🏠 Homelab Device Management#
1. Executive Summary & Architecture#
This document defines the Single Source of Truth (SSOT) Device Management Architecture for the Homelab environment.
To optimize speed, usability, and data integrity:
- Google Sheets serves as the Primary User Entry Interface. Adding or editing devices in the spreadsheet is fast, accessible on mobile/desktop, and requires zero complex IPAM UI navigation.
- NetBox (v4.2) serves as the Automated IPAM & DCIM System of Record. It is hosted on
10.1.2.202:8082 and reconciled directly from Google Sheets via terminal alias.
flowchart LR
A["Google Sheets (User Entry)"] -->|Mac Studio Alias: netbox| B["sync_gsheets_to_netbox.py"]
B -->|Non-Destructive Delta Sync| C["NetBox v4.2 (10.1.2.202:8082)"]
C -->|API & Interoperability| D["UniFi UDM / Home Assistant / Pi-hole"]
2. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Device Management#
A. Adding or Editing Devices#
- Open the Google Sheet inventory (
Devices tab).
- Add or edit any row (Location, Name, Serial, MAC, IP, Type, Brand).
- Open your Mac Studio terminal and type:
- Outcome: The script fetches your spreadsheet, securely sends the inventory to NetBox on
10.1.2.202:8082, and updates your network records in seconds.
B. Retiring or Deleting a Device#
- Option 1 (Archive / Keep Record): Change the Location column in Google Sheets to
Z-Inactive.
- Behavior: The sync script automatically skips all
Z-Inactive rows during import, removing the device from active NetBox IPAM while preserving historical records in your spreadsheet.
- Option 2 (Permanent Delete): Delete the row from the Google Sheet and run
netbox.
3. Work Completed#
During the system implementation, the following key engineering milestones were achieved:
