Self-Taught Systems Engineer & Home Lab Architect
Passionate about building robust infrastructure, exploring cutting-edge technologies, and solving complex problems through hands-on experimentation in my home lab environment.
Hi! I'm Kieran. I'm a self-taught systems engineer with a passion for technology and continuous learning. This site showcases my journey and the projects I've built through hands-on experimentation.
At home, I've developed a comprehensive lab environment where I work with servers, networking gear, and various software platforms. It's my space to experiment, learn by doing, and document what works (and what doesn't).
My approach focuses on building scalable, secure, and efficient systems. I use my home lab to explore new technologies, develop automation solutions, and push the boundaries of what's possible with modern infrastructure.
Building and managing robust systems with modern tools and best practices.
Implementing security measures and monitoring for comprehensive protection.
Creating scripts and tools to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
Currently pursuing industry certifications to validate and expand my technical expertise. Check back soon for updates on my certification journey!
My home network is powered by UniFi equipment, providing seamless connectivity throughout the house. I've implemented segmented VLANs for guests, IoT devices, and lab environments, ensuring both performance and security.
Using Proxmox, I run multiple virtual machines and containers for development, testing, and automation. This setup maximizes hardware efficiency and provides a flexible, scalable lab environment.
Cloudflare Tunnel provides secure, encrypted remote access to my home lab services. With strict access controls and monitoring, I can safely manage infrastructure from anywhere.
With Pi-hole, I block ads and trackers across my entire network, improving privacy and browsing speed. Custom DNS filtering ensures only trusted domains are accessible.
I develop custom Python scripts for automation, monitoring, and system management. My backup solution follows the 3-2-1 methodology, ensuring data integrity and rapid recovery.
Grafana dashboards provide real-time insights into lab performance, resource usage, and health. I track everything from server uptime to network traffic for proactive maintenance.
Ceph provides distributed storage with high availability and scalability. My implementation uses CRUSH maps for optimal data placement, with automatic replication and self-healing capabilities ensuring data integrity across multiple nodes.
Home Assistant lets me control and automate smart devices. From lighting and climate to security and notifications, I create custom routines for convenience and efficiency.
With ESPHome, I design and deploy custom IoT devices, like waste management indicators. These projects integrate seamlessly with my automation system for improved efficiency.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions, want to discuss technology, or just want to connect! I'm always interested in learning about new opportunities and collaborating on interesting projects.