAN planning, and basic troubleshooting.

2. Proxmox Virtualization

Proxmox host setup, storage, network bridges, ISO uploads, templates, VM creation, snapshots, backups, and rebuild notes.

3. Core Services

Pi-hole, DNS forwarding, service recovery, local naming, time/NTP, and other support services that keep the lab from becoming feral.

4. Windows Server / Active Directory

Domain controller setup, AD DS, DNS role, OU design, users, admin accounts, groups, and domain-joined clients.

5. Group Policy

Workstation baselines, user experience settings, login scripts, drive mapping, policy troubleshooting, and GPO design.

6. File Shares and Permissions

Share layout, NTFS permissions, share permissions, department folders, home drives, and security group strategy.

7. PowerShell Automation

Drive mapping scripts, dot-sourced functions, JSON configs, logging, duplicate cleanup, and general admin tooling.

8. Microsoft 365 Integration

Tenant setup, custom domain setup, Exchange Online, shared mailboxes, Defender for Business, Entra roles, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

9. Endpoint Management

Entra registered devices, Entra joined devices, Intune enrollment, compliance policies, Defender onboarding, and security baselines.

10. Backup, Recovery, and Documentation

Proxmox backups, VM snapshots, config exports, OneDrive project vaults, static documentation, and recovery after mistakes.

Current State Snapshot

The lab is currently in an early rebuild and documentation phase. Some systems are planned, some have existed in earlier lab versions, and some need to be rebuilt cleanly.

  • Main laptop: MSI laptop
  • Main network: 192.168.30.0/24
  • Router / gateway: 192.168.30.1
  • Pi-hole: 192.168.30.2
  • Proxmox host: lab-hv01
  • Planned AD domain: core.lokestech.com
  • Planned domain controller: SRV-DC01
  • Microsoft 365 domain: lokestech.com
Important: old lab VM names should be treated as rebuild targets unless confirmed to currently exist. The lab state changes, so this page should be updated as systems are rebuilt.

Completed / Recent Wins

  • Moved lokestech.com email routing from Hostinger to Microsoft 365.
  • Configured admin@lokestech.com as a shared mailbox.
  • Confirmed inbound and outbound mail flow.
  • Validated SPF, DKIM, and DMARC as passing.
  • Recovered Pi-hole after local DNS troubleshooting exposed that it was offline.
  • Created a controlled OneDrive project vault for LokesTech files.

Immediate Next Steps

  1. Create the LokesTech Field Notes static site structure.
  2. Build out this Homelab Track overview page.
  3. Create a current-state inventory page.
  4. Confirm Proxmox host state and document what actually exists.
  5. Plan the next Windows Server / Active Directory rebuild.
  6. Restart the PowerShell drive mapping design notes.
  7. Document each major change as a field note.

Long-Term Goal

The long-term goal is to create a practical lab that supports learning toward systems administration, endpoint management, Microsoft 365 administration, Intune, Defender, and automation.

The lab should become a safe place to test ideas before applying similar concepts in real work environments. The documentation should become a reusable reference for future rebuilds, troubleshooting, and portfolio work.

North star: build useful skills, document real work, and make future rebuilds less painful.
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