Does anyone else use old equipment for homelab use? If so, what are you running?
A few years ago I had a couple old and slow Optiplex's running Hyper-V, with Windows/Linux VM's, doing things like NPS, AD, etc.
Had some old equipment collecting dust, so I've built out a decent homelab and am curious if anyone else has done the same, and if so what are they running on them for fun?
In my new "rack":
PowerEdge R430
Running ProxMox, with a Windows VM (DC), and a Linux VM with Docker for Plex
EqualLogic PS4100
VM storage for both PowerEdge servers (10TB)
Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 24 250w
PowerEdge R720
Running ProxMox, with some Linux VM's, most utilizing Docker for Plex "assistance/automations" (ahem), NextCloud for phone photo backup and wife's photography, and another DC as a failover of R430's DC.
VMware esxi 7, win10 sandbox. Debian hosts for docker.
I also run some a couple of i7 Mac mini's. I try to host on a balance of cheap, power efficient devices that I have spares of in case they blow up because I hate dealing with hardware compatibility issues. Since I decided this and shelved spares I haven't had any failure's.
I've got 4 x Dell R620 servers, though I've recently shut down 2 of them because they are running in an unconditioned garage closet and it's been absolutely hot this summer.
Also have 4 old 16-disk trays from a Nimble SAN, but again only running one of them (16 x 3TB SAS) for heat reasons.
I also have the Nimble controller but the firmware is borked and I can't get a copy without a service contract and you can't get a service contract on this old hardware. I briefly had it working running Linux on the two controllers, which works but is a bit tricky since shutting down one side causes the other side to shut down unexpectedly. So I'm leaving it unused until I can either sell it or find a copy of the proper firmware.