Hardware

Time to pick hardware! After researching Dell R640/R740, AMD EPYC servers, and barebones options, an unexpected find on TradeMe changed everything—three ex-NetApp SolidFire servers for just $900 NZD each!

My Dell R730xd servers have served well, but power consumption, aging drives, and limited scalability mean it’s time for an upgrade. Part 1 covers my current setup, challenges, and the goals shaping my new homelab.