Home Lab Networking
Navigating between windows and linux and different devices!
Kerry Voss 9-9-2025
a comprehensive guide on how to network computers in a home lab environment, covering Linux to Windows, Windows to Windows, and Linux to Linux setups.
How to Network Computers for a Home Lab
1. Networking Linux to Windows
Step 1: Install Samba on Linux Samba is a software suite that allows Linux to communicate with Windows systems.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install samba
Step 2: Configure Samba
Edit the Samba configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
Add the following at the end of the file:
[shared]
path = /path/to/shared/folder
available = yes
valid users = your_username
read only = no
browsable = yes
public = yes
writable = yes
Restart Samba:
sudo systemctl restart smbd
Step 3: Access Linux Share from Windows
- Open File Explorer.
- In the address bar, type
\\<Linux_IP_Address>\shared and press Enter. - Enter your Linux username and password when prompted.
2. Networking Windows to Windows
Step 1: Enable Network Discovery and File Sharing Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings. Turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
Step 2: Share a Folder Right-click the folder you want to share and select Properties. Go to the Sharing tab and click Share. Select the users you want to share with and set permissions.
Step 3: Access Shared Folder Open File Explorer.
In the address bar, type \\<Computer_Name>\<Shared_Folder> and press Enter.
3. Networking Linux to Linux
Step 1: Install NFS (Network File System) On the server:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server
Step 2: Configure NFS
Edit the exports file:
sudo nano /etc/exports
Add the following line:
/path/to/shared/folder (rw,sync,no_subtree_check)
Restart NFS:
sudo systemctl restart nfs-kernel-server
Step 3: Mount NFS Share on Client
On the client:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nfs-common
sudo mount <server_IP>:/path/to/shared/folder /mnt
Additional Tips for Home Lab Networking
Static IP Addresses: Assign static IP addresses to your devices to avoid IP conflicts and ensure consistent network connections.
Network Segmentation: Use VLANs or separate subnets to segment your network for better security and management.
Network Monitoring: Use tools like Nagios or Zabbix to monitor your network’s performance and health.
Backup Configuration: Regularly back up your network configurations to avoid data loss.
