web01.fireside.fm Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:09:27 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Crowbar Kernel Panic - Episodes Tagged with “Homelab” https://crowbarkernelpanic.fireside.fm/tags/homelab Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400 certainly entertaining and hopefully helpful we strive to cover the topics at the heart of the Linux gamer. From Proton to Vulkan, from Linux native to voiding the warranty. We discuss news and updates from the Linux community, our gaming habits and wanderings along with reviewing a game each week. en-us episodic The podcast at the intersection between gaming and Linux Bo McCoy certainly entertaining and hopefully helpful we strive to cover the topics at the heart of the Linux gamer. From Proton to Vulkan, from Linux native to voiding the warranty. We discuss news and updates from the Linux community, our gaming habits and wanderings along with reviewing a game each week. no Linux, gaming, PC gaming, PC hardware, Linux gaming Bo McCoy boisapunk@gmail.com Episode 60: Reviewing Your Homelab, Sick, and Sleep-Deprived https://crowbarkernelpanic.fireside.fm/60 d5a7bab3-c5ac-4f8b-8760-b2e580cf502c Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400 Bo McCoy full Bo McCoy This week on Crowbar Kernel Panic, we’re reviewing your homelab… while sick, sleep-deprived, and running on cough drops. 49:23 no This week on Crowbar Kernel Panic, we’re reviewing your homelab… while sick, sleep-deprived, and running on cough drops. Bo’s been fighting off a plague for two weeks, but we didn’t want to skip an episode — so we’re keeping it chill, catching up on community comments, and checking out an absolutely insane listener-submitted homelab from Levix that puts both of ours to shame. We also talk about hitting 400 subscribers (!!!), home server efficiency, Proxmox and TrueNAS setups, and Josh’s continuing saga of cursed motherboards and mysterious reboots. If you’ve got a homelab — big or small — send it in! We’d love to feature it on a future episode. 📩 Submit your homelab: crowbarkernelpanic@pm.me 💬 Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/qbV6eqkA 🎥 Watch the vlog: https://youtu.be/E0297HU2zsk Thanks for 400 subs, and for letting us hang out and be ridiculous every week. See you next episode — hopefully less sick, but just as sleep-deprived. homelab, proxmox, truenas, self-hosting, server rack, linux, tech podcast, home server, network setup, podcast banter, geeks, hardware, DIY server This week on Crowbar Kernel Panic, we’re reviewing your homelab… while sick, sleep-deprived, and running on cough drops.

Bo’s been fighting off a plague for two weeks, but we didn’t want to skip an episode — so we’re keeping it chill, catching up on community comments, and checking out an absolutely insane listener-submitted homelab from Levix that puts both of ours to shame.

We also talk about hitting 400 subscribers (!!!), home server efficiency, Proxmox and TrueNAS setups, and Josh’s continuing saga of cursed motherboards and mysterious reboots.

If you’ve got a homelab — big or small — send it in! We’d love to feature it on a future episode.

📩 Submit your homelab: crowbarkernelpanic@pm.me
💬 Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/qbV6eqkA
🎥 Watch the vlog: https://youtu.be/E0297HU2zsk

Thanks for 400 subs, and for letting us hang out and be ridiculous every week. See you next episode — hopefully less sick, but just as sleep-deprived.

]]> This week on Crowbar Kernel Panic, we’re reviewing your homelab… while sick, sleep-deprived, and running on cough drops.

Bo’s been fighting off a plague for two weeks, but we didn’t want to skip an episode — so we’re keeping it chill, catching up on community comments, and checking out an absolutely insane listener-submitted homelab from Levix that puts both of ours to shame.

We also talk about hitting 400 subscribers (!!!), home server efficiency, Proxmox and TrueNAS setups, and Josh’s continuing saga of cursed motherboards and mysterious reboots.

If you’ve got a homelab — big or small — send it in! We’d love to feature it on a future episode.

📩 Submit your homelab: crowbarkernelpanic@pm.me
💬 Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/qbV6eqkA
🎥 Watch the vlog: https://youtu.be/E0297HU2zsk

Thanks for 400 subs, and for letting us hang out and be ridiculous every week. See you next episode — hopefully less sick, but just as sleep-deprived.

