Christian
Kaba

Enterprise Homelab Environment

I designed and maintain a comprehensive enterprise-grade homelab environment to replicate real-world IT operations, enhance my technical expertise, and test automation workflows. This environment leverages Proxmox and VMware ESXi virtualization, with secure external access provided through Cloudflare tunnels in a Zero Trust architecture. Authentik serves as the central identity provider, enabling Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across multiple applications to ensure secure and seamless authentication.

Applications & Services Hosted:

• Identity & Security: Authentik (IdP) integrated with SSO, MFA, and Zero Trust for services such as Nextcloud, Mattermost, SnipeIT, and more.
• Networking & Access: pfSense firewall, OpenVPN, NetBird for mesh VPN, and Cloudflare tunnels for secure remote connectivity.
• Collaboration & Messaging: Mattermost and Pairdrop.
• File & Media Hosting: Nextcloud, Audiobookshelf, and Paperless-ngx (document management).
• Asset & Infrastructure Management: SnipeIT and Tanium Module Server.
• Knowledge & Documentation: Bookstack for IT documentation and knowledge sharing.
• Monitoring & Observability: Uptime Kuma and Zabbix for infrastructure and service monitoring.
• Other Tools:VPS-hosted email services.

This homelab project highlights my ability to architect and manage a secure, scalable IT environment. By integrating identity management, endpoint security, virtualization, monitoring, and networking, I created a platform that mirrors enterprise-level deployments while allowing continuous hands-on learning and innovation.

SCCM Lab Project

In this project, I established a comprehensive SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) lab environment to facilitate advanced software deployment, management, and reporting. The setup involved configuring SCCM on both Microsoft Azure and a local machine using Hyper-V, ensuring a robust and scalable test environment.

Key Tasks Included:

• Deployment and Configuration: Installed and configured SCCM, deploying essential software packages, applications, Office 365, PowerShell scripts, and Windows updates.
• Infrastructure Setup: Created boundary groups, users, and device collections to streamline management and deployment processes.
• Reporting and Analysis: Developed custom reports and queries, utilizing SQL Management Studio for in-depth reporting and analysis.
• Advanced Configurations: Created task sequences to automate deployment tasks and implemented PXE boot to facilitate network-based installations.

This project demonstrated my ability to design and implement a scalable SCCM environment, leveraging both cloud and local resources to enhance software management and deployment capabilities.

Microsoft Tenant and Intune Setup

Configured a Microsoft tenant and established a comprehensive lab environment for Microsoft Intune. The project involved creating and configuring a Microsoft 365 tenant, setting up Intune for mobile device and application management, and integrating with Azure Active Directory.

Key Tasks Included:

• Tenant Setup: Created and configured a Microsoft 365 tenant, including initial setup of user accounts, licenses, and domain settings.
• Intune Configuration: Deployed and configured Microsoft Intune for device and application management, including policy creation, device enrollment, and application deployment.
• Integration: Integrated Intune with Azure Active Directory for seamless user and device management.
• Testing and Validation: Conducted testing of device management and application deployment scenarios to ensure proper functionality and compliance.
• Documentation: Developed detailed documentation of configurations, policies, and procedures for future reference and repeatability.

This setup provided a functional environment for managing and securing devices and applications, demonstrating the ability to effectively deploy and manage Microsoft Intune within a Microsoft 365 tenant.

Application Packaging Lab

In this project, I set up a specialized lab for software packaging and deployment using AdminStudio and InstallShield. This environment streamlined software package creation, testing, and deployment across multiple platforms. I configured AdminStudio for application compatibility testing and package management, and employed InstallShield for custom installer creation. I conducted testing and validation of software packages to ensure reliability and compatibility. I developed detailed documentation and reports on the packaging process, including best practices, troubleshooting steps, and deployment results. This ensured a clear and repeatable process for future packaging and deployment tasks.

This project demonstrated my ability to effectively set up and utilize software packaging tools to create, test, and deploy applications, enhancing software management and deployment efficiency.

Building My Portfolio Website

As someone with no prior experience in HTML and CSS, I took on the challenge of creating my portfolio website by leveraging existing resources and online tutorials. I began by downloading an HTML and CSS template from GitHub, which provided a solid foundation for my project. To customize the template, I followed a step-by-step YouTube tutorial that guided me through the process of modifying the code to fit my style and preferences.

Throughout this process, I gained a foundational understanding of HTML and CSS code structure, including how to manipulate various elements such as headers, footers, and sections. I also learned how to make aesthetic changes through CSS, like adjusting colors, fonts, and layout.

This project not only resulted in a functional and visually appealing portfolio website but also significantly improved my confidence and understanding of web development basics.

Windows Deployment Lab

I configured a lab environment for Windows deployment using industry-standard tools and techniques. I set up and integrated Windows Deployment Services (WDS) and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) to streamline operating system installations and configurations. I developed custom deployment images and automated installation processes, and tested deployment scenarios to ensure seamless and efficient OS deployment. I documented the setup and procedures to facilitate repeatable and reliable deployments across diverse environments.