Hey everyone! I'm looking to build a home lab mainly for running a Kubernetes cluster. My intention is to learn, experiment with different tools, and test DevOps workflows like monitoring stacks and GitOps setups. Before I invest any money, I would love some insights from those who have set up similar labs. Is a homelab for Kubernetes a worthwhile endeavor? What's a good budget range? And what hardware setup do you recommend? I appreciate any tips or experiences you can share about what worked for you and what you might have done differently! Thanks!
5 Answers
I managed to set up my lab for under $300 using old hardware I had lying around like Raspberry Pis and some laptops. I even scored an old NUC for cheap! Pro tip: watch for deals in the homelab sales community and resist the urge to buy shiny new gear that others post about. It's usually overkill for basic setups!
I'm also on the lookout for used gear! Any tips on where to find good deals?
Setting up a homelab for Kubernetes is definitely a good idea if you're aiming for hands-on learning. You can start with a single node to learn the basics or go for three nodes if you want to dive into high availability. I usually grab old office PCs from auctions which cost around $200-300 and they work great for this purpose.
Sounds reasonable! How much RAM do you suggest for a decent setup?
What kind of models do you typically look for at these auctions?
You don't even need physical machines. Running VMs as nodes works perfectly fine for a homelab setup. Plus, you can try out things like CRC from Red Hat OpenShift on your existing laptop or desktop. It's all about what fits your learning style.
That's handy! How do you find managing VMs compared to physical setups?
Interesting approach! What are some challenges you faced with VMs?
If you're looking to get practical experience relevant to the job market, I'd recommend using a decent laptop or desktop by adding more RAM. 16GB would be ideal, and it could end up costing you around $100 for the memory upgrade. This way, you can avoid the noise and electricity draw of old business servers. If you're keen on being more professional, consider NUCs; they're compact and efficient!
That's a smart move! Any specific NUC models you recommend?
I love that idea! I might just go with my old laptop then.
A Turing Pi with some RK1s is a great option for a homelab. If you're trying to save some bucks, a single Raspberry Pi 5 can run k3s without breaking the bank! I use a Turing Pi with multiple Raspberry Pi CM4 modules as storage nodes, plus a few Intel NUCs for the control plane. This setup gives plenty of room to experiment and learn!
Sounds cool! How did you find the performance with your NUCs?
That's a solid setup! How do you manage your storage nodes?
Great advice! Did you have any issues with performance using older gear?