Why I Finally Organized My Homelab (And You Should Too)

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Why I Finally Organized My Homelab (And You Should Too)

After months of stacking gear like a game of Tetris on my shelf, I finally bit the bullet and bought a GeeekPi 4U Server Cabinet to bring some order to my homelab. My setup isn’t huge—just a Minisforum MS-01, a UniFi Gateway Ultra, a Netgear PoE switch, and a couple of external m2 sata drives. —but once you start adding VMs, access points, and Docker containers, things can get messy fast.

In this post, I’ll walk through why I decided to rack my gear and why organizing your homelab isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about stability, efficiency, and peace of mind.

The Reality of a Growing Homelab

Like a lot of folks who tinker with Proxmox, K3s clusters, and Raspberry Pis, my homelab started small. One device led to another. A Pi became a server. A switch became PoE. And soon enough I was managing:

  • Virtual machines in Proxmox (on the MS-01)
  • Containerized apps in Docker Swarm and K3s
  • Longhorn and NFS shares
  • Networking gear for VLANs and external tunnels

The problem? Everything was loose, cabled across open shelves, and half-hidden behind books. Even with labeling and careful power management, troubleshooting was becoming a chore.

Enter theDeskPi Rack

I grabbed a DeskPi Rack specifically for homelab setups like mine. It’s designed to house multiple SBCs or mini PCs while still being rack-compatible. It doesn’t require a full server rack, heck mine is 10" tall, but lets you mount gear cleanly—perfect for small labs.

With the DeskPi rack:

  • The Minisforum MS-01 got securely mounted with airflow clearance.
  • The UniFi Gateway Ultra and Netgear PoE switch finally had designated spots.
  • Cables are neatly routed and labeled—no more guesswork.
  • Everything powers on from a single PDU with surge protection.

Why You Should Organize Your Homelab

Easier Troubleshooting

When something breaks (and it always will), the last thing you want is to fish through a pile of wires. With a rack, I can trace cables instantly and isolate hardware without crawling behind furniture.

Better Cooling and Airflow

Stacked gear gets hot. Rack-mounting leaves space for ventilation and airflow. Since organizing, my MS-01 runs cooler, and the UniFi Gateway has better passive airflow.

Cleaner Cable Management

Racks force discipline. I added velcro straps, cable guides, and labeled everything. Now I know which port does what at a glance—whether it’s a VLAN trunk, a NAS mount, or a K3s node.

More Scalable

Want to add another node? A PiKVM? A backup NAS? With an organized rack, I just make space and plug it in—no need to rethink the entire layout.

You’ll Actually Enjoy It More

There’s something deeply satisfying about a clean setup. It turns a hobby into a platform. You’ll find yourself more inclined to test things, update services, and write blog posts (like this one ).

Final Thoughts

Organizing your homelab isn’t just for folks with full server rooms. Even a modest home setup benefits from some structure. The DeskPi rack gave me a solid foundation—compact, tidy, and ready to scale.

If you’ve been putting off the cleanup, consider this your nudge. Your future self (and your cables) will thank you.