The Lab Levels Up: Protected Power and Production Apps
From “Sandbox” to “Production”
In my last post, the lab was essentially a high-potential construction site. Today, the scaffolding is down, the power is steady, and I’m actually running services that my household (and my sanity) depend on.
The most important update? The “Ugly Truth” about my network is finally getting a makeover.
The Stability Layer: Closing the Hardware Loops
Before I could trust this lab with my data, I had to fix the foundation. Here’s what’s officially “Online”:
1. The Lifeline: CyberPower LCD1000ELCD
Remember that “smelly” UPS I mentioned? It’s gone. I replaced it with the CyberPower LCD1000ELCD.
- The Integration: It’s currently connected via USB to the Synology DS225+.
- The Logic: The Synology acts as the NUT (Network UPS Tools) server, and both my HP server and the TP-Link switch are plugged into the battery-backed outlets. If the lights go out, the NAS tells everything else to shut down gracefully. No more “questionable” power drops.
2. The Traffic Cop: TP-Link Omada Switch
The TP-Link Omada ES208G has arrived. Moving to a cloud-managed gigabit switch has finally cleared the bottleneck. I used that new network tester to verify my old ceiling cables—some were surprisingly okay, others… well, let’s just say the “repair kit” got some use.
3. The Fast Lane: Samsung T7 Shield SSD
While the Synology is great for massive storage, I wanted my Proxmox VMs to feel snappy. I’ve connected a Samsung T7 Shield directly to the HP 805 G8 via USB.
- Role: This is my “Fast Storage” layer. I use it as an SMB share for active VM data and high-speed scratch space. It keeps the heavy I/O off the NAS drives, extending their life and keeping my apps responsive.
What’s Running: The Software Stack
Now that the hardware isn’t a house of cards, I’ve started spinning up the actual services.
| Service | Host Type | Storage Strategy | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pi-hole | LXC Container | Local SSD | Perfect. My network is finally quiet (no ads). |
| Immich | VM / Docker | NFS Share (Synology) | Originals-only on the NAS; thumbs on the T7. |
| Firefly III | Container | Local SSD | Experimenting. Trying to figure out where my money goes. |
The “Immich” Strategy
I’m particularly proud of the Immich setup. Instead of dumping everything on the HP server, I use an NFS share from the Synology. The “Originals” (the big raw files and videos) live on the redundant 16TB NAS, while the database and thumbnails live on the T7 SSD. It’s the perfect balance of speed and safety.
The Next Big Milestone: Breaking the “ISP Chains”
While the internal network is getting better, I’m still using the standard Viettel modem—and I hate it. It’s clunky, limited, and just… there.
My next project is a total infrastructure overhaul. I’m planning to bypass the Viettel modem entirely and replace it with:
- A GPON ONU (Optical Network Unit) to handle the fiber line.
- A Mikrotik Router to handle the actual routing, VLANs, and advanced firewall rules.
This will give me 100% control over my external traffic and finally let the HP 805 G8 talk to the world on its own terms.
Current Lab Map
- HP 805 G8: Running Proxmox + Samsung T7 Shield (SMB)
- Synology DS225+: 16TB redundant storage (NFS/Backups)
- TP-Link Omada: The gigabit central nervous system
- CyberPower UPS: Protecting the whole stack
The journey continues. What should I try next? Maybe some Home Assistant automation? Stay tuned for the Mikrotik setup!