This site is dedicated to documenting the setup, features, and operation of our Home Lab. Our Home Lab consists of several different components and systems, including:
- A high-performance home network
- A storage system that utilizes multiple NAS devices
- Multiple enterprise-grade servers in a high-availability cluster
- Applications, services, and websites
Home Network
Our Home Network uses a two-tiered structure with a core based upon high-speed 25 GbE capable aggregation switches and optically connected edge switches. We use Ubiquity UniFi equipment throughout. We have installed multiple OM4 multi-mode fiber links from the core to each room in our house. The speed of these links ranges from 1 Gbps to 25 Gbps, with most connections running as Dual-Fiber LACP LAG links.
We have redundant Internet connections which include 1 Gbps optical fiber and a 400 Mbps/12 Mbps cable modem service.
Out Network Rack also includes two SuperMicro Servers and a pair of Synology NAS drives in a high-availability configuration. These drives provide solid-state storage for Proxmox Virtual Machine disks and Docker volumes.
Main Server and Storage
Our Server Rack houses our main Dell Server and several of our Synology NAS Drives. It features redundant UPS power and includes rack-mounted Raspberry Pi systems which provide several different functions in our Home Lab.
Our servers run Proxmox in a high-availability configuration. In total, we have 104 CPUs and 1 TB of RAM available in our primary Proxmox cluster.
This rack includes an all SSD storage high-speed NAS that we use for video editing. It also includes a NAS which stores our video and audio media collection and provides access to this content throughout our home and on the go when we travel.
High Capacity Storage System
Our NAS Rack provides high-capacity storage via several Synology NAS Drives. It features redundant UPS power and includes additional rack-mounted Raspberry Pi systems which provide several different functions in our Home Lab. This rack also houses our Raspberry Pi NAS and NAS 2 systems.
Our total storage capacity is just over 1 Petabyte. Our setup also provides approximately 70 TB of high-speed solid-state storage.
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
We make use of Power Over Ethernet (PoE) switches at many edge locations in our network to power devices through their ethernet cables.
The switch shown above is located centrally where all of the CAT6 ethernet connections in our home terminate. It powers our Surveillance Cameras, IP Telephones, Access Points, etc.
Home Media System
We use our Home Network and NAS System to provide a Home Media System. Our Media System sources content from streaming services as well as stored video and audio content store on our Media NAS drive and enables it to be viewed from any TV or Smart Device in our home. We can also view our content remotely when traveling or in our cars via the Internet.
Surveillance System
We use Synology Surveillance Station running on one of our NAS drives to support a variety of IP cameras throughout our home. This software uses the host NAS drive for storing recordings and provides image recognition and other security features.
Telephone System
We use Ubiquity Unifi Talk to provide managed telephone service within our home.
This system uses PoE-powered IP Telephones which we have installed throughout our home.
Applications, Services, and Websites
We are hosting several websites, including:
- This site, which documents our Home Lab (self-hosted)
- Our Hobbies and Pets Website (self-hosted)
- Our Travel Adventures Website (self-hosted)
- My Amatur Radio Activities Website (self-hosted)
- The Nashua Area Radio Society Website (currently in the cloud)
- Our Amateur Radio Station Building Site (currently in the cloud)
Set-up information for our self-hosted sites may be found here.