Hi! Recently, I tried to build my own homelab in my room. I started this hobby in June 2025 using my brother՛s unused Axioo Pico notebook, and that became my first homelab.

I used a used laptop because I didn՛t want to spend a lot of money and planned to upgrade if needed. However, for a laptop with quite old specifications, it is more than enough to run some of the services I need right now. I only need to buy a WiFi extender that I use to run a LAN cable to my homelab. Maybe someday I will upgrade if it is really needed.

My Current Homelab Condition

This is my homelab now, which has been running for 4 months. I mounted it on the wall of my room so it doesn՛t take up space and gets better air circulation.

Used Laptop Specifications I Use:

• Debian GNU/Linux 12
• Intel Atom® D2500 Processor
• RAM: 2GB DDR3
• Swap: 2GB (because the CPU only supports 4GB)
• Storage: 500GB HDD

With a modest machine, I can run several services such as Immich, n8n, OwnCloud, and Nginx Proxy Manager.

Here are the uses of the services I use:

• Immich:Like Google Photos, Immich can also store photos and videos. I use Immich to store and also back up photos from my cellphone because my cellphone storage is small. Previously I subscribed to 50GB of iCloud, it turned out to be small so I decided to use a homelab to replace my iCloud.
• OwnCloud:A cloud storage like Google Drive and I also use it to replace Google Storage, because 15GB of free is a little.
• n8n:For automating my work and also for my learning.
• Nginx Proxy Manager:As a GUI graphical interface that makes it easy to manage reverse proxy servers.

Even with limited hardware, I managed to build a functional homelab for my needs. With a little creativity and a willingness to learn, anyone can start their own homelab without having to spend a lot of money. This project not only gives me more control over my data, but has also been a very valuable learning tool.

Thank you, for reading! See you on my next blog.