homelab-optimized/docs/runbooks/README.md

Homelab Operational Runbooks

This directory contains step-by-step operational runbooks for common homelab management tasks. Each runbook provides clear procedures, prerequisites, and rollback steps.

📚 Available Runbooks

Service Management

• Add New Service - Deploy new containerized services via GitOps
• Service Migration - Move services between hosts safely
• Add New User - Onboard new users with proper access

Infrastructure Maintenance

• Disk Full Procedure - Handle full disk scenarios
• Certificate Renewal - Manage SSL/TLS certificates
• Synology DSM Upgrade - Safely upgrade NAS firmware

Security

• Credential Rotation - Rotate exposed or compromised credentials

🎯 How to Use These Runbooks

Runbook Format

Each runbook follows a standard format:

1. Overview - What this procedure accomplishes
2. Prerequisites - What you need before starting
3. Estimated Time - How long it typically takes
4. Risk Level - Low/Medium/High impact assessment
5. Procedure - Step-by-step instructions
6. Verification - How to confirm success
7. Rollback - How to undo if something goes wrong
8. Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions

When to Use Runbooks

• Planned Maintenance - Follow runbooks during scheduled maintenance windows
• Incident Response - Use as quick reference during outages
• Training - Onboard new admins with documented procedures
• Automation - Use as basis for creating automated scripts

Best Practices

• ✅ Always read the entire runbook before starting
• ✅ Have a rollback plan ready
• ✅ Test in development/staging when possible
• ✅ Take snapshots/backups before major changes
• ✅ Document any deviations from the runbook
• ✅ Update runbooks when procedures change

🚨 Emergency Procedures

For emergency situations, refer to:

• Emergency Access Guide
• Recovery Guide
• Disaster Recovery

📋 Runbook Maintenance

Contributing

When you discover a new procedure or improvement:

1. Create a new runbook using the template below
2. Follow the standard format
3. Include real examples from your infrastructure
4. Test the procedure before documenting

Runbook Template

# [Procedure Name]

## Overview
Brief description of what this accomplishes and when to use it.

## Prerequisites
- [ ] Required access/credentials
- [ ] Required tools/software
- [ ] Required knowledge/skills

## Metadata
- **Estimated Time**: X minutes/hours
- **Risk Level**: Low/Medium/High
- **Requires Downtime**: Yes/No
- **Reversible**: Yes/No
- **Tested On**: Date last tested

## Procedure

### Step 1: [Action]
Detailed instructions...

```bash
# Example commands

Expected output:

Example of what you should see

Step 2: [Next Action]

Continue...

Verification

How to confirm the procedure succeeded:

• Verification step 1
• Verification step 2

Rollback Procedure

If something goes wrong:

1. Step to undo changes
2. How to restore previous state

Troubleshooting

Issue: Common problem Solution: How to fix it

Related Documentation

• Link to related doc

Change Log

• YYYY-MM-DD - Initial creation
• YYYY-MM-DD - Updated for new procedure

## 📞 Getting Help

If a runbook is unclear or doesn't work as expected:
1. Check the troubleshooting section
2. Refer to related documentation links
3. Review the homelab monitoring dashboards
4. Consult the [Infrastructure Overview](../infrastructure/INFRASTRUCTURE_OVERVIEW.md)

## 📊 Runbook Status

| Runbook | Status | Last Updated | Tested On |
|---------|--------|--------------|-----------|
| Add New Service | ✅ Active | 2026-02-14 | 2026-02-14 |
| Service Migration | ✅ Active | 2026-02-14 | 2026-02-14 |
| Add New User | ✅ Active | 2026-02-14 | 2026-02-14 |
| Disk Full Procedure | ✅ Active | 2026-02-14 | 2026-02-14 |
| Certificate Renewal | ✅ Active | 2026-02-14 | 2026-02-14 |
| Synology DSM Upgrade | ✅ Active | 2026-02-14 | 2026-02-14 |
| Credential Rotation | ✅ Active | 2026-02-20 | — |

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**Last Updated**: 2026-02-14