FiziksMayMays

joined 2 years ago
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Advice on network layout for pfSense with roommates in c/homelab@selfhosted.forum
[–] FiziksMayMays@alien.top 1 points 2 years ago

Thanks for the comment! I'm not sure if the WAN is PPPoE on the pfSense box - is this something I configure or is it set by the ISP?

Oh wait I think I see what you're saying. My internet is through cable (not ethernet), so I think you are saying to do this:

internet
   │
   ▼
modem
   │
   ▼
managed switch──────────────┐
    │                       │
    ▼                       ▼
arris router           pfSense box

Isn't this a problem because then the managed switch is on the ISP's network?

Also, you said that the WAN interfaces of both the arris router and pfsense should be in that managed switch, but then also (last bullet) that the router and pfsense plug their LAN output into the managed switch? Was that just a typo?

1
Advice on network layout for pfSense with roommates (alien.top)
 

Hey guys, I'm hoping for some insight into how to set up my network. Feel free to let me know if this would be better in r/HomeNetworking!

Current setup

Currently, we have a very simply network setup - just a cheap modem/router/wifi combo that servers all of my roommates devices wirelessly, in addition to a line that I ran to a switch in my room.

https://preview.redd.it/hyhqizlan51c1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=5c7a8499fae3ecb0a6b03e1bd12514d32142d7d5

Work in progress

I have a small homelab set up with a backup server and some raspberry pis, but I want to experiment with selfhosting a website just to build my knowledge.

To this end, I've looked into setting up a pfSense box. Right now I have pfSense installed on a protectli device, which is connected to the Arris router in a LAN-to-WAN configuration:

https://preview.redd.it/1v1x2gzvn51c1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=3657751924bb653fe954ac6c9bd9e57dccd8723f

Ultimately, I'm trying to figure out the best way to set up the network for someone who is relatively new to networking. Ultimately I want

  1. To make sure I'm not interrupting my roommates' internet
  2. To be able to access the self hosted website
  3. To do this all securely

Proposed network

The pfSense box has multiple NICs, so if my understanding is correct I can completely segment my devices from my roommates'. Additionally, I have a smart switch, so I'm hoping to set up separate VLANs for my devices accessible from outside the network, as well as IoT devices

https://preview.redd.it/0lzvphgeo51c1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=382f6bb24f32a9bc6ca4ff28c35b813f75b56a6d

Questions

I'm new to networking so any advice is much appreciated. I have a few specific questions, but I'm not sure if they cover all considerations I should be taking! In particular:

  1. Does my proposed network layout make more sense than just putting all my devices on the current LAN-to-WAN subnetwork I have? What needs to be done for this current setup to work - I can think only of port forwarding.
    1. Is one option better than the other for DDNS which I intend to setup with cloudflare?
    2. Is one option safer for my roommates' devcies (I presume my proposed one is)

If relevant, no roommate devices will need to be able to talk to any of my devices (I think that's what this pfSense Block RFC1918 Private Networks`option relates to?)

​

Thank you so much!

Is it safe to store a NAS with installed HDDs? in c/datahoarder@selfhosted.forum
[–] FiziksMayMays@alien.top 1 points 2 years ago

I got it on amazon

2
Is it safe to store a NAS with installed HDDs? (alien.top)
 

Hey all,

I recently got a Synology DS923+ for someone as a gift, and installed the drives/ran initial setup so that it will be good to go when they open it.

My question is - is it safe to repackage the unit in the box that it arrived in now that the drives are installed? It is almost all cardboard while the NAS itself came wrapped in a light cloth material

I don't see why it wouldn't be , but I wanted to make sure before I bricked some 20 TB drives

Thank you in advance!

Complete NAS solution for parents for Christmas in c/datahoarder@selfhosted.forum
[–] FiziksMayMays@alien.top 1 points 2 years ago

Thanks for your comment!

I'd look for something you can administer remotely,

Totally agree! I'm not far now but who knows in the future :)

something that can double as a media center might be nice

That's a great idea, especially because they have a collection of DVDs I could rip and put on there. Any particular considerations that matter when adding the ability to be a media center (besides maybe transcoding)?

Thanks again!

1
Complete NAS solution for parents for Christmas (alien.top)
 

Hey everyone,

My parents have a bunch of data just sitting on external drives, and that data is not copied anywhere. They have lost family photos to a failing drive before, and I want to prevent something like that from happening again.

In this vein, I want to get them a complete NAS solution for a Christmas present. I work in technology, although not in IT, so I am competent at understanding things of this nature but do not have the knowledge myself currently.

Ideally, this is my target system:

  • an easy-to-use NAS that they will find intuitive (and cannot easily break)
  • a automated backup solution (ideally one on-site and one in the cloud, I use Backblaze B2 personally)
  • perhaps a UPS to really mitigate the possibility of error (do you all think this is necessary?)

I will provide

  • a budget to get this done (I am comfortable spending between 1-2k USD)
  • the initial setup for them
  • support in the future should something go wrong

Any advice is greatly appreciated! I'm not currently aware of how much storage will actually be required, but I think 5 or so TB to start would be sufficient.

I've been looking at synology NAS options and am really just looking for advice on whether I've made some sort of mistake in reasoning, companies/products to avoid (or use), and any other advice you all would think is valuable :) Thanks again!