Skills · SkillDevOps & CloudReviewed

homelab-network-setup

Practical home and homelab network planning for gateways, switches, access points, IP ranges, DHCP reservations, DNS, cabling, and common beginner mistakes. Use when planning or fixing a home or homelab network — gateway, switch, AP, IP ranges, DHCP, DNS, or cabling.

View on GitHub

Kind: Skill
Works with: Claude Code, Codex
Source: affaan-m/ECC @ d3b8a3e90890
Path: skills/homelab-network-setup/SKILL.md
License: MIT
Jobs: Planning, Debugging

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# Homelab Network Setup

Use this skill to design a home or small-lab network that can grow without
needing a full rebuild.

## When to Use

- Planning a new home network or redesigning an ISP-router-only setup.
- Choosing gateway, switch, and access point roles.
- Designing IP ranges, DHCP scopes, static reservations, and DNS.
- Preparing for future VLANs, Pi-hole, NAS, lab servers, or VPN access.
- Troubleshooting a new network that has double NAT, unstable Wi-Fi, or changing
  server addresses.

## How It Works

Start by separating device roles:

```text
Internet
  |
Modem or ONT
  |
Gateway or router      NAT, firewall, DHCP, DNS, inter-VLAN routing
  |
Managed switch         wired clients, AP uplinks, optional VLAN trunks
  |
Access points          Wi-Fi only; ideally wired backhaul
Servers and NAS        stable addresses, DNS names, monitoring
Clients and IoT        DHCP pools, isolated later if VLANs are available
```

Pick a gateway that matches the operator, not just the feature checklist:

| Option | Best fit | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ISP router | Basic internet only | Limited control and often poor VLAN support |
…