r/HomeLabPorn

Hey everyone, just wanted to share the final status of my 10-inch homelab rack setup. It fits right inside a standard Ikea Kallax shelf, and I finally got the ZimaCube 2 integrated at the bottom.

Here is a quick breakdown of how I configured everything:

The Hardware Stack (top to bottom):

• OPNsense Firewall: ZimaBoard 2 (8GB) handling edge routing and WireGuard VPN access.
• Compute Node (Proxmox VE): ZimaBoard 2 (16GB RAM) running core services like primary AdGuard Home, PostgreSQL database cluster, Nginx Proxy Manager, Vaultwarden, and Home Assistant.
• Compute Nodes 2 & 3 (Proxmox VE): 2x ZimaBlades (16GB RAM each). One runs Frigate NVR (hooked up to a Coral TPU) and the other is a "Game-Central" node (RomM, SMB shares, retro games).
• Secondary DNS: Raspberry Pi Zero 2W running secondary AdGuard Home (synced via adguardhome-sync for DNS failover).
• Storage & AI Node: ZimaCube 2 (Standard Edition) running ZimaOS Beta. It handles the NFS/SMB shared storage for Proxmox and runs local LLMs (mostly Gemma models) via llama.cpp + OpenClaw.

Upgrades on the ZimaCube 2: I added a 32GB DDR5 stick to get 40GB RAM total and dropped in a low-profile Intel Arc Pro B50 (16GB VRAM, AV1 encoding support). I went with the B50 because it runs entirely off PCIe slot power (no extra power cables needed) and offers an awesome VRAM-to-price ratio.

Software & Local AI: Instead of wiping ZimaOS from the ZimaCube 2 right away, I decided to keep it to test a ZimaOS Beta version provided by the IceWhale that includes native Intel Arc GPU driver support. This way, the ZimaCube 2 hosts the shared storage backend for the cluster and runs local inference with llama.cpp + OpenClaw. For the cameras, Frigate is still running on one of the ZimaBlades with a Coral TPU since I have 4 outdoor cameras and want to keep the load off the main CPU/GPU.

3D Prints & Links: Printed everything on my Elegoo Centauri Carbon. I did a couple of remixes myself to get the ZimaCube and the firewall cleanly integrated. Here are the links:

• Kallax 10" 7U Rack Frame (Top Section): Original Model on MakerWorld (Used as-is for the upper compute stack).
• Kallax 10" 2U Rack Frame (Bottom Section for ZimaCube): My Remix on MakerWorld (Modified this to handle the height and weight of the ZimaCube 2, includes the sliding tray rails).
• ZimaBoard 2 Mount (OPNsense Firewall - 2 Keystones): My Remix on MakerWorld (Added 2 keystone slots for clean WAN/LAN cable management on the front).
• ZimaBoard 2 Mount (Proxmox Brain): Original Model on MakerWorld.
• ZimaBlade Mounts: Original Model on MakerWorld.
• Vents / Blank Panels: Customizable Vents on MakerWorld.

Feel free to ask me anything! Whether you have questions about the physical assembly, the 3D printed mounts, network routing, or the local AI testing under ZimaOS Beta, I'm happy to help out and share details!

Built my own AI powered NAS/Home Server setup recently using a used old PC with a 10th gen i3 motherboard that had 4 SATA ports. (Also Installed rtx 3050 8gb + 32gigs of RAM)

Setup:
\- 1 SSD for the OS
\- 2 HDDs for cloud storage
\- 1 separate HDD for cold backups

I installed OpenMediaVault on top of Debian and exposed services to the internet using Cloudflare Tunnel with custom domains.

For SMB remote access, I used Tailscale so I have secure port forwarding capabilities.

To make it feel like Google Drive, I deployed Nextcloud in Docker containers. For a Google Photos like experience, I also setup Immich with automatic photo backup. (They also support AI search xD)

Everything is containerized with Docker and exposed through separate Cloudflare Tunnel domains protected with Cloudflare Zero Trust for extra security. (Also used Fail2ban for brute force detection and suspicious ip tracking)

The cooler part:
I built a Telegram AI NAS agent that can monitors:
\- HDD SMART health
\- storage usage
\- SSH login activity
\- CPU, HDD temperature levels
\- sensor readings
\- container logs
\- NAS health stats
\- OMV RPC data
\- many..

It can even execute safe read only SSH diagnostics directly from Telegram. (From a whitelisted list I gave ofc)

Then I went one step further and setup a full time vibe coding AI agent using OpenHands + Moonshot AI Kimi 2.5 Coder API running in its own isolated container with restricted folder access.

The agent can:
\- plan projects
\- generate code
\- create apps from a single prompt
\- push to private Git repos
\- manage project structures
\- and basically function like a junior autonomous developer through Telegram commands

This is so much fun! 🤩

home lab of sorts / home server of sorts.
never really done anything like this and thought let’s give it a shot.

wanted everything centralised in one place in the house and below is everything in the picture.

- Meraki MS210 Switch (Free hardware / License paid)
- UniFi UXG Lite (phasing out meraki soon & wanted a router)
- Phillips Hue Smart Hub
- Heatmiser Neo Hub for UFH Control
- Hive Heating Hub
- Thinkcentre 1 = Linux Server for hosting, Backup’s, Docker Containers etc)
- Thinkcentre 2 = Windows 11 Machine (for day to day, remote access, file sharing)

Would really want some actual rack moulds for maybe the Thinkcentre’s or even the Smart Devices, if anyone knows anywhere I can get them, would be much appreciated.

