Intro
A homelab is like a personal tech playground. It's a setup
that lets people—especially those who work in IT or love technology—learn new skills,
test software, and experiment with hardware, all from home. It can be simple or complex,
depending on what you're trying to do or learn.
Why Do People Build Homelabs?
Homelabs help people gain real-world experience with equipment they may not
get to use in school or at work. Employers often look for hands-on experience, and a
homelab is a great way to lean without the pressure of breaking something important.
They’re also great for testing ideas, trying new operating systems, learning about
servers, or even setting up personal websites or smart home projects. Some people will
even run a small business on a homelab.
Common Homelab Equipment
Every homelab is different and tailord to whever the owner wants it to
contain. Equipment doesn't need to be new. It only needs to work. Here are some things
you might find in a homelab:
- Servers (physical or virtual)
- High-speed switches and routers
- Network-attached storage (NAS)
- Virtual machines (VMs)
- Firewall or network security devices
- Wi-Fi access points
- Single-board computers like Raspberry Pi
- Different operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS, ChromeOS
- Media servers like Plex
- Home automation tools (smart lights, thermostats)
- Security camera systems
Is a Homelab Expensive?
Not necessarily. Many people build their homelabs using old or used
equipment they find on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Goodwill, or rummage
sales. Some take pride in building powerful systems on a budget. Others
might invest in new and high-end gear if they can afford it. Most homelab users fall
somewhere in between.
Popular Software in Homelabs
- Proxmox: Used to manage virtual machines and containers.
- Kubernetes: Great for learning how cloud apps run and scale.
- Docker: Used for creating and managing software containers.
- pfSense: Custom firewall and router software.
- Home Assistant: Used for automating smart devices in your home.
My Homelab Setup
Here’s a look at what I have in my own homelab. I use my homelab to run my
business and my wife's business.
- My daily desktop computer
- Two NAS units, one running Portainer and Pi-Hole
- A 2.5 Gigabit network switch
- Router and Wi-Fi access points on Cable Internet
- 16 virtual machines (each with different operating systems)
- Several laptops (we each have 2), plus any client computers
- A small Linux server on a headless mini-PC running Portainer and Pi-Hole
- A full security camera system
- A Plex media server for streaming
- Smart TV's with Roku devices
- Ooma VOIP telephone system
- All devices connected to a UPS units (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
I don’t use everything every day, but it’s fun to experiment and stay
updated on new tech. I’ve actually got more tech at home than some small businesses I
work with!
Final Thoughts
A homelab is a great way to get hands-on experience with technology. Whether you're aiming for a career in IT or just enjoy tinkering with gadgets, there’s always something new to learn. You don’t need to spend a lot—just start small, and grow your setup over time!
