Derek Leeds
HOMELAB

Homelab Timeline

A photo timeline showing how my homelab grew from a small workbench in 2016 into a full rack-mounted setup.

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Derek Leeds

5 min read

My homelab has grown over the years. As I learn new things, it grows with me. This is the visual record of that progression from 2016 through 2026.

2016

Early homelab workbench with small computers, a wall-mounted monitor, access point, and tower PC.
Expanded homelab workbench with several small devices, network gear, and visible cabling.
Small computers and network devices connected across the original wooden workbench.
Wide view of the first homelab workbench beneath wall-mounted lighting and a monitor.
Close-up of a TP-Link network switch with two small computers resting on top.

2017

Small computers, power adapters, and network gear arranged on a wooden shelf.
Expanded shelf setup with an access point, monitor, small computers, and additional wiring.
Two compact network devices stacked on a crowded homelab workbench.
Intel NUC, Ubiquiti equipment, cables, and accessories laid out for the next homelab build.
Small computers and external drives connected together on the floor during setup.
Boxed Intel NUC and WD Blue storage drives ready for installation.
Temporary multi-monitor workstation with homelab equipment spread across the desk.
Laptop and compact homelab devices arranged on a desk beneath a shelf.

2018

Open-frame network rack beside a storage shelf holding a tower server and small devices.
Tower server with front drive bays and hot-swap modules.
Network rack and tower server installed beside a storage shelf.
Close-up of cabling and equipment at the rear of the network rack.
Tower server on a shelf above two wireless access points.
Front of the network rack with patch panels, a switch, cabling, and power distribution.
Lower section of the rack showing patch panels, network equipment, and a Tripp Lite UPS.
Full network rack with switches, patch panels, organized cabling, and a UPS.
Inside the tower server showing the motherboard, cooling fan, expansion card, and drive cables.

2019

Mostly empty rack frame with patch panels mounted near the top.
Rackmount server chassis and tower workstation prepared for the next upgrade.
Server chassis on the floor beside the rack and homelab workbench.
Open rackmount server showing internal drive bays, cooling fans, and cabling.
Cleared wooden workbench during a homelab rebuild.
Rack rails, hardware, and small devices laid out on the floor during assembly.
Partially rebuilt rack with patch panels and network equipment installed.
Tall rack with patch panels, network equipment, and open space for expansion.
Multi-monitor workstation with a large wall-mounted display above the desk.

2020

Tower server with multiple front-access drive bays.
Front view of the tower server chassis during the 2020 upgrade.
Open rackmount server chassis showing its internal components and cabling.
Network rack with patch panels, switches, and a storage server installed below.
Rackmount storage chassis on a workbench with a coiled cable on top.
Completed rack with network equipment and rackmount storage hardware.

2021

Simple wooden desk with a monitor, laptop, and compact homelab devices.

2022

Open rackmount server showing internal fans, expansion cards, and cabling.
Rack with network equipment and a storage server installed in the lower section.
Expanded rack with network gear and multiple storage chassis.
Open server chassis and six hard drives laid out on the floor for installation.

2023

Stack of Lenovo Tiny computers resting on top of a rackmount server.
Lenovo Tiny computer mounted beneath a desk among the homelab cabling.
Four Lenovo Tiny computers arranged on a rack shelf.

2024

Rack with a red-mounted mini PC cluster installed above two storage arrays.
Close-up of patch panels, network switches, and fiber cabling in the rack.
Small Home Assistant computer and storage device on a shelf.
Network rack with switches, patch panels, and open lower bays before the next expansion.
Full rack with network gear, a mini PC cluster, and storage arrays.
Intel NUC with a Home Assistant logo sticker on its lid.
Upgraded rack with patch panels, switches, mini PCs, and storage hardware.

2025

Workbench beside the loaded rack during a homelab upgrade.
Two compact computers stacked on a shelf and connected for testing.
Storage shelves organized with homelab parts, devices, and project bins.
Full rack with switches, patch panels, a mini PC cluster, and storage hardware.
Desk with three monitors and a large wall-mounted display.
Complete rack with network gear, mini PCs, and storage arrays.

2026

Close-up of the 2026 rack showing a UniFi switch, patch panels, HP EliteDesk nodes, a Minisforum system, and Lenovo Tiny computers.
Wide view of the homelab workspace with a monitor, network rack, fiber cabling, and bench equipment.
NVMe solid-state drive and 64 GB DDR5 memory kit prepared for a homelab node upgrade.
Three stacked HP EliteDesk mini PCs, including pnode001 marked for the K3s cluster.
#homelab#self hosting#infrastructure

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