Tiny Rack, Mighty Opportunity: DeskPi Rackmate T1 Review

#Homelab #DeskPi #Sandbox

Pickup the DeskPi RackMate T1 here: https://amzn.to/3OZSUdF
Rackmate Accessories: https://amzn.to/3VLT8ZL
Engenius Fit Networking: https://amzn.to/3ZYwuzR
Raspberry Pi 5: https://amzn.to/4iFl37C
KVM switch: https://amzn.to/4geQRhY
Super6C Board: https://deskpi.com/collections/deskpi...
OptiPlex Micro: https://amzn.to/49Kwgj7
Zimablade: https://amzn.to/4gIicsT
Nas enclosure: https://amzn.to/3ZzCiOM
10tb drives: https://amzn.to/4gh12CT
10" Monitor: https://amzn.to/4iIqYJ1


In this video, I walk you through a personal project: building a compact and portable 10-inch custom network rack. Initially designed for travel and event-based use, this setup evolved into a powerful network sandbox for experimenting with advanced IT concepts. From Raspberry Pi modules to a Proxmox host and dedicated networking equipment, I explain how each component contributes to a flexible, scalable, and highly customizable lab environment. This sandbox allows me to explore virtualization, containerization, DNS management, and more—all without interfering with my primary home network.

Sharing my hands-on experience, I also discuss the challenges, lessons learned, and future goals for this dynamic build. Whether you’re an IT enthusiast or a professional, this video offers a detailed look at practical network hardware integration, creative problem-solving, and how tools like Grafana, Docker, and Pi-hole can transform your setup. I’d love to hear your thoughts—what services or configurations should I explore next? Join me in rethinking what's possible with compact networking solutions.

Chapters:

0:00 🔧 Introduction & Concept
0:45 🖥️ Overview of Custom Network Rack
1:30 📦 Components Used
2:15 🛠️ Assembly Process
3:40 🌐 Networking Hardware Details
5:05 🖱️ Proxmox Host Setup
6:10 🧩 Raspberry Pi Integration
7:30 🔒 Sandbox Applications & Use Cases
9:05 📊 Monitoring with Grafana
10:15 💡 Challenges & Improvements
11:20 🚀 Future Plans & Conclusion




**DISCLAIMER**

This is NOT financial advice and I am NOT a financial advisor. Some of these geek projects are expensive and can be risky. Crypto Currency is very volatile and the prices change daily. Please do your own research before investing!!

THESE VIDEOS ARE MADE FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!!!