Discover how an 8U home lab rack with NUC units can balance smart home needs and computing power with ease.
When I first started thinking about setting up an 8U home lab, I wanted something compact but powerful enough to handle multiple tasks without getting in the way. An 8U home lab rack with two Intel NUCs turned out to be just the right solution.
What Exactly is an 8U Home Lab?
If you’re not familiar, “8U” refers to the rack size — specifically, 8 units tall. It’s a compact size in the world of server racks, making it ideal for home use where space can be limited. Into this compact frame, I fit two Intel NUC5i5RYK units. These little devices punch above their weight and come equipped with 16GB of RAM and a 240GB SSD each.
Why Intel NUCs for a Home Lab?
Intel NUCs are small but mighty mini-PCs that pack a lot of performance into a tiny footprint. For my setup, one NUC handles my smart home system alongside Nextcloud, which is my go-to for personal cloud storage and file sharing. The other NUC runs Windows 11, giving me a necessary platform for software I need that’s not compatible with my main Mac computer.
Building the Rack Frame
The rack frame itself was a bit of a DIY project:
– Four vertical 8U rails for structure
– Four aluminum profiles (20×20×250 mm) and four shorter profiles (20×20×150 mm) to build the frame
These materials made a sturdy, lightweight frame that not only holds the NUCs but also keeps everything neat and accessible.
Networking Made Simple
For networking, I used a MERCUSYS MS105GP switch. This little switch supports 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports and offers 60W Power over Ethernet (PoE). It’s enough to keep the NUCs connected fast and reliably, and the PoE keeps my network tidy by powering devices directly through the Ethernet cable when needed.
Why I Like This Setup
This 8U home lab is versatile and efficient. It fits in a small space but doesn’t compromise on capability. Having two different systems lets me separate tasks easily—my smart home and cloud services on one NUC and Windows-specific work on the other. Plus, the rack design keeps everything well organized.
Setting up something like this is a solid option for anyone looking to dip their toes into home labs without dedicating a whole closet or room. It’s approachable, expandable, and surprisingly manageable even if you’re not a pro builder.
Learn More
If you’re curious about Intel NUCs and whether they’re right for your home lab, check out Intel’s official site Intel NUC. For networking gear like the MERCUSYS switch, their official page MERCUSYS MS105GP has the specs and details.
And if personal cloud storage is on your list, Nextcloud is a solid, open-source choice you can read about here: Nextcloud.
Creating an 8U home lab rack with NUCs isn’t just about hardware. It’s a practical way to keep your tech close, organized, and ready for just about anything you want to throw at it.