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One Server vs Cluster: What Your Homelab Actually Needs

Proxmox Storage & Backup Hardware

Video write-up

Should you run your entire HomeLab on one powerful server, or build a cluster with several smaller machines? In this video, I compare both approaches based on my experience running a large enterprise server alongside a three-node Proxmox and Ceph cluster.

We’ll look at hardware costs, power consumption, expandability, maintenance, shared storage, live migration, high availability, and the complexity that comes with operating multiple nodes. I’ll also explain why more servers do not automatically create a highly available system—and help you decide whether your HomeLab actually needs a cluster or whether one capable server is the smarter choice.