Enhanced and Conceptually Hardened Functionality Matrix for Home Lab - itnett/FTD02H-N GitHub Wiki

Here’s the enhanced matrix table, translated into English and conceptually reinforced to provide more value, insights, and alternatives for building a robust home lab. The table focuses on using Proxmox as the central server, with affordable hardware sourced from eBay, network function virtualization (NFV) devices, and creative use of OpenWRT, Raspberry Pi, Banana Pi, laptops with Wi-Fi, and hardware NICs to simulate real-world scenarios. Tools like GNS3 are also included to facilitate advanced network emulation and training.

Enhanced and Conceptually Hardened Functionality Matrix for Home Lab

Device Type	Manufacturer	Model	Feature Set	Learning Areas	Justification	Low-Cost/Creative Alternatives
Switch	Cisco	Catalyst 2960X / 2960L	VLAN, trunking, Layer 2 switching, basic Layer 3 (static routing)	VLAN configuration, network segmentation, QoS, basic routing	Affordable on the used market, available as NFR equipment, ideal for foundational networking learning	OpenWRT or DD-WRT on a compatible switch or router, or Raspberry Pi with multiple USB Ethernet adapters to simulate VLANs and trunking
Layer 3 Switch	Cisco	Catalyst 3560-CX	Layer 3 routing (OSPF, EIGRP, RIP, BGP), multicast, QoS, IP SLA	Advanced routing protocols, QoS, multicast	Compact, affordable, supports advanced networking concepts	GNS3 or EVE-NG with virtual Cisco images or OpenWRT on hardware that supports VLANs and static routing
Router	Cisco	ISR 4321 / 4331	Full support for OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, VPN, QoS, SD-WAN, MPLS	Advanced routing, VPN, SD-WAN, network security	Available as NFR equipment, suitable for CCNA/CCNP learning	OpenWRT on a powerful device like Raspberry Pi 4 or Banana Pi, or virtual routers in GNS3/EVE-NG
Wireless Access Point	Cisco	Aironet / Catalyst 9100	Wi-Fi 6, wireless network management, WPA3, 802.1X authentication	Wireless network configuration, security	Used equipment can be cost-effective, good for wireless network administration	OpenWRT or DD-WRT on any compatible router (like TP-Link or Netgear), or set up a Raspberry Pi as a wireless access point
Firewall	Cisco	Firepower 1010	NGFW, IDS/IPS, SSL VPN, IPSec VPN, application control, URL filtering	Network security, VPN, threat simulation	Affordable NGFW with modern features, available as NFR	pfSense or OPNsense on a low-cost mini PC (like a Protectli Vault), or Raspberry Pi running IPTables/nftables and Suricata
Firewall	Fortinet	FortiGate 40F / 60F	NGFW, IPS, SSL VPN, IPSec VPN, SD-WAN, web filtering, application control	Network security, firewall administration, VPN, SD-WAN	Affordable and compact, wide support for security features	pfSense or OPNsense on a mini PC, or GNS3 with virtual FortiGate images
Switch	Fortinet	FortiSwitch 108E / 124E	VLAN, LACP, QoS, port security, integration with FortiGate firewall	VLAN, network administration, integration with FortiGate	Cost-effective, integrates well with Fortinet firewalls	Use a managed switch like TP-Link TL-SG108E or D-Link DGS-1100, or simulate VLANs with OpenWRT on hardware devices
Security Analyzer	Fortinet	FortiAnalyzer VM	Collects, analyzes, and reports log data from Fortinet devices	Security analysis, log management, threat hunting	Available as a VM, can run on Proxmox	Use ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) or Graylog on a VM to analyze logs
Management Tool	Fortinet	FortiManager VM	Centralized management of Fortinet devices, policy management, VPN config	Centralized management tool, policy handling	Available as a VM, compatible with Proxmox	Use Ansible or SaltStack for automated configuration management of network devices
Virtual Router	Cisco	IOS XRv, CSR 1000v VM	Full routing protocol support, VPN, QoS, SD-WAN	Virtual network administration, advanced network features	Can run on Proxmox, flexible and resource-efficient solution	VyOS or FRRouting (FRR) on a VM, or use GNS3 or EVE-NG with open-source router images
Virtual Firewall	Fortinet	FortiGate VM	NGFW features, VPN, application control, web filtering	Network security, VPN, firewall administration	Can run on Proxmox, cost-effective solution for testing	pfSense or OPNsense as a VM on Proxmox

Explanations of Columns

Device Type: Type of device recommended for the home lab.
Manufacturer: Brand of the equipment (Cisco or Fortinet).
Model: Specific model names or series.
Feature Set: Describes the main functions and capabilities of the device.
Learning Areas: Areas of networking, security, and management where this device can be used for training.
Justification: Why this equipment is a good choice for your home lab, focusing on price, availability, and relevance for learning.
Low-Cost/Creative Alternatives: Alternative options using open-source software, virtualization, and affordable hardware to achieve similar learning outcomes.

Insights and Alternatives for a Cost-Effective Home Lab

Creative Use of OpenWRT and DD-WRT:
- OpenWRT/DD-WRT on low-cost routers can provide a near-enterprise level experience in terms of VLANs, VPNs, firewalling, and wireless network management.
- Raspberry Pi with USB Ethernet adapters can simulate multiple interfaces for complex networking scenarios.
Virtualization Platforms like GNS3 and EVE-NG:
- Use GNS3 or EVE-NG for virtualizing Cisco devices (routers, switches) and Fortinet devices, allowing you to create extensive network topologies without additional hardware costs.
- You can also use VirtualBox or KVM on Proxmox to run network appliance VMs, like pfSense, OPNsense, VyOS, or FRR.
Affordable Hardware Options:
- Use older, second-hand laptops or PCs with multiple NICs (network interface cards) to simulate routers, switches, or firewalls.
- Banana Pi or Raspberry Pi can be used for running lightweight Linux-based network applications, acting as routers, VPN servers, or monitoring tools.
Simulate Advanced Networking Features with Low-Cost Devices:
- Use OpenWRT to experiment with SDN concepts by installing packages like Open vSwitch or BIRD (an open-source routing daemon).
- Set up ELK Stack or Graylog on a low-cost server or VM for log management and network monitoring, similar to FortiAnalyzer functionality.
Automated Network Management and Configuration:
- Employ open-source tools like Ansible or SaltStack for automating the configuration of devices, both physical and virtual, to gain experience in centralized management and orchestration.

Conclusion

This enhanced and cost-effective approach allows you to build a versatile, dynamic, and secure home lab that emulates real-world networking and security scenarios. Leveraging Proxmox as the central server, supplemented with affordable or open-source alternatives, creates a comprehensive learning environment. This setup enables hands-on experience with advanced network concepts while keeping costs low and adaptability high.