670: There's Chickens in that Nebula

The Linux Unplugged team transformed their mobile farm infrastructure into a permanent, self-sustaining system by building a robust, open-source network that allows their RV, Joops, to leave without disrupting critical farm operations. At the heart of this project is a custom-built, outdoor-enclosed Odroid H3 Plus running NixOS, which serves as a secure, isolated backbone for both the 'Chicken LAN' and the 'Joops LAN', with automatic failover to a rooftop-connected backup internet via Connected Internet. The system leverages Nebula for secure mesh networking, Home Assistant for automation, and a suite of Z-Wave and WLED devices to fully automate the chicken coop—controlling doors, lighting, heating, and air quality monitoring. A critical challenge arose when the team discovered that a network switch prevented the system from detecting a disconnected primary link, leading to the creation of a custom 'daemon' that pings the primary route and dynamically adjusts routing priorities. This real-world test proved successful, enabling the farm to operate autonomously for weeks. The episode is a masterclass in practical, resilient infrastructure built on open source, with a strong emphasis on reliability, security, and peace of mind—proving that even chickens can thrive in a fully automated, Linux-powered nebula.