# 7: Say Goodbye to the Pi: Setting Up a Home Lab on a Budget

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In this post, we'll explore how you can set up a computer lab using a relatively cheap reconditioned Desktop PC. The Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF Desktop PC is a powerful machine that comes with an Intel Core i7 4770 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. These specs make it an ideal choice for a home computer lab as it provides ample processing power and storage space and you can find one for as little as £140 on a number of famous sites.



The first step in setting up your computer lab is to install a virtualisation software such as VirtualBox or VMWare. This software allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical machine. With virtualisation software, you can create and run multiple VMs, each with its own operating system, without having to worry about the space and hardware requirements of each.



Next, you'll want to download and install different operating systems (OSs) to run on your VMs. For example, you could install Windows Server, Linux, and Windows 10. This will give you a variety of environments to test and experiment with.

Once you've got your virtualization software and OSs installed, it's time to start setting up your VMs. You can set up each VM with its own specific configuration and applications, which will allow you to simulate different scenarios and test various configurations.

One of the benefits of having your own computer lab is the ability to practice security techniques and tests. You can set up a VM with a vulnerable operating system and try to exploit it, or you can set up a network with multiple VMs and test different security configurations. This will give you the hands-on experience you need to become a better security professional. I am now on the hunt for entertaing home lab projects to try out.


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