Hi all,

Seeing as I created this community it seems only fair that I kick it off with details of my Mini Lab!! LOL

Instead of them just sitting on top of each other I took inspiration from another user and built a custom rack using 2020 aluminium extrusion and 3D printed parts.

These are the specs of the servers

Make Model CPU RAM HDD 1 (OS) HDD 2 (Storage) Installed OS
Dell Optiplex 7060 Intel i7-8700T 24Gb 240GB SSD 500GB M.2 Proxmox (Holden)
Dell Optiplex 7050 Intel i5-7500T 16GB 240GB SSD 500GB M.2 Proxmox (Nagata)
Dell Optiplex 7050 Intel i5-6600 8GB 240GB SSD 500GB M.2 Proxmox (Kamal)
Dell Optiplex 7050 Intel i5-7500T 16GB 240GB SSD 500GB M.2 Proxmox (Burton)
Dell Opitplex 3050 Intel i5-7500T 8GB 500 HDD 500GB M.2 Proxmox Backup Server

Pictures - https://imgur.com/a/d950ydM You can see most of the services I’m running in the Proxmox cluster screen shot, but I’m also running these in the CT called “docker-test”

  • Docuwiki
  • Heimdall
  • Homeassistant (test env)
  • Nextcloud (test env)
  • Nginx Proxy Manager
  • Portainer
  • Overseer
  • Pi-Alert
  • Uptime Kuma

My “Holden” node currently has nothing running but I intend to use this node for Plex and the *arr’s suite using my TrueNAS as storage for the movies & TV shows instead of the local storage.

I also have a a Dell Wyse 3040 that I’ve installed Proxmox on and this runs my instance of OpenVPN when I 'm away on holiday so that I can shutdown all the servers but still VPN home.

I’ve uploaded the print files to Printables - https://www.printables.com/model/499181-mini-lab-rack-for-dell-optiplex-mff-servers in case anyone wants to use them for something similar.

Also, it’s quite heavy so I’ve had to relocate it from on top of a utility room wall cupboard as I wasn’t convinced the cupboard brackets would support the cupboard, it’s contents and the server rack!! LOL

  • @art101English
    3•2 years ago

    That’s a nice set up there fellow Expanse fan!

    • @SonyJunkieOPMEnglish
      1•2 years ago

      Thank you. the stupid thing is I thought for ages on a naming theme. All my Raspberry Pi’s (currently 20 of them!!) are named after objects in the Solar system so I wanted something different. LOL

      I’ve got a Dell SFF that I use for testing that I’ve named “peaches” but I’m not adding it to the cluster and the Wyse 3040 is named “draper”. LOL

      • @art101English
        3•2 years ago

        20 Raspberry Pi’s?? Wow, what do you use them for?

        I’ve got a whopping two that I use as media players with media stored on an Unraid array.

        Trying to get an optiplex from work that is being thrown away to use for Proxmox with the plan to migrate my Home Assistant install to along with Frigate and hopefully NextPVR or TVHeadend to manage Freeview TV around the house.

        • @SonyJunkieOPMEnglish
          2•2 years ago

          Ha ha! the RPi’s are used for a variety of things, here are just a few:

          • 2x Octopi for 2 3D printers (4b 2GB & 3B+)
          • FarmPi (3B+)
          • Volumio (0W)
          • Pimoroni Pirate Radio (0W)
          • Keybow (0W)
          • Pi Hole Back Up (0 2W)
          • Sense Hat learning (4B 4GB)
          • Pop! OS (4B 8GB)
          • AIY Kit (3B)
          • Inkyphat Weather display (3A+)
          • 4 Letter Phat for clock and crypto price tracking (0W)
          • Kodi (2B)
          • Lots unused!!