Homelab Server Rack

While expanding and designing the plans for my homelab, I needed a place to store all of the hardware I have accumulated over time. I ended up buying a Startech 12U Open Frame Server Rack to reduce the physical footprint while making all of the equipment easy to access. While functional, It is far from complete. Just like any codebase, I will be refactoring and simplifying as my homelab grows with me.

Current Layout as of February 2026

From top: server shelf (NAS, access switch, Raspberry Pi, KVM, peripherals, etc.), SFP+ core switch, compute node, and UPS

Backside: PDU

Complications

Heat & Noise

Due to this Rack being in a living space (currently located in my bedroom), I prioritized silence over cooling. That is why the network switches I chose, the QNAP access switch on top of shelf and rackmount SFP+ switch, are fanless. Subsequently, any further equipment will be preferred near-silent if not fanless. While not possible to create a completely silent server rack, the current noise level is nowhere near the threshold in which it becomes a nuisance.

Design Choice

I built this with modularity in mind. This is why I have a heavy-duty shelf towards the top and chose a rack with an open frame design. Additionally, the open frame design helps offset the extra heat generated from the fanless switches. Although I may move the shelf up when I need the space, The 1u offset helps ensure the NAS does not fall off in case of an accident. The NAS itself is turned at a 90 degree angle as having it facing forward was not possible with the way I have the access switch positioned currently.

After deciding on purchasing a portable monitor to display my Grafana dashboards, it took some brainstorming to find a solution that would not take any 'U' space while maintaining a clean aesthetic. This slim c-clamp mount designed for tablets is what I've integrated into the open-frame design of the server rack. I ended up mounting it horizontally while keeping the arm folded in a way that allows the portable monitor to face forward as shown in the photos.