Mac Mini Stack Homelab

A high-performance homelab environment built using a stack of Mac Minis, providing a flexible platform for development, testing and self-hosting various services in a compact footprint.

Hardware Configuration

• Mac Mini Cluster: 3x Mac Mini M2 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD each)
• Networking: 10GbE switch for high-speed interconnects
• Storage: Synology NAS for shared storage and backups
• Power: UPS battery backup for clean shutdowns

Software Stack

• Containerization: Docker with Kubernetes for orchestration
• Infrastructure as Code: Terraform and Ansible for provisioning
• Monitoring: Prometheus and Grafana for metrics and alerts
• Services: Self-hosted Git, CI/CD, VPN, media server and more

Key Features

• Energy Efficient: Low power consumption compared to rack servers
• Silent Operation: Fanless design ideal for home environments
• Modular Expansion: Easily add more Minis to scale capacity
• Apple Silicon Performance: Excellent for ARM-native development

Implementation

The homelab uses Kubernetes to manage containerized services across the Mini cluster. Terraform defines the infrastructure while Ansible handles configuration management. All services are monitored through Prometheus with Grafana dashboards providing visibility into system health and performance.

Benefits

• Cost Effective: Affordable entry point for serious homelab capabilities
• Developer Friendly: Native macOS environment with Linux compatibility
• Reliable: Enterprise-grade hardware in compact form factor
• Versatile: Supports development, testing and production-like environments