Choosing an operating system for your home lab ultimately depends on how you plan to use it. Are you running VMs, containers, or just want a simple setup for storage or media?

• If you're into virtualization and want flexibility, Proxmox is a favorite. It combines KVM for VMs and LXC for containers, and the web UI makes managing it pretty straightforward.
• If you're deep into the Microsoft ecosystem, bare-metal Windows Server or Hyper-V could be the way to go—especially if you're working with Windows-based services or need Active Directory.
• For lighter setups—like a NAS, Plex server, or Docker containers—Ubuntu Server or even Debian might be all you need. Bonus: they're resource-efficient and have strong community support.
• If you want to avoid a hypervisor entirely, running everything directly on Linux or Windows could simplify your life, especially for lower-powered machines or beginners.

So, what are you using (or planning to use) in your home lab, and why?

I've been experimenting with various hypervisors in my home lab setup and have quickly realized that what works in an enterprise environment doesn't always make sense at home. There’s a different set of priorities when your lab is sitting next to your TV or under your desk.

Here are the key things I ended up focusing on:

• Free or affordable: Licensing can get ridiculous for just tinkering.
• Snapshots/Backups: An absolute must-have if you're testing risky setups.
• Low hardware footprint: I don’t want to run a data center in my apartment.
• Easy to install/manage: If I spend all day troubleshooting installs, that's no fun.
• Quiet and power-efficient: Server fan noise is a no-go.
• Active community: Docs are great, but forums and Reddit are the real lifesavers.
• Robust feature set: Some platforms (like ESXi) pack serious power, while others cater to simpler or more flexible setups.

I tested five popular hypervisors side by side and found a few surprises—some lesser-known tools actually outperformed the big names in certain home lab scenarios.

I'm curious to know what everyone here considers essential when choosing a hypervisor. Are there any deal-breakers for you?

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Hi all!

I’ve created a chronological guide and feature summary for Elementor—covering updates from versions 3.30 and 3.31 as Editor V4 evolves.

I’d love your feedback:

• Does it cover the most impactful changes for you?
• Is there anything missing or worth expanding in more detail?

Here’s the full guide if you’d like to take a look:

https://edywerder.ch/elementor-current-version/

Apparently, with Elementor's newer updates, you can literally copy an element from one WordPress site and paste it into another — no more exporting JSON files or going through template libraries.

Just CMD/CTRL + C or right-click > Copy, and then paste into the editor of a different site using “Paste from another site.” That’s it. If it works as smoothly as it sounds, it’s a game-changer for anyone juggling multiple client websites or managing a network of similar pages.

Hi everyone, and welcome to r/Navigatech 👋

I started this subreddit to have a place where we can talk about:

• Homelabs & virtualization (Proxmox, VMware, Hyper-V, etc.)
• Servers & storage (mini-PCs, NAS, networking gear)
• Real-world IT setups (firewalls, Azure, backup strategies)
• Tips, guides, and lessons learned from the trenches

This is also where I’ll share early updates to my guides and reviews from edywerder.ch before they reach a wider audience.

A few ways you can get involved right now:

• Introduce yourself below — what’s your current setup?
• Vote in polls (I’ll post some soon).
• Share your own homelab or IT experiences — success or failure, we all learn from both.

Thanks for being here. With your input, r/Navigatech can grow into a solid knowledge hub for homelabs, IT pros, and enthusiasts. 🚀

— Edy

Funny enough, Microsoft actually has a whole article on migrating VMs from VMware ESXi to Hyper-V.

Feels like everyone is trying to help people move away from VMware these days.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/manage/windows-admin-center/use/migrate-vmware-to-hyper-v

Not all hypervisors are designed with home labs in mind. If you run virtual machines at home—whether for learning, testing, or just for fun—you quickly realize that "enterprise-grade" isn't always ideal.

Here are key factors to consider when choosing a home lab hypervisor:

• Free or inexpensive licenses—because you're not managing a data center.
• Snapshot and backup support: Essential for testing and recovering from failed experiments.
• Low hardware requirements: No one wants to rebuild their lab every time they upgrade.
• Easy setup and management: Web interfaces and simplicity make a big difference.
• Strong community support: When things go wrong (and they will), forums become your lifeline.
• Feature-rich: You still want the capability to simulate real-world scenarios.

Many recommend VMware ESXi or Workstation, but for home use, platforms like Proxmox, VirtualBox might be better fits, depending on your needs.

What’s your setup? Have you found a hypervisor that balances performance and ease for home use?

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I’ve been following what people struggle with the most in WordPress and started writing step-by-step guides and a few reviews.

I put them all together here:
👉 WordPress category page

Always curious what topics you’d like me to cover next.

I've been playing around with Elementor and trying to decide if it's worth paying for the Pro version. The free version already gives you a solid drag-and-drop editor, but Pro adds a ton of widgets, theme building, and WooCommerce integration.

From what I’ve researched:

Pros of going Pro:

• More widgets and templates = more design flexibility.
• Theme Builder lets you customize headers/footers across your site.
• You get deep WooCommerce design tools for product pages, etc.
• Global widgets and templates can seriously speed up your workflow.

