In this video I walk you through my updated homelab build end-to-end—how I picked the rack, racked the gear, and how it all ties into my actual day-to-day home network. For me, a homelab is a lab in the real sense: I use it to test stuff, learn, and stay current with what’s happening in IT… but it also has to be reliable because it runs my home. So I break down the practical pieces: power (UPS + PDUs), how I think about backup power at home, and how to plan your setup so you’re not wasting money on gear you don’t need. I also explain my approach to hardware: starting with free/old laptops or desktops, then moving into a hybrid of mini PCs and a bigger server. I love mini PCs because they’re compact, quiet, and perfect for single-purpose services—but they don’t always have the grunt for heavier labs. The big takeaway is storage: I prefer centralizing data on a NAS so my VMs can live on network storage and I can move workloads around without being locked to one box. Finally, I show my Ubiquiti networking and why I like it at home: VLANs, security, and management in a clean GUI, plus Wi‑Fi 7 access points powered via PoE. If you’re building your first homelab (or upgrading), you’ll leave with a clear blueprint you can adapt to your own space and budget.