Let me know what you guys think! TIA!🤝

After looking around for so long I have finally managed to get my hands on this HP G4 800 with i5-8th gen and 8GB RAM enough for me to get started. That too in perfect condition no rough use and clean look. I wanted to self host my Images and make backups like google photos and google drive as it was already full.
So I went with CasaOs mainly because it was the easiest process i found on YT to get started. I know it is now abandoned for ZimaOS, unfortunately when it came time for me to host my own local server they stopped updating it. :(
I mainly wanted to use Immich and jellyfin so maybe CasaOS is still useful. Lets see Ill test it out first for couple of weeks/months if I come across any issues i might update to ZimaOS.

The DC im in charge of replaced these two full racks of netapp hardware today. They were literally going to throw away all that storage so I decided to see to it that they all ended up in the hands of other local home labers and a smaller school district that was in desperate need. The NetApp DS2246 JBOD i brought home is 24x3.8tb NVME disks (91.2tb of raw storage). I have the two LSI SAS9207-8e HBAs already installed in my Truenas server but i need to buy the appropriate cables and the time to configure it all. Big win today boys!

Edit, i have no idea why I wrote Freenas when im running Truenas. It's been a long day of moving heavy ass enterprise hardware around haha.

A few months ago, I bought my first node for my homelab, a small GMKTec. I'm planning to add a NAS to expand my storage.

12U rack for my simple homelab, in a ventiled furniture (and a wire mesh gate with air extraction spaces), with:
- Router: Unifi UCG Max
- Core Switch: Unifi Pro Max 16
- NAS: Synology DS423
- Server: A Little Dell Optiplex 9020 Micro (just above the Switch, micro format let me add a second server on the same shelve later)

I run about 10-15 light Linux VMs on a Proxmox node in the Dell for my services.
My VMs are using not a lot of compute all the time, except Jellyfin sometimes for transcoding, it’s pretty rare, so a 9020 Mini is perfect! I’m just almost at the RAM limit (16GB), that’s why I plan to scale the installation later.

The cooling system is home-made (but very reliable) with two large Noctua fans (silent is required here, little flat, I don’t have the chance to have a dedicated room for technical stuff😅) connected to a homemade electronic regulator made with a PCB Breadboard, a temperature sensor placed at the top of the rack and an Arduino Nano. All the stuff is inside the little black box on the left, 3D Printed, and the temperature sensor is deported and fixed at the top of the rack, on the lateral rail with a 3D printed support.

The fans are fixated to the rack by two powerful neodymium magnets. Easy to move, clean, and better access/maintenance to stuff.
Initially, fans was fixated on the mesh door, but results wasn’t good…

I changed few times the C program in the Nano regulator chip to optimize the cooling and it’s perfect now since 2yrs!
My homelab does not generate a lot of heat, but I optimized my regulator to force air renew every hours (1 minute to 100%), target specific temperatures, etc… I also optimized NAS and server positions. Awesome results, very silent and discreet setup!

Outside (not visible here) I have a little Eaton UPS to failsafe NAS and Dell server from power outages just for shutdown them properly.
That’s all! :)

One day I'll clean it up. I've moved 4 times in two years, and now I'll be moving again in a few months. Its hard to keep it neat and nice knowing its going to be moved again.

Sorry for the ghetto panels I am ordering a grill for the bottom and I need a custom tray for the mini pc… I have 2 Noctua redux 80mm and 2 80mm slim fans pulling the air out and a 120mm bottom fan as intake. Any ideas?

Still waiting for some parts. Dobt mind the mess.

Waiting for my case and than maybe ill get a better switch not sure yet and some noctua fans.

The server will be moved in to another room.

Because a lot of people asked, here’s an overview of my homelab setup so far.

if you guys want, you can check it out at https://vargoseus.com

Top to Bottom:

Cradlepoint E100
Synology DS423+
HP T430
Unifi Cloud Gateway Ultra
Unifi UNVR Instant
2x HP EliteDesk Mini 800 G5
HD Home Run
Hue Hub
YoLink Bridge
2x Unifi Switch Lite 16
2x Cyberpower SL700

This is my first homelab for studying cybersecurity.

Been a long time in the making. But she is finally alive and kicking!

I was looking at purchasing a Google photos subscription, but then I thought maybe I could do it myself. I fell down this rabbit hole and I'm not coming back out, SUBSCRIPTION FREE WOOOOOO.

Anyway, it runs Debian 13 and some docker containers. It goes through Cloudflare Tunnels on my domain for remote access.

I set it all up in a single "~/homelab" directory with bind mounts (i love these so much) to make it super portable. I love that in the future I can setup a new machine, transfer the folder and start it in under an hour.

I was lucky enough to extra have RAM and Storage already, so I was able to pick up this barebones machine from a local electronics store for $150 CAD (~$110 USD)

So far I've got these set up:

- Dockge (Found this after struggling with Portainer for a while)

- Immich

- FileBrowser

- CraftyController (Minecraft Server Panel)

- Fireshare (Game Clip Sharing)

- Dashdot (System monitoring)

- Homarr (Dashboard)

Let me know what else I should try! I'm loving this so much so far!!!!!!