Why not use the default IP 192.168.1.0/24?

This is a very common address, used by many routers and in public places. Using it can cause conflicts when you connect to other networks, like hotels or work, especially if you are using a VPN.

What are 'DHCP reservations'?

It's like giving a fixed IP address to a specific device on your network. This is useful for devices that need to be found in the same place every time, like a server or a security system.

VLAN is a way to divide your network into smaller, separate parts. For example, you can put your security devices in one VLAN and your computers in another, increasing security.

Misc280k · #207

homelab-network-setup

Plans home and homelab networks, covering gateways, switches, IPs, and DNS.

What it does

Helps plan and organize your home or small lab network. This includes deciding on equipment (router, switch, Wi-Fi), how to organize internet addresses (IP) and names, and how to connect everything.

When to use it

✓When setting up a new home network.
✓When wanting to improve the current network with more devices.
✓When experiencing internet or Wi-Fi problems.

Example of what to ask your AI

“I want to set up a home network, I have an ISP modem and want to add a better router, a switch, and two Wi-Fi access points. How should I plan the IP addresses and what equipment would be good?”

Want more? Open the sections below.

How to use

The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.

Skill link

https://github.com/affaan-m/ECC/blob/main/skills/homelab-network-setup/SKILL.md

Ready-to-paste message

Use this skill to help me: https://github.com/affaan-m/ECC/blob/main/skills/homelab-network-setup/SKILL.md Read the SKILL.md file at that link and follow its instructions for my task.

View on GitHub ↗Raw file

How it works

The AI suggests separating devices by function (router, switch, Wi-Fi) and helps choose the right types. It also proposes an IP address plan to avoid conflicts and organize devices.

Installation

Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.

In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:

npx skills add affaan-m/ECC --skill homelab-network-setup

Or download just the file:

curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/affaan-m/ECC/main/skills/homelab-network-setup/SKILL.md -o SKILL.md

Technical content (original SKILL.md)

Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.

Homelab Network Setup

Use this skill to design a home or small-lab network that can grow without needing a full rebuild.

When to Use

Planning a new home network or redesigning an ISP-router-only setup.
Choosing gateway, switch, and access point roles.
Designing IP ranges, DHCP scopes, static reservations, and DNS.
Preparing for future VLANs, Pi-hole, NAS, lab servers, or VPN access.
Troubleshooting a new network that has double NAT, unstable Wi-Fi, or changing server addresses.

How It Works

Start by separating device roles:

Internet
  |
Modem or ONT
  |
Gateway or router      NAT, firewall, DHCP, DNS, inter-VLAN routing
  |
Managed switch         wired clients, AP uplinks, optional VLAN trunks
  |
Access points          Wi-Fi only; ideally wired backhaul
Servers and NAS        stable addresses, DNS names, monitoring
Clients and IoT        DHCP pools, isolated later if VLANs are available

Pick a gateway that matches the operator, not just the feature checklist:

Option	Best fit	Notes
ISP router	Basic internet only	Limited control and often poor VLAN support
UniFi gateway	Managed home network	Good UI, ecosystem lock-in
OPNsense or pfSense	Flexible homelab	Strong VLAN, firewall, VPN, and DNS control
MikroTik	Advanced network users	Powerful, but easy to misconfigure
Linux router	Tinkerers	Document rollback before using as primary gateway

IP Plan

Avoid the most common default, 192.168.1.0/24, when you expect to use VPNs. It often conflicts with hotels, offices, and ISP routers.

Example small homelab plan:

192.168.10.0/24  trusted clients
192.168.20.0/24  IoT and media devices
192.168.30.0/24  servers and NAS
192.168.40.0/24  guest Wi-Fi
192.168.99.0/24  network management

Gateway convention: .1
Infrastructure reservations: .2 through .49
Dynamic DHCP pool: .50 through .240
Spare room: .241 through .254

Use home.arpa for local names. It is reserved for home networks and avoids the leakage/conflict problems of ad hoc names like home.lan.

nas.home.arpa
pihole.home.arpa
gateway.home.arpa
switch-01.home.arpa

DHCP And DNS

Use DHCP reservations for anything you SSH into, bookmark, monitor, or expose as a service.
Hand out the gateway as DNS until a local resolver is intentionally deployed.
If using Pi-hole or another DNS filter, give it a reservation first, then point DHCP DNS options at that address.
Keep a small static/reserved range per subnet so replacements do not collide with dynamic leases.

Cabling And Wi-Fi

Prefer wired AP backhaul over mesh when you can run Ethernet.
Use a PoE switch for APs and cameras if the budget allows it.
Label both ends of each cable and keep a simple port map.
Put the gateway, switch, DNS server, and NAS on UPS power if outages are common.

Examples

Beginner Upgrade

Goal: Keep the ISP router but stabilize a small lab.

Set DHCP reservations for NAS, Pi, and any SSH hosts.
Move local names to home.arpa.
Disable duplicate DHCP servers on secondary routers or APs.
Wire the main AP instead of relying on wireless backhaul.

VLAN-Ready Plan

Goal: Prepare for future segmentation without enabling it immediately.

Choose non-overlapping /24 ranges for trusted, IoT, servers, guest, and management.
Reserve .1 for the gateway and .2-.49 for infrastructure on every subnet.
Buy a gateway and switch that support VLANs and inter-VLAN firewall rules.
Document which SSIDs and switch ports will eventually map to each network.

Anti-Patterns

Double NAT without a reason or documentation.
Using 192.168.1.0/24 when VPN access is planned.
Dynamic addresses for NAS, Pi-hole, Home Assistant, or other service hosts.
Consumer routers repurposed as APs while their DHCP servers are still enabled.
Flat networks with cameras, smart plugs, laptops, and servers all sharing the same trust boundary.

Details

Original description by the author

Practical home and homelab network planning for gateways, switches, access points, IP ranges, DHCP reservations, DNS, cabling, and common beginner mistakes. Use when planning or fixing a home or homelab network — gateway, switch, AP, IP ranges, DHCP, DNS, or cabling.

repo: affaan-m/ECC

Popularity

GitHub stars: 280k
Ranking position: #207
License: MIT
Updated: 10/15/2026

Is this skill useful?

Comments

More skills from this repository

Interfaces (UI/UX)280k

accessibility

Helps your agent create interfaces that everyone can use. Ensures websites and apps work well for people with disabilities, like those who are blind or have reduced mobility.

affaan-m/ECC

Agents280k