Automating my Homelab with Ansible

Homelabs can be great fun. But how do you take care of device configuration, backups, testing, patching, upgrades, and hardware replacement?

Well, I use Ansible wherever I can to make sure the boring parts of homelab ownership are automated. In this presentation, originally delivered at AnsibleFest 2022 in Chicago, I'll give a tour of my homelab and talk about how I automate parts of my Homelab using Ansible.

Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/geerlingguy
Sponsor me on GitHub: https://github.com/sponsors/geerlingguy
Merch: https://redshirtjeff.com
2nd Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/GeerlingEngineering

Homelab equipment (some links are affiliate links):

- StarTech.com 25U open frame rack: https://amzn.to/3SdJdb1
- Neat Patch 2U Cable management unit: https://amzn.to/3SeorIf
- TRENDnet 24-port keystone patch panel: https://amzn.to/3ScFfzg
- TRENDnet shielded RJ45 keystone jacks: https://amzn.to/3Tkt8le
- Monoprice Cat6A SlimRun patch cables: https://amzn.to/3s6ZW55
- QNAP 20-port PoE++ 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps switch: https://amzn.to/3TbIFDv
- MikroTik CRS309-1G-8S+IN 10 Gbps Cloud Router Switch: https://amzn.to/3TwgGyf
- Home Assistant Yellow: https://www.crowdsupply.com/nabu-casa/home-assistant-yellow
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2 AS6706T NAS: https://amzn.to/3EQF7Cm
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 AS6604T NAS: https://amzn.to/3eEXvnh
- 45Drives Storinator XL60: https://www.45drives.com/products/storinator-xl60-configurations.php
- MyElectronics.nl Mac Studio rack: https://www.myelectronics.nl/us/mac-studio-empower-station-rack-mount-19-inch.html
- NavePoint 2U rack drawer: https://amzn.to/3g82ugq
- Tripp Lite Isobar 12-outlet rack PDU: https://amzn.to/3SeRpHI

Mentioned in this video:

- Ansible for DevOps: https://www.ansiblefordevops.com
- Get a free ebook copy! https://www.jeffgeerling.com/ansible-2022
- Rack upgrade video with my Dad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvr1mKs1UjE
- PetaPi - Petabyte Raspberry Pi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBnomwpF_uY
- Internet Monitoring Pi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIUc4C4TXog
- All-SSD Edit NAS build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvE4HNJZeIg
- Monitoring my ASUS router with Prometheus and Grafana: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2022/monitoring-my-asus-rt-ax86u-router-prometheus-and-grafana
- Backup Pi / My Backup Plan: https://github.com/geerlingguy/my-backup-plan
- Drupal Pi: https://github.com/geerlingguy/drupal-pi
- Raspberry Pi Dramble cluster: http://pidramble.com
- Raspberry Pi NVR (Network Video Recorder): https://github.com/geerlingguy/pi-nvr
- Pi-VPN: https://pivpn.io
- Mac Development Ansible Playbook: https://github.com/geerlingguy/mac-dev-playbook
- Pi Router: https://github.com/geerlingguy/pi-router

#homelab #ansible

Contents:

00:00 - Homelabs
00:26 - My homelab
02:06 - Three purposes
02:40 - "I'll never fill up this rack"
04:58 - What's in my rack?
07:32 - No manual drudgery
08:41 - Ansible projects
11:09 - Much to do
12:24 - Why we homelab