My project is about creating a functional and secure environment for my Raspberry Pi devices and other network equipment within a custom-built homelab cabinet. Driven by the necessity to organize my technology in a way that maximizes efficiency without occupying too much space, I decided to undertake this project.
The idea came from my desire to have a centralized and streamlined setup that would allow for easy access and upgrades as needed. The homelab combines hardware protection with the elegance of a well-organized workspace, housing everything from Raspberry Pis to a Windows-based computing system.
It functions through a carefully planned arrangement of components within a compact, yet accessible cabinet. The setup includes various network devices, power management units, and storage solutions, all configured to work seamlessly together. This arrangement not only ensures optimal operation of the devices but also simplifies maintenance and upgrades.
Below are some images that illustrate the setup process and the final layout of my homelab. Each component has been chosen and placed with consideration for both functionality and aesthetics.
Image gallery
Materials List:
- VATPAN: 1U Blanking Panel
- VATPAN: 1U Horizontal Cable Organizer Brush
- VATPAN: 24 Port Cat 6 Patch Panel
- VATPAN: 8-Outlet Aluminum Power Strip with Switch
- VATPAN: 9U 450mm Handy Series Wall Mount Rack Cabinet
- 2x Raspberry Pi: 27W USB-C Power Adapter
- 2x Raspberry Pi: 5 4Gb Ram
- 6x HAMA: 6 CAT5E
- Cat 6 Cable: 20 meters
- 2x GSKILL: 16GB RipjawsV DDR4 3600MHz Ram
- Intel: Core i5 12400F Processor
- Lexar: 64 GB 633X Class 10 SD
- Mi: Router 4c
- MSI: GeForce RTX 4060 VENTUS 2X WHITE 8GB OC Graphics Card
- MSI: MAG A600DN 600W 80 PLUS Power Supply
- MSI: PRO H610M-E DDR4
- Creality: 1.8 Kg PETG
- Raspberry Pi: 4 4GB Ram
- Raspberry Pi: Power Adapter 5V 3A USB-C White
- Raspberry Pi: Zero 2 W
- SanDisk: Extreme Pro 128 GB
- SanDisk: Ultra 32GB Memory Card
- SanDisk: Ultra microSDHC 16GB Memory Card
- TP-Link: LS1005G
- TP-Link: TL-SG108
- 2x Zalman: ZM-IF120 Case Fan
- WD: 500GB Blue SN580 Gen4 Nvme M.2 SSD
- WaveShare: 0.91 inch OLED Screen - 128x32
- WaveShare: Pi 3 Converter Module (B) IC for Raspberry Pi Zero
- 4x OEM: Panel Type HDMI Connector
- OEM: Buttons, screws, and cables.
For those curious, it cost about $1,350. Also, it's possible to say that the system consumes less than 700 Watts under load.
The most notable weak point of this system is the use of DDR4 RAM. However, assembling a system with 32 GB of 3200 MHz RAM (normally 3600 MHz) proved more appealing than opting for DDR5, especially considering the budget. This setup is not designed for heavy gaming (at least for 28 days of the month). Although it currently operates on 1 Gbps, the initial plan was to upgrade to 2.5 or 10 Gbps. Due to cost considerations and my specific needs, I chose not to implement PoE (Power over Ethernet) or higher network speeds..
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