What is iximiuz Labs
iximiuz Labs (a.k.a. ServerLabs.io) is a learning-by-doing platform for mastering server-side skills - Linux, networking, containers, Kubernetes, and everything in between.
Playgrounds
Instead of watching demos or reading theory in isolation, iximiuz Labs lets you practice in realistic but safe remote sandboxes called Playgrounds.
Playgrounds are fast-booting Linux microVMs (often multi-VM, multi-network, with optional extra disks) that run on a fleet of large bare-metal servers maintained by the iximiuz Labs team. You can start a playground right from your browser or via the labctl CLI. Once up and running, accessing a playground is no different from SSH-ing into a remote server rented from your favorite VPS or Cloud provider.
Install software, break things, debug, rebuild - then throw the environment away (or keep it, if you're on a plan with persistence).
iximiuz Labs Playgrounds are fully-fledged VMs that allow you to run a wide range of server-side technologies - from simple web servers to Docker and Kubernetes.
Playground VMs can be used to simulate complex server setups - pick a kernel and a rootfs (Ubuntu, Rocky, Alpine, etc.), add extra drives with different filesystems, configure multiple networks, etc.
Each playground can have up to 5 VMs, connected into one or more networks, which allows provisioning multi-node Kubernetes clusters and practicing complex networking scenarios.
Learning Materials
On top of Playgrounds, iximiuz Labs offers a growing collection of learning materials that give you structure and feedback:
- Challenges - bite-sized, realistic, hands-on problems with auto-checking, hints, and solutions
- Tutorials - deep and heavily illustrated articles with reproducible steps and attached Playgrounds
- Courses - guided sequences that combine lessons with hands-on completion criteria
- Skill Paths - focused learning paths to acquire or hone specific skills or technologies
- Roadmaps - broader learning journeys to master a certain domain (Linux, Docker, or Kubernetes)
Tutorial example: How Container Networking Works - Building a Bridge Network From Scratch
Challenge example: Enable Internet Access for a Private Network with a NAT Gateway
Course example: Computer Networking Fundamentals For Developers
Skill Path examples: Master Container Networking, Build Container Images Like a Pro, etc.
Roadmap example: Learn Docker the Hands-on Way
The ultimate goal is simple: learn the fundamentals by doing - with enough realism to transfer to the job, and enough safety to experiment freely.