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Unlock the secrets to building a hybrid home lab that seamlessly integrates local hardware with public cloud resources. Join us as we chat with Matt Elliott, who takes us on an inspiring journey from his early ideas in 2018 to his current sophisticated setup. Matt shares the pivotal moments that transitioned him from clunky physical servers to efficient containers on Linux hosts, offering invaluable insights and amusing anecdotes from his experiences within Kentucky's vibrant IT community.

In this episode, we delve into the power of automation tools that can transform your hybrid home lab into a powerhouse of efficiency. We discuss key infrastructure components like Redis, Postgres, LibreNMS, and Prometheus, and emphasize the importance of secrets management with 1Password. Discover how containers can swiftly deploy new AI tools, and how Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform and Ansible can streamline your lab's management and automation. Plus, learn how AI can be your assistant in optimizing and troubleshooting your setup.

Our conversation also covers the crucial aspect of networking in a hybrid home lab. We navigate the nuances of transitioning from Docker to Podman, discuss the user-friendly benefits of Tailscale, and consider alternatives like ZeroTier. Get practical advice on overcoming routing issues and maintaining network stability. Finally, we explore leveraging AI to enhance coding, documenting your learning in a GitHub repository, and creating an extensible home lab that integrates both on-prem and cloud resources. This episode is packed with actionable tips, expert advice, and personal stories, making it essential listening for anyone keen on building a versatile hybrid home lab.

Draft Details on Matt's Hybrid Home Lab (OCTANT):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17O_qt_1gAo-F8za7K3kK6CZlzbk6TV7v_LpzxWUV6wk/edit?usp=sharing

Follow Matt:
https://x.com/NetworkBrouhaha

Matt's Blog:
https://networkbrouhaha.com/2018/08/hybrid-home-lab-pt1/
https://networkbrouhaha.com/2022/03/vcd-verraform-example/

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