Jeff GeerlingJan 17

For months, I've been working on Project MINI RACK, a resource for mini homelabs, portable RF rigs, and more!

I hinted at it yesterday, but today I published a video, a blog post, and a full GitHub repo to help others build compact, efficient equipment racks! đŸ§”

Show threadJeff GeerlingJan 17

First, kicking things off with a video—I introduce the project, show off three mini rack builds of my own (including a portable solar-powered rack!), and four builds from the community! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1GCIwLm3is

And for those less visually-inclined, of *course* I always post the same thing, with even more detail, on my blog: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/project-mini-rack-compact-and-portable-homelabs

Then there's the open source project itself, which is here: https://mini-rack.jeffgeerling.com

Project MINI RACK - a Homelab Revolution!

YouTube
Show threadJeff GeerlingJan 17
I'd love to see what mini racks *you* come up with! And special shout-out to the Reddit r/minilab community :)
Show threadSaustrup
@geerlingguy Daaaamn those are just so cute! :D
Jan 20 at 12:53pmWeb
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Show threadJeff GeerlingJan 17
I'd love to see what mini racks *you* come up with! And special shout-out to the Reddit r/minilab community :)
Show threadDiogo ConstantinoJan 17
@geerlingguy these are amazing but too expensive for me.
Show threadkasperdJan 17
Are these mini racks a new industry standard?
Show threadJeff GeerlingJan 17
@kasperd They've been around a while, but only in niche situations. But the width is pretty standard (as it's often called "half rack", and some devices can either be paired up for a full 19" or split apart and fit one in 1U of mini rack space).
Show threadJacob HobbieJan 17
@geerlingguy I know it’s not super sexy, but my dream is to honestly just make the perfect apartment networking setup: Modem, Router, Switch, all in one easy to move setup so the networking is all in one easy place. Maybe a Mac Mini to Dockerize Home Assistant and Plex.
Show threadMartinLJan 18
@geerlingguy Time for a new hashtag #minirack
Show threadJensJan 18
@geerlingguy My DIY Mini Rack story
Not finished yet, work in progress
Show threadtĂŒrmchenbauer tomJan 18
@geerlingguy  đŸ˜ 😘
Show threadJon PearseJan 18

@geerlingguy I have a sneaky suspicion my setup might have been the result of watching your DeskPi video last year.

Very much a work in progress, current project is designing a custom mount for the ThinkCentre; which will, of course, be open-sourced when I’m done + have worked out the gremlins
 also really need to get around to upgrading + properly mounting the Pi 3B that’s been rather unceremoniously stuffed on a shelf.

Show threadJon PearseJan 18
@geerlingguy (worth noting that the opening on the back of this Digitus rack is big enough to mount a 10.5” PDU, as long as you’re willing to either DIY some mounting holes, or—like me—have a roll of handy VHB
)
Show threadJeff GeerlingJan 18
@jonpearse VHB solves many things
Show threadHenryJan 18

@geerlingguy We have this: which is the patch panel for the house, cable modem on top, an OPNsense firewall and then Digitus unmanaged switch, and a bird's nest of cables. I've been failing to find 10" equipment to make it neater, but your video has been a great help, thank you.

Also Mikrotik recently released this: https://mikrotik.com/product/css318_16g_2s_in which is a 16 port managed switch that fits in 10", and means I could finally implement VLANS and more segmentation.

CSS318-16G-2S+IN | MikroTik

With 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 2 SFP+ 10G uplink ports, you get all the connectivity you need without unnecessary bulk. Stack two units side by side in a single 1U rack space for even greater flexibility and scalability.

Show threadJim LauJan 20
@geerlingguy This is the network rack I printed and assembled after watching 10” rack videos. #minilab
Show threadJeff GeerlingJan 20
@jimlau blinkenlights!
Show threadSaustrupJan 20
@geerlingguy Daaaamn those are just so cute! :D