Home / Roadmap & Labs / Month 1

Month 1 – Foundations & Segregation

Proxmox install, OPNsense gateway, lab LAN, and a basic Windows domain – all fully isolated.

Weeks 1–4 Platform & network

Weeks Month 1 overview

Week 1 – Proxmox fundamentals

Platform

Goal: Install and harden Proxmox, create base storage and networking.

  • Install Proxmox VE on your homelab box.
  • Create vmbr0 for management/WAN.
  • Document a first‑pass network diagram.

Open Week 1 lab »

Week 2 – OPNsense & lab LAN

Segregation

Goal: Deploy OPNsense as a virtual router/firewall and create an isolated lab LAN.

  • Create vmbr10 for lab LAN.
  • Install OPNsense with WAN on vmbr0, LAN on vmbr10.
  • Verify lab isolation from ISP LAN.

Open Week 2 lab »

Week 3 – Windows Server & AD

Identity

Goal: Build a small AD domain and join at least one Windows client.

  • Install Windows Server 2022 on lab LAN.
  • Promote to domain controller (e.g., corp.local).
  • Join a Windows 10/11 VM to the domain.

Open Week 3 lab »

Week 4 – Baseline hardening

Security

Goal: Apply basic security baselines and document your initial “mini‑enterprise.”

  • GPO password and lockout policies.
  • OPNsense rules to block lab → ISP LAN.
  • Write a short security baseline document.

Open Week 4 lab »

Month 1: Network Segmentation & Proxmox Setup
Month 1: Proxmox installation, OPNsense configuration, and network segregation between home and homelab environments.