I run a homelab environment to experiment with virtualization, automation, and IT infrastructure. My main hypervisor is Proxmox VE, which allows me to manage virtual machines and containers efficiently. I have been trying to improve my skills with Ansible and wanted to apply what I’ve learned in my homelab. This is also a good way to document things that I normally do when I create VMs like installing the QEMU agent and creating new users on them and it helps me to automate the process of creating new VMs and containers when I need them.

What I use my homelab for

  • Learning: I use my homelab to learn new technologies, test software, and practice skills.
  • Docker: I run Docker containers for various applications, DNS servers, Twingate connectors, and more.
  • Windows Servers: I have a few Windows Server VMs for testing with Active Directory, Group Policy, and other Windows features. I also use this to test PowerShell Universal.

Why Proxmox?

  • Open-source and feature-rich virtualization platform
  • Easy web-based management interface
  • Supports both VMs and LXC containers
  • Great community and documentation

Typical Workflow

  1. Provision a new VM or container in Proxmox.
  2. Configure the system using Ansible playbooks (install packages, set up users, deploy services).
  3. Test and iterate on new technologies in a safe, isolated environment.

Source Code

You can find my Ansible playbooks and Proxmox automation scripts in this GitHub repository:
adrimus/ansible-proxmox-homelab

I also have a repo for my Pi-hole setup: adrimus/pihole

Resources

Here are some resources I’ve used to study and learn about Proxmox, Ansible, and homelab automation: