VMNerd Tech Tips — real-world tech, step by step
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Build.
Break.
Learn.

Free, step-by-step tech tutorials for visual learners. Real-world examples, practical tools, and the confidence to try it yourself.

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In the lab✳ pfSense✳ Networking✳ Security✳ Step-by-step tutorials
From the channel

Learn it. Set it up.

Practical walkthroughs to help you configure, secure, and understand your network. Pick a tutorial and follow along on YouTube.

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Certificates · pfSense

Set up ACME SSL with HAProxy

Follow along with a practical certificate setup walkthrough.

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DNS · pfSense

Set up encrypted DNS

Learn how to configure encrypted external name resolution.

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VPN · pfSense

Configure Private Internet Access with pfSense

Follow a Road Warrior VPN setup with Private Internet Access.

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The VMNerd tech hub

Pick a lane. Then make it yours.

Explore ideas for your next project, from securing a network to building tools and experimenting with AI.

01 / CONNECT

Networking & security

Build a network you can understand, segment, and trust—from the edge firewall to the services behind it.

  • VLAN design
  • pfSense rules
  • DNS privacy
  • VPN access
  • Certificates
Explore: map the traffic before opening a port
02 / BUILD

Infrastructure & virtualization

Turn spare hardware into a dependable lab for virtual machines, storage, containers, and recovery practice.

  • Hypervisor basics
  • VM templates
  • Backups
  • Storage planning
  • Docker services
Explore: a small cluster without the mystery
03 / HOST

Self-hosting at home

Run useful services on your own terms while learning the tradeoffs around updates, identity, and safe remote access.

  • Reverse proxies
  • Media servers
  • Dashboards
  • Monitoring
  • Zero-trust access
Explore: make the service boring before making it public
04 / AUTOMATE

PowerShell & automation

Use repeatable scripts to inventory systems, clean up routine tasks, and turn one-off fixes into reliable workflows.

  • Module basics
  • REST APIs
  • CSV reports
  • Scheduled tasks
  • Desired state
Explore: automate the task you do twice
05 / EXPERIMENT

AI & local models

Explore private, hands-on AI workflows: choosing hardware, running models locally, and testing useful prompts.

  • Model runners
  • GPU planning
  • Local RAG
  • Prompt tests
  • Privacy tradeoffs
Explore: local inference before the hype
06 / SHARE

The troubleshooting mindset

Good labs are built through clear notes, small changes, rollback plans, and the willingness to investigate what broke.

  • Baseline checks
  • Logs
  • Diagrams
  • Change notes
  • Recovery plans
Explore: document the fix for future you

A practical playground for curious technologists.
Use the hub to find a next experiment, then head to the channel for published VMNerd walkthroughs.

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VMNerd Tech Tips

Real-world tech, made approachable.

VMNerd Tech Tips helps visual learners work through complex topics with free, step-by-step tutorials and real-world examples. Follow along, build your skills, and put what you learn to work.

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Ready when you are

Let’s get nerdy.

Find your next watch on the VMNerd YouTube channel.

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