June 21, 2025
8:20 AM
When it comes to setting up a homelab, I’ve noticed that people define it in many different ways. For some, it’s not even a “lab” per se—just a space to test things out. Others insist it should be fully separated and isolated. So, the definition of a homelab varies from person to person.
But here’s what I think people should know—especially those just starting. This is the kind of advice I wish I had when I began.
The thing is, when you’re brand new to the tech field, getting advice from people who have been doing it for years can be tricky. They often forget what it was like to start from scratch. Sure, most will tell you that you’ll need to spend money on equipment, which is obvious. However, what is not always explained is the order and process of acquiring that equipment. That’s the part that matters most to someone just getting into this world.
In my opinion, and I’ll admit I’m still learning, the very first piece of equipment any newcomer should get is a UPS—an uninterruptible power supply. If you’ve never heard of one before, that’s okay. But it’s essential. There’s no point in spending money on routers, modems, or servers if you don’t have a way to protect them from power outages, blackouts, or brownouts. A single surge could ruin everything.
Ideally, you’d get two UPS units. Most only have around four battery-backed outlets, and you’ll outgrow that fast once your lab starts expanding.
Once you’ve got your UPS, the next thing you should invest in is a good router and a switch. Most people just use whatever their internet provider gave them, and that’s fine at first, but it’s also limited. If you want to access advanced features or practice things like VPN setup, subnetting, or network segmentation, you’ll want better equipment. This allows you to create guest networks, isolate test environments, and delve deeply into networking fundamentals.
After that, I’d recommend getting your VPN set up and starting to look into a NAS—a network-attached storage device. You’ll need somewhere to store files, media, maybe run Plex, and just generally house all your projects. Whether you buy or build one, setting it up will be a valuable learning experience.
From there, you can keep building out your environment based on your goals. But in my opinion, that basic order—UPS, networking gear, VPN setup, and then NAS—is a solid foundation for anyone entering the tech world and wanting to build their first homelab.
The End.
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