Your First Home Lab: A Complete NAS, Mini PC, Switch and UPS Build
Build your first home lab with a NAS, mini PC, 2.5GbE switch and UPS. Complete parts plan, example budget, backups, setup and recovery checklist.
Slow NAS Transfers: Diagnose 1GbE, 2.5GbE and 10GbE Bottlenecks
Slow NAS transfers? Diagnose 1GbE, 2.5GbE and 10GbE bottlenecks using link-speed checks, iperf3, disk monitoring and SMB troubleshooting before buying upgrades.
2.5GbE vs 10GbE at Home: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
2.5GbE vs 10GbE for a home NAS or lab: real bottlenecks, cable limits, SFP+ vs RJ45, network layouts, power costs and an upgrade checklist.
Best Router Hardware for OPNsense and pfSense
Choose the best router hardware for OPNsense or pfSense: compare Protectli N150, Netgate 4200/6100 and OPNsense DEC750, with NIC, VPN, IPS and cost guidance.
Fanless Firewall PC vs Standard Mini PC as a 24/7 Home Server
Fanless firewall PC or standard mini PC for a 24/7 home server? Compare cooling, 2.5GbE ports, SSDs, Proxmox suitability, power costs and ownership trade-offs.
Best 2.5GbE Switches for a Smart Home and Home Lab
Best 2.5GbE switches for a smart home and home lab: compare fanless unmanaged and managed models, uplinks, VLANs, NAS use and cabling.