Chapter 0 - Meet Our Lab Gear
A quick look at the hardware powering our homelab.
HP ProDesk 400 G6 SFF Desktop
For our homelab setup, we are using a refurbished HP ProDesk 400 G6 Small Form Factor (SFF) desktop as our workstation. It is powered by an Intel Core i5-9600 processor running at 4.6GHz, providing solid performance for virtualization, server tasks, and lab experiments.
With 32GB of RAM, the system can comfortably handle multiple virtual machines, containers, and testing environments simultaneously. Storage is provided by a 1TB SSD, ensuring fast boot times, quick application launches, and ample space for our lab data. It comes pre-installed with Windows 11, but we will be replacing it with Proxmox to better suit our virtualization and lab management needs. The desktop cost us 777.99 AUD.
HP ProDesk 400 G6 SFF Desktop
Networking
As the desktop lacks a built-in wireless adapter, we decided to use a wired connection for reliable performance. An Alogic Cat6 Ethernet cable connects the desktop directly to our home router, costing 25 AUD.
Alogic Cat6 Ethernet cable
Monitor and Stand
To facilitate the initial setup of the desktop, we have purchased an MSI Pro MP245V 23.8” Full HD 100Hz Business Monitor, costing 99 AUD. To keep the desktop organized and mobile, we also have a Hovadova adjustable PC stand with caster wheels, priced at 40 AUD.
MSI Pro MP245V 23.8” Full HD 100Hz Business Monitor
Hovadova adjustable PC stand with caster wheels
Up Next
In the next chapter, we will be installing Proxmox on our HP ProDesk 400 G6 desktop. This will allow us to set up a virtualized environment for our homelab, enabling multiple virtual machines and containers to run efficiently.