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: [email protected]

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.

Welcome back to Crowbar Kernel Panic! 🚀

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

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!

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.

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In this episode of Crowbar Kernel Panic, we dive headfirst into the Stop Killing Games initiative — a global pushback from gamers, preservationists, and developers against the increasing trend of publishers shutting down games, removing them from stores, or making them unplayable even after purchase.

From Ubisoft delisting The Crew to the short lifespans of live-service games like Rumbleverse and Knockout City, we explore the big question:

We break down:

Along the way, we share our personal takes on digital ownership, recall games we lost to shutdowns, and ask if we’re headed toward a future where even single-player experiences come with an expiration date.

To close the show, Bo gives a quick update on his ongoing Godot card game project, ShadowLight — a solo dungeon-crawler inspired by dark fantasy themes, with a twist on time, memory, and resource management.

If you care about preserving games, owning what you buy, or just want to hear what it’s like to build a game from scratch while the industry melts down around you — this episode’s for you.

🚀 Stay Connected:

Music from this episode

In this episode of CKP, our plans got absolutely wrecked — but in the best way possible!

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🎮 Topics:

🔥 Stay tuned for next episode: Top 5 PlayStation Era Games!

Welcome back to Crowbar Kernel Panic, your favorite tech, gaming, and Linux podcast! This episode is live on YouTube and will be available on iTunes and other podcast platforms. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment to support the show!

In This Episode:

Tech & Gaming Topics:

00:00:00 - When was the last time we went live?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments! What’s your dream PC build speed? Have you had WoW Classic guild drama? Are you excited about upcoming GPUs? Drop your opinions below!

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Steam Replay 2024: Our Year in Gaming & New Intel GPUs!

Join us as we reflect on our gaming experiences throughout 2024 with Steam Replay. We're diving into the top games we've played, our gaming habits, and the challenges faced, including our experiment with different Linux operating systems and desktop environments like Hyperland and KDE Plasma. We also uncover the latest buzz in tech with Intel's new ARC B580 GPUs, comparing their performance and value. Plus, discover our thoughts on ButterFS vs ext4, favorite terminal emulators, and the endless quest for the perfect web browser. Is Intel about to change the graphics card game? Find out in this packed episode!

Exploring Steam Deck, Game Reviews, and Microsoft's Latest Tech drama

🔥 In This Week's Episode:

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In this exciting episode of Crowbar Kernel Panic, the tech, gaming, and Linux podcast, the hosts share amusing and thought-provoking stories from their hiatus, including visits to ranches and cabins. They delve into indie game development, examining the line between homage and copying through game cloning case studies. The episode also updates listeners on game development resources and highlights titles like 'Alone in the Dark' and 'Cassette Beasts'. Additionally, the host narrates their journey of upgrading to the Nintendo Switch OLED amidst unexpected financial challenges, concluding with a schedule update due to an upcoming cabin trip. Tune in for a mix of gaming insights, development discussions, and life’s unexpected twists.

Indie dev copies work a little too closely

MakeRoom vs Flora Corner