The Vision
Every great infrastructure starts with a bold vision: build a compact, enterprise-grade home lab that punches above its weight class. The challenge? Cram 4 powerful Xeon servers, high-speed networking, and enterprise storage into a sleek 10-inch form factor while maintaining whisper-quiet operation and production-level performance.
The Challenge
Cooling 4 high-performance servers in a 4U chassis without jet-engine noise
Managing 128GB of ECC RAM per node with enterprise reliability
Delivering 10GbE networking in a compact footprint
Achieving clean cable management in tight quarters
Maintaining thermal efficiency with positive pressure airflow
The Solution
20 premium Noctua fans creating a wall of silent, high-pressure airflow. Custom power distribution eliminating cable clutter. Supermicro's dense compute platforms delivering server-class performance. The result? A production-ready Kubernetes cluster that fits on a desk.
20 Premium Fans for Silent Power
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20 Premium Fans for Silent Power
A wall of Noctua NF-A4x20 PWM fans creates positive pressure airflow, keeping four Xeon servers cool while operating at library-quiet noise levels. This cooling solution maintains enterprise server temperatures while operating quieter than a typical desktop PC.
Integrated Datacenter Overview
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Integrated Datacenter Overview
Side perspective showcasing the complete integrated system: 8" monitoring display on top, four Supermicro servers in the middle with blue Ethernet cables, and networking layer below. A self-contained datacenter drawing less than 200W at idle in a compact 10-inch rack.
Compute Stack Front Access
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Compute Stack Front Access
Front-facing view of four Supermicro SYS-E200-8D servers with USB 3.0, dual 10GBASE-T Ethernet, and VGA ports per node. Managed switch at the base provides cluster connectivity. 512GB total RAM, 24 cores, and 2TB+ NVMe storage ready for Kubernetes.
10GbE Switching Core Detail
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10GbE Switching Core Detail
Close-up of the MikroTik CRS305 switch PCB featuring four SFP+ cages for 10 gigabit fiber connectivity. This enterprise-grade layer-3 switch provides the high-speed backbone connecting all compute nodes with VLAN support and advanced routing.
Foundation Power and Switching
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Foundation Power and Switching
Base layer showing the Meanwell LRS-350-12 power supply alongside the Netgear managed switch. Custom DC power distribution eliminates cable clutter while providing stable 12V power to all rack components. Modular design enables easy maintenance.
Bill of Materials
Chassis & Mounting
Compute Nodes
Supermicro SYS-E200-8D
Compact Mini-ITX server with Intel Xeon D-1528 processor.
Cooling
Networking
Gowin R86S-P2
High-performance fanless router/firewall appliance.
Netgear GS305E Switch
5-Port Gigabit Plus Smart Managed Switch.
MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+
Compact switch with 1G Ethernet and four 10G SFP+ ports.
DeskPi 12 Port Patch Panel
0.5U CAT6 Network Patch Panel for 10-inch racks.
Peripherals & Cables
8" Raspberry Pi Monitor
1280x800 IPS HDMI portable touchscreen for system monitoring.
DC Power Pigtail Cables
5.5mm x 2.5mm right angle connectors for custom power distribution.
Ankuly Cat6A LAN Cable (0.15m)
Short run 10Gbps patch cables for clean wiring.
Ankuly Cat6A LAN Cable (0.3m)
Short run 10Gbps patch cables for clean wiring.
Power
Mean Well LRS-350-12
350W 12V single-output enclosed power supply.