IMG_2944 by andrew8200m posted 17 May 2026 at 13:12 Hi guys I’m looking to run this through some of you guys as I’m putting together a rack for the home that will essentially cover everything I could possibly want/need. The above consists of hardware I already own with the addition of an aggregation switch and an NVR. I’m looking at an 2.3G internet connection which can run on the 2.5G port on the UDM-SE and should I ever move to 10G I have the SFP+ connection for that. The purpose of these changes is to migrate the CCTV storage and CCTV cameras to the UNVR with the likes of the security alarms etc (presuming they can) as well as the UniFi door bell. I’ve got 3x G3 Flex cameras, 2x G3 Instant, 2x G4 instant, 1x G6 instant, 1x G5 PTZ and 1x G6 PTZ with a Doorbell. I’ll be running the WiFi 7 XG range of devices off of the switch on 2.5G connections with any servers or other devices connected to this switch where hardwiring is available instead of relying on WiFi. The server currently runs CachyOS however I am going to be installing home assistant and running a Plex server + other Medusa related apps from this so this may change (tbc). In terms of load balancing, ensuring the bandwidth is up to scratch etc, every racked device is connected via 10G SFP+ including the server (excluding the UPS) with the facility to switch out the current switch to a 10G one at some point in the future when the requirement presents its self, can anyone here see any holes? The patch panels are all cat6a shielded and any cable runs will be to that standard or higher with single redundancy runs following each pair to their given location. Im aware I could run redundancy on the UDM, the aggregation switch a well as the standard switch but I don’t see the point of that. The CCTV should the UNVR fail can easily be migrated to the UDM until resolved and the if the aggregation switch was to fail I can connect everything up still by using the free ports on the UDM and USW respectively. If the switch should fail then I have a spare all be it a 1G switch only but it would at least keep things going. This is for a home after all, not anything mission critical (although critical for me). The draw is there in place of a LCD KVM Drawer. I’ll just shove a laptop in there connected to a single IP KVM such as the JetKVM or the GL.iNet Comet Pro which I’m currently undecided on. So what have you? Advice please.
CachyOS and Arch distros in general are a rolling release which means they have bleeding-edge updates daily. Less ideal for a server. You'd likely be better with openmediavault, and install the docker and virtual machine plugins.
It’s a very big box called a rack that I’m building I did have that concern in mind and had thought about running proxmox but that would be a pain in the a** however I guess needs must. Any thoughts on the system set up over all?
I wouldn’t bother with Proxmox. Proxmox doesn’t do docker. If you have two nodes and want HA, or three with HA and a proxmox backup server? Sure. Use proxmox. But for a single host? It just adds complexity and then you’ll have to run something to do docker anyway. So might as well not. I recommend for your use cases Openmediavault on the bare metal. You don’t have to use it as a NAS, but it has bare metal docker and virtual machine management in the UI, and is free, or unRAID if you want a commercial product. I have used omv and I now have unRAID. Else-wise what you have looks good!
unRAID has always tickled a fancy, I see they do a 30 day trial and after that prices vary between $49 and $249.. I may get it a go and see what happens. I don’t need a NAS but there is nothing stopping me pointing at a share on my NAS in relation to media. It does seem to tick all the boxes and I can always install cachyOS and others as VMs so I can tinker.. Appreciate the input!
Because you're not using the NAS features, you'd only need the cheapest license, since it licenses by storage drive, although to be honest there are strictly speaking "better" systems for just dockers & VMs than unRAID. unRAID works best as an all-in-one, and you have to adjust to using their docker app store or making your own templates in their gui. I have and it was worth it, it monitors repos for updates and prompts you when an update is available etc, but moving from a compose file was annoying as there used to be no import. I think you can get a plugin now though which I believe emulates a docker compose stack, and enhances the gui with a compose import, though.
MAN I need to read, just realised you have most of it already (UDM-SE, UNAS Pro) So everything I said was dumb. What's the server case? It's really nice.
it’s one of these.. https://www.density.sk/cx3171a-rackmount-case-3u/ Spendy but worth it for ease of maintenance and it looks pretty nice too. It’s also exceptionally well built unlike most of the flimsy stuff out there at the moment. It does come with the pci-e riser so that accounts for a good chunk of the cost so factor that in and it isn’t too bad. I forgot to mention that I also run some basic LLMs on occasion. Old gaming rig has its uses (5950x, 64gb 3600 ram, 3080ti)
Just to add my thoughts, I’m a big fan of Unraid after being introduced to it by @BazzUK. There is a licence cost, although you only need to pay once you go beyond six drives. That said, I felt it was worth paying for, and I now run licensed versions on two servers. It receives regular updates, works well with virtual machines and Docker containers, and has handled pretty much everything I’ve needed from it. I’ve found it flexible, reliable and fairly straightforward to build on over time. The community support is also very good, with plenty of guides, plugins and advice available. For a home server, NAS, media server or general lab setup, I’d happily recommend it.
Home lab is coming along nicely! UNVR to go in next in place of one of those blanks. The small 8U rack will have an SFP+ connected switch with 16 ports of POE+ to connect a bunch of cameras to as well as anything related to access control and general security. The door bell and POE chime will probably be routed through that rack and that will sit in garage space. All in it seems to be working quite well especially with the U7 XD wireless points. 10gig interface for major quick file transfers on anything that supports it. Muchos wins!
Thats a tidy rack. Are those Unifi cables? If so which length did you go with? Thats my next purchase along side a Pro Max 16 Pro. Did you have to buy a box of 12 panel blanks with a hole or find them individually?
I bought the box of 12. The cables came from America and are 15cm ones at £21 for 24. Infinitely better than UniFi from a cost perspective. The DACs are all UniFi 0.5m SFP+ 10G except the 25cm one which is an 10GTek.
