URGENT UPDATE: A tech enthusiast has just revolutionized their home lab setup by splitting their NAS into three specialized servers, resulting in improved performance and significant energy savings. This innovative approach is capturing the attention of the tech community.
The transformation started with a single TrueNAS machine, built from old gaming PC parts, which struggled with power consumption and noise. The original setup, featuring a Ryzen 7 3700X processor and 24 GB of DDR4 RAM, drew between 100W and 140W constantly, proving inefficient for everyday tasks. The new strategy involves deploying three dedicated servers, significantly enhancing functionality while drastically reducing energy usage.
In a new development, the enthusiast migrated their self-hosted services to a more efficient AMD Ryzen 5 5600U mini PC and a powerful Ugreen DXP4800 Plus running OPNsense and HexOS, with a total of 12TB of shared storage. This mini PC, consuming just 10W at idle, has become the cornerstone of the setup, managing automation and low-power workloads.
The key to this efficient setup is the integration of Home Assistant, which orchestrates the power management of the larger server. This system now powers on only when necessary, cutting down daily energy consumption by over two kilowatt-hours. With electricity costs reaching up to €0.52 per kWh, this adjustment translates to significant savings.
Migration of services was surprisingly smooth, with virtual machines and containers transferred seamlessly between machines. The enthusiast noted, “I was honestly surprised that I didn’t run into any issues,” highlighting the reliability of modern virtualization technologies.
This paradigm shift in home lab management not only offers a blueprint for tech enthusiasts looking to optimize their setups but also emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency in today’s technology landscape. As rising electricity costs become a concern for many, this approach serves as a viable solution.
What’s next? The enthusiast plans to continue refining their setup, exploring additional configurations to maximize efficiency. This innovative model of home lab scaling could inspire others facing similar challenges, proving that with the right tools and strategies, a more efficient and sustainable digital environment is within reach.
Stay tuned for more updates on home lab innovations and energy-saving technologies as this trend continues to evolve.