1 yr. ago • 100%

How do you use NUC in homelab?

I purchased a NUC with 32 GB memory, 512 SSD and AMD 8 core processor. I already have a NAS.

I was wondering how do you guys use NUC? My mostly workload are containers.

Do you install proxmox on NUC itself and run VMs

Just install a Linux on NUC and use it as a docker host?

Suggestions please?

Appreciate your advice, thank you

16 comments

Proxmox + docker host.

2
I am running Proxmox on my NUC ( 8 x 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-1315U )
This is my PoC/DEV machine next to an ESXi (mATX) host and my first experience with Proxmox.

So much options with Proxmox. Next step will be exploring a Proxmox cluster.
(This might replace my ESXi host one day.)

2
Basic - ubuntu with docker compose containers

1
I'm seeing many people here in the comments installing Ubuntu... Am I the alien one for going with Debian?

I've had issues with Ubuntu on my VPSes a few years ago, and replaced it with Debian and everything has been smooth since then. I thought I'd slap it on the NUC too... Am I missing something not going the Ubuntu way?

1
- It’s just the most familiar distro with a ton of guides to get you off the ground, and once it’s up and running there’s really no reason to keep messing with works.
  
  I’ve got most of my stuff in docker now so my needs aren’t OS dependent (ran off of Unraid which itself is running on Slackware), but when I set up different dedicated Linux servers, Debian is my go-to. Ubuntu got too far up its own ass with features nobody asked for that it’s been far better to go back to basics for me.
  
  1
You can make yourself a pfsense box.

1
Not exactly a NUC - a fanless MSI Cubi N with Celeron N4000.

Bare metal Ubuntu Server running nginx + docker-compose for everything other.

1
I run windows server on it with VMware hosting multiple VMs. It’s not the most efficient OS for it obviously but I’m a heavily window background engineer and like to tinker. My VMs are a home assistant dedicated box and an Ubuntu VM for docker containers

1
You can run off docker compose + k3s for best of both worlds

docker compose for those services that are essential and you can replicate easily if you ever need to replace the NUC ( back up the files/folders to Git-something or whatever works as backup). It makes it way much easier to start everything that you need with a single command.

k3s because it is kubernetes and everything runs off k8s nowadays

1
Best decision for me was to switch to proxmox on the host.

1
Proxmox > Ubuntu VM > Docker

I bind mount my NAS via /etc/fstab and store all docker bind volumes there. Essy like that.

1
I have 3x NUCs. 2x are running VMware ESXi and one is running Debian with Docker.

1
As a proxmox Server

1
Actually I’m wondering the same thing I have a QNAP nas running my stuff. I’m wondering if I get a NUC would I just need to transfer the VMs on the NUC?

1
I just install arch and use it as a container/vm host. It's not super well planned or organised.

1
I’ve been playing around with my NUC it’s actually an old Asus Chromebox I’ve had laying around for years upgraded the M.2 SSD and installed Ubuntu Server + CasaOS

Currently running Adguard-home + WireGuard + TailScale

Just trying out CasaOS at the moment and playing around with stuff on the NUC to keep me from breaking my main HomeLab box.

1

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