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Home Lab Starter Kit
The bare essentials to get a home lab up and running. A mini PC, a switch, and some cables — assuming you've already got a router.
Starting a home lab doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. If you've already got a router (and you do, or you wouldn't be reading this), then all you really need is a mini PC to run your services, a network switch to give yourself some extra Ethernet ports, and a few cables to tie it all together.
This is a solid starting point. You can always expand later with more storage, better networking gear, or additional machines — but this will get you up and running.
Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the channel.
Beelink MINI-S12 Mini PC (N95)
A great entry-level mini PC for a home lab. The 12th Gen Intel N95, 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD is plenty for running Home Assistant, Docker containers, or a lightweight server.
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NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Switch (GS308)
A simple, silent, plug-and-play unmanaged switch. Eight gigabit ports is enough to get started and it doesn't need any configuration — just plug it in.
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Amazon Basics Cat6 Ethernet Cables (5-Pack)
A multicolour 5-pack of short Cat6 cables. Handy for connecting everything up without ending up with a rat's nest of identical-looking cables.
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