
- Using Host Only or NAT for network adapter settings when running workstation virtualization products like VMware Workstation or Virtual Box
- Purchasing a managed switch like a NetGear Web Managed Switch to create separate subnets for different devices and simple ACL lists
- Creating multiple virtual networks within your hypervisor to manage instances and isolate test environments
- If you have a network tap or mirrored port on your switch, consider setting up a guest with WireShark or Snort. Inspecting your traffic periodically is a just a good idea to see where your home lab is communicating too. If you are looking for a good inexpensive TAP, check out DualComm’s Gigabyte Network Port Mirror.
- For virtual images, I recommend periodically cloning them to an external USB backup drive. Vmware Workstation and Fusion Pro make this easy by connecting to an ESXi server and cloning an instance to your local system or external USB hard disk.
- For network gear, I recommend using the backup config utility available in most devices every time I make a change. This is a simple step to remember and could save you a ton of trouble if the device ever dies or becomes corrupt.
- For physical systems, honestly, I do not have a foolproof method. Depending on the device, I clone the disk to an image file to backing up key files in the cloud. This is why I prefer virtual instances whenever possible.