Home Lab

latest

A Raspberry Pi and an ESP32
6 microcontroller projects that used to require a full SBC running Linux
DIY

We used to need SBCs for these projects; modern microcontrollers handle them more easily and inexpensively while being easier to maintain.

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Installing a HDD inside the Asus ProArt PA602
I ran a shucked drive 24/7 for years, and it held up perfectly

I don't judge an HDD by its cover

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A model being 3D printed
Please stop letting your slicer add supports to your 3D prints when you don’t really need them
DIY

Automatic supports can waste filament and scar surfaces. You can avoid that by rotating parts, using supports only when they’re truly needed.

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A bunch of VMs running on a Proxmox server
Automating my Proxmox backups was the peace of mind my home lab needed

After all, these backups are the duct tape keeping my tinkering lab together

Bambu Lab P1S with AMS front view
The best 3D printing upgrade I made cost nothing
DIY

Printed AMS levers made filament loading on my Bambu P1S smoother, faster, and far less annoying without spending a dime.

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5 reasons your strongest 3D prints might be mostly hollow - featured
5 reasons your strongest 3D prints might be mostly hollow
DIY

Your most durable prints could be hollow by design, because walls, skins, geometry, and bonding create strength without heavy infill.

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A white home router next to a black mini UPS and two figurines
I'm not upgrading my router, here's what I did instead to fix my Wi-Fi

Extracting more out of my existing hardware was far more satisfying than buying new

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A photo of the inside of an old gaming PC
I turned my old gaming PC into an AI assistant that's actually useful - here's how

Put your old gaming PC to use

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network rack rgb 10gbe 2
I stopped using Cloudflare Tunnels for everything, and here's what I use instead

I got fed up of the limitations

6
CachyOS setup-5
I ran Arch for a year before realizing I should have used CachyOS

After a year on Arch Linux, CachyOS showed me how much time I was spending on maintenance instead of actually using my PC.

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I built a PiKVM to control my PC remotely, and it's a game-changer - featured
PiKVM was overkill until I realized what else it could do

I built my PiKVM for emergencies, but it’s quickly turned into the tool that keeps my server and my patience from falling apart.

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The Ayaneo Mini PC AM02 with cables connected.
The best mini PC upgrade isn't more RAM, it's a second Ethernet port

The most useful mini PC upgrade isn’t more RAM. A second Ethernet port unlocks routing and segmentation, and helps keep a cleaner home lab network.

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beelink me mini nas desk
I ran my home server on Wi-Fi for a year, and learned when Ethernet actually matters

Wired connections might be 'best' but sometimes just enough is fine

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orca in process
Infill is the most misunderstood setting in 3D printing
DIY

It's not a magic strength slider. Here’s what it actually does, when it matters, and how to stop wasting time and filament on dense prints.

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Running a Nextcloud container on NixOS
NixOS broke my brain, but it permanently fixed my home lab

I wasn't a fan at first, but NixOS quickly grew on me

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An image of a mobile lab built with Proxmox and a mini PC.
9 Docker containers that run 24/7 on my $100 mini PC

Maximum value budget homelab.

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A Network switch with a NAS and a router
The biggest networking mistake I made was not setting up VLANs sooner

But maybe not for the reasons you think

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A Raspberry Pi 5, a Radxa X4, and a Libre Computer Alta SBC resting on top of a PC
6 things I always do after setting up a new SBC (and you should too)

These quick post-setup habits will help you prepare any new single-board computer to be faster, safer, and easier to manage long term.

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standing desk with two monitors
I'm rebuilding my workstation with these 5 unique improvements

Upgrading form and function in one fell sweep

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print head of the bambu labs x1c 3d printer about to start printing
3D printing taught me that ‘good enough’ is usually better than buying the real thing
DIY

There are times when a custom, “good enough” part beats buying the real thing, and there are times when it absolutely doesn’t.

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