]]> Episode 59: Homelab Hardware Showdown: Rack Servers vs Workstations vs Mini Clusters https://crowbarkernelpanic.fireside.fm/59 5ddb7052-1bf1-44f1-a1ef-30c1fbbaf1c6 Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 Bo McCoy full Bo McCoy We compare cost, noise, power draw, expandability, and real-world use cases. Plus, we talk through subscriber comments, Kubernetes setups, and share some personal homelab stories (including when things go hilariously wrong). 1:03:18 no Welcome back to Crowbar Kernel Panic! 🚀 In this episode, we dive into the three main “lanes” of homelab hardware and help you decide which one makes sense for your space, budget, and goals: Lane 1: Refurb Enterprise Rack — the loud, hot, datacenter monster 🏢 Lane 2: Workstation Builds — the “Goldilocks” option for power and sanity ⚖️ Lane 3: Low-Power Mini Clusters — silent bookshelf datacenters 📚 We compare cost, noise, power draw, expandability, and real-world use cases. Plus, we talk through subscriber comments, Kubernetes setups, and share some personal homelab stories (including when things go hilariously wrong). If you’re thinking about building your own homelab, or just want to hear about the trade-offs, this episode is for you. 👉 Join the Discord for discussion and advice: https://discord.gg/Nx6HgaAuZ3 👉 Follow along with the GitHub configs: https://github.com/bomccoy/homelab-proxmox-k3s homelab, home server, rack server, workstation, mini pc, proxmox, kubernetes, docker, virtualization, truenas, zfs, cluster, intel nuc, lenovo thinkcentre, hp z440, dell precision, data center, self hosting, home cloud Welcome back to Crowbar Kernel Panic! 🚀
In this episode, we dive into the three main “lanes” of homelab hardware and help you decide which one makes sense for your space, budget, and goals:

Lane 1: Refurb Enterprise Rack — the loud, hot, datacenter monster 🏢

Lane 2: Workstation Builds — the “Goldilocks” option for power and sanity ⚖️

Lane 3: Low-Power Mini Clusters — silent bookshelf datacenters 📚

We compare cost, noise, power draw, expandability, and real-world use cases. Plus, we talk through subscriber comments, Kubernetes setups, and share some personal homelab stories (including when things go hilariously wrong).

If you’re thinking about building your own homelab, or just want to hear about the trade-offs, this episode is for you.

👉 Join the Discord for discussion and advice: https://discord.gg/Nx6HgaAuZ3
👉 Follow along with the GitHub configs: https://github.com/bomccoy/homelab-proxmox-k3s

]]> Welcome back to Crowbar Kernel Panic! 🚀
In this episode, we dive into the three main “lanes” of homelab hardware and help you decide which one makes sense for your space, budget, and goals:

Lane 1: Refurb Enterprise Rack — the loud, hot, datacenter monster 🏢

Lane 2: Workstation Builds — the “Goldilocks” option for power and sanity ⚖️

Lane 3: Low-Power Mini Clusters — silent bookshelf datacenters 📚

We compare cost, noise, power draw, expandability, and real-world use cases. Plus, we talk through subscriber comments, Kubernetes setups, and share some personal homelab stories (including when things go hilariously wrong).

If you’re thinking about building your own homelab, or just want to hear about the trade-offs, this episode is for you.

👉 Join the Discord for discussion and advice: https://discord.gg/Nx6HgaAuZ3
👉 Follow along with the GitHub configs: https://github.com/bomccoy/homelab-proxmox-k3s

]]> Episode 58: Homelab Projects That Will Boost Your IT Career https://crowbarkernelpanic.fireside.fm/58 e7ac72a0-0515-4287-96a3-13cc1505b7b3 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 Bo McCoy full Bo McCoy In this episode of Crowbar Kernel Panic, Bo and Josh break down the Top 5 homelab projects that aren’t just fun — they actually build real skills that can help you land (and grow in) an IT or DevOps career. 1:07:55 no In this episode of Crowbar Kernel Panic, Bo and Josh break down the Top 5 homelab projects that aren’t just fun — they actually build real skills that can help you land (and grow in) an IT or DevOps career. We cover: How networking projects like Pi-hole, Unbound, and OpenSense teach fundamentals you’ll use in every IT job. Why virtualization with Proxmox and VMware is the gateway to enterprise-level skills. The power of containers with Docker and Podman (and why they’re unavoidable). Why Kubernetes is worth learning at home, even if it feels overkill. The often-forgotten importance of backups and disaster recovery — with real stories of failure and recovery. This isn’t just tinkering — these are the homelab projects that can set you apart in interviews and build confidence for real-world IT challenges. 👉 Which homelab project taught you the most (or burned you the hardest)? Tell us in the comments! homelab projects, homelab setup, homelab server, IT career boost, DevOps homelab, Proxmox tutorial, Docker vs Podman, Kubernetes homelab, networking projects, backups and disaster recovery In this episode of Crowbar Kernel Panic, Bo and Josh break down the Top 5 homelab projects that aren’t just fun — they actually build real skills that can help you land (and grow in) an IT or DevOps career.

