/homelab-network-readiness

name: homelab-network-readiness
description: Readiness checklist for homelab VLAN segmentation, local DNS filtering, and WireGuard-style remote access before changing router, firewall, DHCP, or VPN configuration.
metadata:
  origin: community

Homelab Network Readiness

Use this skill before changing a home or small-lab network that mixes VLANs, Pi-hole or another local DNS resolver, firewall rules, and remote VPN access.

This is a planning and review skill. Do not turn it into copy-paste router, firewall, or VPN configuration unless the target platform, current topology, rollback path, console access, and maintenance window are all known.

When to Use

• Preparing to split a flat network into trusted, IoT, guest, server, or

management VLANs.

• Moving DHCP clients to Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, Unbound, or another local DNS

resolver.

• Adding WireGuard, Tailscale, ZeroTier, OpenVPN, or router-native VPN access.
• Reviewing whether a homelab change can lock the operator out of the gateway,

switch, access point, DNS server, or VPN server.

• Turning an informal home-network idea into a staged migration plan with

validation evidence.

Safety Rules

• Keep the first answer read-only: inventory, risks, staged plan, validation,

and rollback.

• Do not expose gateway admin panels, DNS resolvers, SSH, NAS consoles, or VPN

management UIs directly to the public internet.

• Do not provide firewall, NAT, VLAN, DHCP, or VPN commands without a confirmed

platform and a rollback procedure.

• Require out-of-band or same-room console access before changing management

VLANs, trunk ports, firewall default policies, or DHCP/DNS settings.

• Keep a working path back to the internet before pointing the whole network at

a new DNS resolver or VPN route.

• Treat IoT, guest, camera, and lab-server networks as different trust zones

until the operator explicitly chooses otherwise.

Required Inventory

Collect this before giving implementation steps:

| Area | Questions | | --- | --- | | Internet edge | What is the modem or ONT? Is the ISP router bridged or still routing? | | Gateway | What routes, firewalls, handles DHCP, and terminates VPNs? | | Switching | Which switch ports are uplinks, access ports, trunks, or unmanaged? | | Wi-Fi | Which SSIDs map to which networks, and are APs wired or mesh? | | Addressing | What subnets exist today, and which ranges conflict with VPN sites? | | DNS/DHCP | Which service currently hands out leases and resolver addresses? | | Management | How will the operator reach the gateway, switch, and AP after changes? | | Recovery | What can be reverted locally if DNS, DHCP, VLANs, or VPN routes break? |

VLAN And Trust-Zone Plan

Start with intent rather than vendor syntax.

| Zone | Typical contents | Default policy | | --- | --- | --- | | Trusted | Laptops, phones, admin workstations | Can reach shared services and management only when needed | | Servers | NAS, Home Assistant, lab hosts, DNS resolver | Accepts narrow inbound flows from trusted clients | | IoT | TVs, smart plugs, cameras, speakers | Internet access plus explicit exceptions only | | Guest | Visitor devices | Internet-only, no LAN reachability | | Management | Gateway, switches, APs, controllers | Reachable only from trusted admin devices | | VPN | Remote clients | Same or narrower access than trusted clients |

Before recommending VLAN IDs or subnets, confirm:

1. The gateway supports inter-VLAN routing and firewall rules. 2. The switch supports the required tagged and untagged port behavior. 3. The APs can map SSIDs to VLANs. 4. The operator knows which port they are connected through during the change. 5. The management network remains reachable after trunk and SSID changes.

DNS Filtering Readiness

Pi-hole or another local resolver should be introduced as a dependency, not as a single point of failure.

1. Give the resolver a reserved address before using it in DHCP options. 2. Confirm it can resolve public DNS and local `home.arpa` names. 3. Keep the gateway or a second resolver available as a temporary fallback. 4. Test one client or one VLAN before changing every DHCP scope. 5. Document which networks may bypass filtering and why. 6. Check that blocking rules do not break captive portals, work VPNs, firmware updates, or medical/security devices.

Useful validation evidence:

Client gets expected DHCP lease
Client receives expected DNS resolver
Public DNS lookup succeeds
Local home.arpa lookup succeeds
Blocked test domain is blocked only where intended
Gateway and DNS admin interfaces are not reachable from guest or IoT networks

Remote Access Readiness

For WireGuard-style access, decide what the VPN is allowed to reach before generating keys or opening ports.

| Mode | Use when | Risk notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Split tunnel to one subnet | Remote admin for NAS or lab hosts | Keep route list narrow | | Split tunnel to trusted services | Access selected apps by IP or DNS | Requires precise firewall rules | | Full tunnel | Untrusted networks or travel | More bandwidth and DNS responsibility | | Overlay VPN | Simpler remote access with identity controls | Still needs ACL review |

Do not recommend port forwarding until the operator confirms:

• The VPN endpoint is patched and actively maintained.
• The forwarded port goes only to the VPN service, not an admin UI.
• Dynamic DNS, public IP behavior, and ISP CGNAT status are understood.
• Peer keys can be revoked without rebuilding the whole network.
• Logs or connection status can verify who connected and when.

Change Sequence

Prefer small, reversible changes:

1. Snapshot the current topology, IP plan, DHCP settings, DNS settings, and firewall rules. 2. Reserve infrastructure addresses for gateway, DNS, controller, APs, NAS, and VPN endpoint. 3. Create the new zone or VLAN without moving critical devices. 4. Move one test client and validate DHCP, DNS, routing, internet, and block behavior. 5. Ad