July 16, 2021
Regardless of whether one is building a new network from scratch, updating an existing one, or simply testing new configurations or features, the number one thing that must be done is DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. I know it takes additional time to jot down notes or list the steps you’re taking, but when you’re troubleshooting a network that crashed 15 seconds after you changed something, there is nothing better than going through your notes, double-checking your work, and, if necessary, rolling back to a stable build.
I have pages upon pages of notes, links, rants, and outright profanity from the install/upgrade of my homelab. Taking the time to collate everything into a meaningful narrative will be worth it but it will take more time than I have. The good news is that I have the notes to create the “change documentation”! Heaven knows I had to rely on them, particularly when some setting was tweaked, bringing down the network, and interrupting my wife’s viewing of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. The entire point of this lab is for me to have a sandbox to play in and learn from that wouldn’t disrupt the rest of the family’s choice in entertainment! Having the notes allowed me to retrace my most recent steps and quickly roll-back and restore connectivity as well as ensure the domestic tranquility.