Real problems.
Simulated solutions.

Pre-deployment testing

The core use case. Before making any change to your production homelab, simulate it first. Test service upgrades, configuration changes, network modifications, and new deployments in an isolated environment.

CI/CD pipeline testing

Integrate simulation into your automation pipeline. Use the Docker engine for fast container-based testing in CI, or spin up full VMs with QEMU for integration tests that need real SSH access.

# In your CI pipeline
docker run -d -p 5270:5270 kombify/kombisim:latest
curl -X POST localhost:5270/api/simulations \
  -d {"template":"homelab-basic"}
ansible-playbook -i sim_inventory.yml site.yml

Training and learning environments

Set up disposable lab environments for learning Linux administration, networking, Docker orchestration, or infrastructure automation. Break things freely, tear down, and start fresh in seconds.

Migration planning

Moving from one server to another? Switching hypervisors? Migrating to a hybrid cloud setup? Simulate the target environment, test the migration steps, and validate everything works before the cutover.

Use the hybrid-setup template to model VPS + local server topologies. Test connectivity, failover, and data migration workflows.

Disaster recovery testing

Verify your backup and recovery procedures actually work. Simulate node failures, test backup restoration, validate failover mechanisms, and document your recovery runbooks against real simulated infrastructure.

Combine with kombify Techstack to test automated recovery workflows end-to-end.

Network discovery and mapping

Point Sim at your router and discover all connected devices. Map your existing network topology, then recreate it in simulation for testing. Useful for documenting inherited infrastructure or planning network changes.