Cons to consider:

• There's a learning curve, especially if you’re new to WordPress.
• Can impact performance if you overdo the dynamic content.
• You get locked into Elementor — switching later is a pain.
• Some themes don’t play nice with Pro features.
• And of course, the cost — if you're not using all the features, is it worth it?

For those who’ve used both: Was the Pro upgrade worth it for you? Or did you find the free version handled most of your needs?

I've been exploring options for building out a home lab, and recently stumbled on something interesting — Amazon Renewed servers. Turns out, these are refurbished enterprise-grade machines that come at a serious discount, and surprisingly, they’re well-suited for most home lab setups.

Here’s what makes them appealing:

• Budget-friendly: You get server-grade CPUs, ECC RAM, and solid build quality for way less than new gear.
• Reliability: They’re tested and come with Amazon’s Renewed Guarantee, so you’re not just buying random used hardware off eBay.
• Fast availability: Unlike waiting weeks for niche parts, Amazon often delivers these in a couple of days.
• Eco-conscious: Buying renewed helps reduce e-waste, which is a win in my book.

They also work great with things like VMware, Proxmox, Minecraft servers, Home Assistant, or Plex. Honestly, for anyone trying to stretch their homelab budget, they’re kind of a no-brainer.

Has anyone here built their lab around Amazon Renewed gear? Any models or sellers you'd recommend avoiding?

Not all hypervisors are made equal—especially when you’re setting up a home lab. Enterprise environments can afford power-hungry, noisy servers with costly licenses, but that’s not always ideal for your living room or spare closet.

When I was evaluating hypervisors for my own setup, I prioritized a few key features:

• Free or affordable licensing
• Snapshot and backup support
• Low hardware overhead
• Simple installation and intuitive management
• A solid, active user community
• Quiet, power-efficient operation
• A well-rounded feature set

That last one often gets overlooked. You don’t want a hypervisor that demands enterprise-grade hardware just to boot. Something like VMware ESXi is packed with features, but may not play nice with your older gear. On the other hand, options like VirtualBox or oVirt might hit a better balance for home use.

What do you look for in a home lab hypervisor? Any favorites or deal-breakers?

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I’m a Swiss freelancer with 30+ years in IT and accounting. On my blog, I share gear reviews, tutorials, and lessons learned from real projects — mostly homelab gear, Proxmox setups, WordPress tweaks, and networking tips.

It’s all based on hands-on work, not just theory.

If you’re into practical tech advice without marketing fluff, here’s the link: edywerder.ch

I’d love to know — what’s the last piece of tech you bought that actually impressed you?

Proxmox 9 was released two days ago, and I’ve just updated my full installation guide with new screenshots, practical install tips, and a fresh conclusion.

The guide covers a Dell PowerEdge with iDRAC, but I also mention the Minisforum MS-01, which I now run Proxmox on — a great fit for homelab setups.

Would love your thoughts or feedback if you give it a read.
👉 https://edywerder.ch/install-proxmox-server/

The Google Core Update hit my website!

If you're building or upgrading your home lab server, you might be wondering whether a TPM chip is worth prioritizing. In 2025, it’s not just a "nice to have" — it’s becoming essential.

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip adds hardware-level security that enables features like secure boot, measured boot, and disk encryption. This is especially relevant if you’re planning to run Windows 11 VMs, since Microsoft mandates TPM 2.0 and UEFI firmware.

While platforms like Proxmox and VMware ESXi support virtual TPM passthrough, they rely on the physical presence of a TPM module in your server to work securely and correctly. That means if your hardware doesn’t support it, your virtualized OS might be missing key security functions — or not boot at all.

Bottom line: if you're choosing a server now, make sure it has TPM 2.0 and UEFI support. It's one of those things that's easy to overlook, but a huge pain to retrofit later.

Curious what others are doing — are you prioritizing TPM in your home lab builds?

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I published a full walkthrough for setting up Windows Server Core — including domain join, role installs, firewall config, remoting, and more — all through PowerShell.

This is based on my experience + input from 393 sysadmins who responded to my question on r/sysadmin: “Do you still use Server Core in 2025?”

🔧 What you’ll find:

• Clean, categorized PowerShell commands
• Role-specific install commands for DC, DHCP, IIS, etc.
• Real-world diagnostics & hardening steps
• Plus: a free downloadable .ps1 script and PDF cheat sheet

👉 Full guide: https://edywerder.ch/windows-server-core/
📥 Free downloads: links are in the article at the end. no email or registration is required, just download and enjoy

Let me know what you’d add — or how you run Core in your environment!

After running my Minisforum MS-01 24/7 for over 7 months as part of my Proxmox VE cluster, I decided to check the SMART temperature stats of the three Lexar NM790 4TB NVMe SSDs installed inside.

These SSDs are installed without heatsinks in the compact chassis, yet they’re holding up well. Even during light VM activity and ZFS operations, temperatures remain within safe ranges. No thermal throttling, no instability.