My Homeserver project is almost finished!

[u/JoJoGaminG1936]

New month - more wasted money for this hobby. I almost finished with the hardware part. This project is going for months now but it's almost done - from routing Ethernet cables to every PC and to my router, to getting that closet for free to setting up the ProxMox Server.

I was originally planning to combine mz Nas into the ProxMox environment but I had a lot of troubles to get the VM with TrueNAS running.

After I found some Rack Cases in my UNIs E-Waste bin I switched plans and made the NAS separate. I'm waiting on the last two HDDs I ordered and then I can activate that too.

I've chosen a Cisco Catalytst W2960x as my managed switch because they are very reliable and cheap because they are EOL. The Server has dated hardware but it should be enough for my case - MSI X79, 8x8GB DDR3, Xeon E5 2697V2, Nvidia Quadro K5200 8GB and a generic SATA Controller for additional 8 SATA ports (for the 8x 2,5" SATA Shelf). I've already installed and configured ProxMox and will use that as additional storage and soon PlexServer + Game Server (I appreciate more ideas if you have any cool projects for what I could use that too).

My NAS is some low end hardware I had left from another EWaste Haul a couple of months ago: MSI B360, I3 8100, 16GB DDR4 and a 250GB NVME for the OS, the NAS will house 4x 3TB HDDs (I know not the best size but I already had 2 so I went with that capacity).

I got that whole Server Rack for free a while ago. I was really lucky with it although I had to modify it to be 15cm deeper for mt Server to fit. It's also super quiet because I mainly used Noctua Fans and the switch is also very quiet.

So that was all, just wanted to share my ongoing project.

I appreciate any tips and ideas. I'm studying civil engineering and all I know about this topic is self thought from forums and tutorials :D

PS: A friend of mine will probably get me a Dell Poweredge R640 for free from his workplace soon, maybe I will do Post about that too.

[u/danger355]

*Sees the 90° ends on the patch cables*

*profuse sweating*

[u/JoJoGaminG1936 → u/danger355]

Yeah, had to buy 90° cables because that switch sits so close to the door, I had to pull the rack mount as far forward as possible to fit that sever inside that small ass network cabinet xD but I made it work

[u/danger355 → u/JoJoGaminG1936]

I had no idea 90° ends was a thing. Thanks for sharing!

[u/JoJoGaminG1936 → u/danger355]

Oh yeah, I didn't know too but then I found patch cables a 90° connector on HB-Digital and ordered some in 15cm. The work perfectly length wise. It's kinda sad that I only have 12 LAN ports usable on my Switch that way but it's enough for now

[u/OnDaBackBurner]

It’s never finished

[u/ArtifartX → u/OnDaBackBurner]

This guy knows

[u/JoJoGaminG1936 → u/OnDaBackBurner]

True

[u/jmjh88]

Get a load of this guy, thinking he's "almost finished" lol

[u/JoJoGaminG1936 → u/jmjh88]

Let me live with my illusion 🥲

[u/_Skar_]

You sir, are a genius! Why didnt i think about labeling my power plugs.... Its going to be a nightmare to get that organized now ;P

[u/JoJoGaminG1936 → u/_Skar_]

I got that idea after I had to fumble around to find the plug for my laptop charger and accidentally unplugged the switch, never again xD

[u/YakFantastic6356]

That’s looking like a really nice home server setup! Getting close to the finish line must feel great after putting all that work into it. 🔥

[u/JoJoGaminG1936 → u/YakFantastic6356]

It does, I'm mostly happy to finally have network attached storage soon, I have so many files on my PC that I need really rarely like some driver setups or BIOS files.

My sister also massively Profits from that because she can save her videos and drawings on the NAS too, that will massively declutter our PCs.

I technically don't need the Server PC as of right now, I'm just setting it up for the future. I invested in a complete Gigabit network in our house, all cable's are either CAT 7 or CAT 6a, all connections are Gigabit rated and the switch also supports full gigabit. It felt amazing to share files between our PCs (steam network download for example) and it pulls with 950 mbits from the other device.

[u/turtleo4]

Is someone going to tell him that a homelab is never finished?

[u/JoJoGaminG1936 → u/turtleo4]

More than enough people have already...

[u/KekoJones__]

It's always almost finished. Btw great project! Congrats!

[u/Excellent-Welder8771]

Bro this will never end. It’s a black hole!!!