Homelab V1
April 2023 - Present
Homelab V1
This original setup is still in use as of June 2026, but I'm planning a major overhaul before year-end.
Introduction
I've been running a small homelab since 2023, primarily as a way to self-host services and experiment with different tools. It's been a great learning experience, and I love having a space where I can tinker and learn at my own pace.
Overall, the setup has gradually evolved into a split between a production server, a small experimentation cluster, and a media endpoint, all connected through a segmented home network.
Setup history
I started my homelab in April 2023 with an M700 Tiny running an Intel Core i7-6700T with 16GB of RAM. The OS of choice was Debian 11 Bullseye. It worked well for learning, but as I added more services, I needed more processing power.
In November 2024, I upgraded to an M720q Tiny with an Intel Core i5-8500T and 32GB of RAM. The newer generation was faster and more efficient, and it included Intel Quick Sync, which was really useful for video transcoding in Plex. This meant streaming to different devices didn't slow down the rest of my system. I ran Debian 13 Bookworm. The M700 Tiny was repurposed for experimenting with other Linux distributions.
Days later, I acquired an M710q Tiny equipped with a G4600T and 8GB of RAM. It became the HTPC that powers my "Dumb" TV in November 2024. The integrated graphics on the Pentium struggled with video playback, so I upgraded its CPU to an i7-7700T and its RAM to 16GB in October 2025.
Between September and October 2025, I added two ThinkStation P330 Tiny to my homelab to experiment with Proxmox VE virtualization and Docker containerization. One is powered by an i7-8700 and the other by an i5-8500T. Both machines are equipped with 32GB of RAM.
Finally in May 2026 I got myself another M720q Tiny to replace my router. This machine will use an Intel PCIe NIC and run OpenWRT. The start of this project will be the first step in the Homelab V2 phase. This overhaul aims to rebuild my infrastructure around virtualization and containerization, with a bit of networking and cybersecurity experimentation.
Network & topology
My homelab sits on a fairly simple but segmented home network. The internet connection comes through a DSL line with the ISP modem configured in bridge mode. Routing and firewalling are handled by my main router, which acts as the central point of the network.
From there, the network is split into two main branches:
This setup gives me a basic but effective separation between trusted devices, lab infrastructure, and less-trusted IoT/guest traffic, while keeping the overall architecture easy to manage.
Current Setup
The homelab is currently split into a small set of dedicated machines, each with a clear role.
The main system is the Lenovo M720q Tiny running Debian bare metal, which handles most self-hosted services and day-to-day workloads.
On my desk, the two Lenovo ThinkStation P330 Tiny systems sit on top of it and are used as an experimentation platform. These are primarily used for Proxmox VE and Docker testing, allowing me to explore virtualization and container-based workloads without impacting the main system.
The Lenovo M710q Tiny serves as the dedicated HTPC under my TV, handling media playback for a “Dumb” TV setup.
Services
I'm hosting a mix of services that handle different parts of my digital life:
Why I do this
The main appeal is building a centralized, self-hosted solution that's entirely mine. No dependence on commercial products or corporate services dictating how my data flows. I get to control the whole setup and tailor it to exactly what I need. Beyond the practical benefits, there's genuine joy in experimenting: testing new tools, understanding how services work together, and optimizing things to run smoothly.
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