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Inside My Homelab: A Peek at the Organized Chaos and Plans Ahead

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Exploring my evolving homelab setup with Proxmox, custom dashboards, and practical networking

Hey there! If you’re curious about what a homelab setup looks like in real life, I’m happy to share a glimpse into mine. Since diving into the homelab world back in 2020, it’s gone through multiple moves and changes. The setup I have now is a mix of gear I’ve collected from old IT jobs and some budget buys. The fun part? It’s a bit messy right now — life has been busy — but I’ll walk you through the essentials and what I’m planning next.

What’s a Homelab Setup Anyway?

Simply put, a homelab setup is where you run servers, networking, and other tech at home to experiment, learn, or support your personal projects. For me, it’s centered around Proxmox, a great open-source server virtualization platform. I’ve even built a custom dashboard as my homepage to keep track of it all, which you can check out if you want to see a cool example of homebrew tech management.

Core Components of My Homelab Setup

Networking

  • Gateway: UDM-Pro, which handles my network’s central command.
  • Switches: A Cisco 2960-X 48-Port POE managed switch plus a Dell Powerconnect 2816 and a pair of Netgear 8 Port POE+ switches to spread the network across different areas.
  • Access Points: Three UniFi access points (two U6-Pro, one U6+) to keep wireless strong throughout the space.

The network is segmented with VLANs — think of them like separate lanes for different types of traffic:
– Server network
– Surveillance network
– General home network
– Guest network
– IoT devices

Hardware

My Proxmox cluster runs on a collection of Dell Optiplex micros and a custom-built machine. Specs are pretty solid, including i7 CPUs, lots of RAM (up to 64GB), and high-speed NVME drives, perfect for virtualization. I also have separate machines for RDP access and gaming, plus surveillance gear with multiple UniFi cameras.

The Reality: Cable Management and Cooling

Yes, the mess is real. Cable management is a work in progress, along with organizing my racks and improving airflow. Right now, I have a strong grow fan pulling hot air out, and I’m considering adding vents and more fans to keep things cool. It’s a constant balancing act — keeping gear organized and running efficiently.

What’s Next?

I plan to make a dedicated network just for Proxmox VMs and containers, which should help keep things clearer when managing devices on the Unifi controller. Also, improving cooling and mounting are high on the list.

Why Homelabs Matter

Having a homelab setup lets you customize, tinker, and learn hands-on — way beyond what you get with typical consumer gear. If you want to explore virtualization, networking, or just a bit of DIY tech fun, setting up a homelab is a rewarding challenge.

Resources to Learn More

Thanks for dropping by to see how one homelab setup looks behind the scenes! If you’re thinking of building your own, remember it’s about learning and making your tech work for you — wires, fans, and all.

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