NUCs make really nice homelab servers. They can give you a lot of power while not sucking too much electricity. I have used three NUCs to build a kubernetes cluster and I’m very happy with them.
The only thing that made me buy additional hardware was the need for 10Gb Networking and more internal storage, which I couldn’t realize with my NUCs. I also learned to love the IPMI feature of server motherboards, that NUCs don’t offer afaik. I would recommend to use a hypervisor like proxmox which makes it easy to spin up new servers inside virtual machines - this way you don’t have to re-install your OS on the NUC everytime something goes wrong or needs to be upgraded.
Generally a NUC is a great device for a homelab, especially if you’re just starting out!
Since you’re also located in germany, I’d like to share a site I found when I was looking for my own router based on OPNsense: NRG Systems. Some of their models use pretty old hardware, but I got the IPU651 with the 19" chassis and I really love it.
Ever since I’ve came to the company as a sole Sys admin (where there was none before) I’ve tried to keep it simple as possible… everyone has MS Office Home&Business, I’ll move everyone to Outlook from the damn Windows Live Mail… and sure thing, I’ll also install Outlook on their phones whoever wants to have Email...
Not OP but I’m doing almost the same thing in Kubernetes. Basically you start a Nextcloud container but only to run the cronjob, not Nextcloud itself. In my case, Kubernetes creates a new container for each cron execution. Apparently there’s also a cron.sh script already bundled with the Nextcloud image, that can run continously. At least OP doesn’t seem to mount the script from somewhere else.
Basically, I’m building a home and getting it wired with Ethernet cabling. I didn’t want to get too much into the technical details, so I just provided the builders with locations where I want RJ45 ports, along with one spot where I just said “24-port patch panel” (the number of ports located elsewhere being 22....
Does their proposed patch panel costing about 4x what I was expecting actually seem likely to give any value? Is there are explanation for that cost?
I don’t know if there are “high tech” patch panels. They are mostly very simple, especially for use cases like yours. Maybe ask your builder how they justify the price?
For reference: Here in europe I could buy a panel with 24 CAT.6a ports for about 55€ on ebay. A panel for keystone modules would cost me 15€ plus 45€ for 24 CAT.6a modules. I would recommend to use keystone modules, because they are more flexible. The module is attached to the cable and then just clicked into the panel. This way you can easily detach or reorder the cables if needed.
Secondary question: is having a wall-mounted cabinet worthwhile?
Yes.
How will it work in terms of installing a switch and connecting from the patch panel to the switch?
You would mount both components in the cabinet and connect them with short patch cables like this:
So the patch panel will end up connected through at the front instead of being flush with the wall? And the wires would just be run out of the wall through to the front of the panel?
The cables would come out of your wall, go into the back of the network cabinet and would then be clicked into the patchpanel from behind. From the front of the cabinet you will just see RJ45 ports that you then can connect to your switch. The back of the patchpanel will look something like this.
Out of interest, what’s the alternative? Is it that the cables would be hard wired directly into a particular port of the patch panel and not be movable?
Exactly. The patchpanel would provide a board where you could patch your cables into (like this).
Another thing I would recommend is having a “service loop”. That means leaving a bit of extra cable when exiting the wall in case you need it. Otherwise you might need to pull a whole new cable if something unforseen happens and that sucks.
Recommendations on first Homelab hardware: NUC or not?
Hi,...
E-mail client alternatives to Outlook (Windows and Android)
Ever since I’ve came to the company as a sole Sys admin (where there was none before) I’ve tried to keep it simple as possible… everyone has MS Office Home&Business, I’ll move everyone to Outlook from the damn Windows Live Mail… and sure thing, I’ll also install Outlook on their phones whoever wants to have Email...
Here's a nextcloud docker compose for those who want nextcloud easy mode
services:...
In wiring a home, is there any reason to go with a more expensive patch panel?
Basically, I’m building a home and getting it wired with Ethernet cabling. I didn’t want to get too much into the technical details, so I just provided the builders with locations where I want RJ45 ports, along with one spot where I just said “24-port patch panel” (the number of ports located elsewhere being 22....