We cover:

How networking projects like Pi-hole, Unbound, and OpenSense teach fundamentals you’ll use in every IT job.

Why virtualization with Proxmox and VMware is the gateway to enterprise-level skills.

The power of containers with Docker and Podman (and why they’re unavoidable).

Why Kubernetes is worth learning at home, even if it feels overkill.

The often-forgotten importance of backups and disaster recovery — with real stories of failure and recovery.

This isn’t just tinkering — these are the homelab projects that can set you apart in interviews and build confidence for real-world IT challenges.

👉 Which homelab project taught you the most (or burned you the hardest)? Tell us in the comments!

]]> In this episode of Crowbar Kernel Panic, Bo and Josh break down the Top 5 homelab projects that aren’t just fun — they actually build real skills that can help you land (and grow in) an IT or DevOps career.

We cover:

How networking projects like Pi-hole, Unbound, and OpenSense teach fundamentals you’ll use in every IT job.

Why virtualization with Proxmox and VMware is the gateway to enterprise-level skills.

The power of containers with Docker and Podman (and why they’re unavoidable).

Why Kubernetes is worth learning at home, even if it feels overkill.

The often-forgotten importance of backups and disaster recovery — with real stories of failure and recovery.

This isn’t just tinkering — these are the homelab projects that can set you apart in interviews and build confidence for real-world IT challenges.

👉 Which homelab project taught you the most (or burned you the hardest)? Tell us in the comments!

]]> Episode 57: We Let AI Join Our Podcast (Chaos Ensued) https://crowbarkernelpanic.fireside.fm/57 65bb612f-8ae4-4314-9f7f-c3494e7c226d Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400 Bo McCoy full Bo McCoy This week on Crowbar Kernel Panic, Bo and Josh kick things off with some personal nerd banter: Bo’s recent CTF competition and Josh’s shiny new homelab project. Then, for the first time ever, we bring on a special guest—ChatGPT—who calls into the show to chat about AI ethics, PC gaming culture, and the weird future we’re all heading into. Expect laughs, debates, and a few existential questions along the way. 1:33:55 no What happens when two Linux nerds invite AI as a guest on their podcast? In this episode, Bo and Josh kick things off with some Capture the Flag war stories and home lab adventures before welcoming ChatGPT onto the show for a one-of-a-kind conversation. Together, they dive into AI ethics, open-source, digital privacy, and even ask a few ridiculous rapid-fire questions. Whether you’re here for cybersecurity banter, retro tech nostalgia, or the future of AI, this episode has something for you. 🚀 Stay Connected: YouTube: https://youtu.be/3R1rYNJw1_Q Send us an email at CrowbarKernelPanic@pm.me Join us on Discord. https://discord.gg/Nx6HgaAuZ3 AI ethics, open source AI, Linux podcast, home lab, self-hosting, cybersecurity CTF, retro gaming, data backup, digital privacy, ChatGPT interview, tech nostalgia What happens when two Linux nerds invite AI as a guest on their podcast? In this episode, Bo and Josh kick things off with some Capture the Flag war stories and home lab adventures before welcoming ChatGPT onto the show for a one-of-a-kind conversation. Together, they dive into AI ethics, open-source, digital privacy, and even ask a few ridiculous rapid-fire questions.

Whether you’re here for cybersecurity banter, retro tech nostalgia, or the future of AI, this episode has something for you.

🚀 Stay Connected:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/3R1rYNJw1_Q
Send us an email at CrowbarKernelPanic@pm.me
Join us on Discord. https://discord.gg/Nx6HgaAuZ3

]]> What happens when two Linux nerds invite AI as a guest on their podcast? In this episode, Bo and Josh kick things off with some Capture the Flag war stories and home lab adventures before welcoming ChatGPT onto the show for a one-of-a-kind conversation. Together, they dive into AI ethics, open-source, digital privacy, and even ask a few ridiculous rapid-fire questions.

Whether you’re here for cybersecurity banter, retro tech nostalgia, or the future of AI, this episode has something for you.

🚀 Stay Connected:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/3R1rYNJw1_Q
Send us an email at CrowbarKernelPanic@pm.me
Join us on Discord. https://discord.gg/Nx6HgaAuZ3

]]>