🚀 Big update on my Private Cloud Manager project. Over the last iterations, I pushed it far beyond a simple…
Malek A. — Cyber Security Engineer
🚀 Big update on my Private Cloud Manager project.
Over the last iterations, I pushed it far beyond a simple VMware control panel and turned it into something that feels much closer to a real local-first operator console.
What it does now:
- 🖥️ Manage VMware Workstation Pro VMs from a custom web dashboard
- 📡 Show live VM power state and per-VM activity indicators
- 🕓 Track last online, last SSH login, last updated, and reboot-required state
- 🏷️ Manage tags and live SSH connection details directly from the UI
- 💻 Open multiple browser-based SSH sessions, including multiple tabs for the same VM
- 🔄 Start a powered-off VM, wait for SSH readiness, then connect automatically
- 📦 Run managed Ubuntu update jobs from the dashboard instead of ad hoc shell commands
- 🤖 Operate the same backend through OpenClaw + Ollama using structured tools
- 🧾 Keep everything on a job + audit path instead of giving AI direct shell access
One of the parts I like the most is the architecture decision behind the AI side:
instead of letting the model directly touch the host, I exposed a controlled tool layer on top of the same backend the web UI uses.
That means:
- better auditability
- safer automation
- cleaner separation of concerns
- a more realistic path toward AI-assisted infrastructure operations
Tech stack behind it:
- ⚛️ React + Vite + TypeScript + Tailwind
- 🧠 OpenClaw + Ollama
- 🟩 Node.js + Express + TypeScript
- 🗃️ Prisma + SQLite
- 🔐 SSH over WebSocket with browser terminals
- 🧰 VMware Workstation Pro via vmrun
This project sits at the intersection of things I enjoy the most:
- cybersecurity
- infrastructure and network operations
- platform thinking
- automation
- full-stack product building
- local AI tooling
I’m especially happy with how much the UX improved recently. It now feels less like “some controls on a page” and much more like an actual operator workspace.
Next steps I’m thinking about:
- stronger auth and access management
- richer SSH/job history visualizations
- more OpenClaw operational tools
- broader lifecycle support beyond start/stop/update
If you work on homelabs, internal platforms, security tooling, or local AI-assisted operations, I’d genuinely love to exchange ideas.
#Cybersecurity #PlatformEngineering #DevOps #Homelab #VMware #OpenSource #React #NodeJS #Prisma #Ollama #AI #Automation #Infrastructure #FullStack
3 reactions · 2 comments
Topics: #vmware, #platformengineering, #automation, #react, #infrastructure, #nodejs, #ollama, #ai, #opensource, #fullstack
Comments
Jeff P.: Wow - incredible Malek ANNABI, have you thought forming a space for homelab discussion? Like maybe a new group? Your last line says it all: "If you work on homelabs.... I’d genuinely love to exchange ideas.".
Malek A.: Jeff T. Parker This is a genius idea to be honest. thank you so much for the suggestion. i'm counting on doing this as soon as i'm relieved from the pressure that i am currently under. as always the awesome you are Jeff.