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Building a powerful and reliable homelab often hinges on one critical component: storage. Whether you're setting up a robust Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution using TrueNAS or unRAID, creating a virtualization powerhouse with Proxmox, or simply need to connect more drives than your motherboard allows, a Host Bus Adapter (HBA) card is frequently the answer.

But navigating the world of HBAs can seem daunting at first, with talk of SAS vs. SATA, IT mode vs. IR mode, different port types, and various chipsets. Getting it wrong can lead to compatibility headaches, performance bottlenecks, or limitations on your future expansion plans.

This guide is designed to cut through the confusion. We'll walk you through everything you need to know to confidently select the perfect HBA for your homelab needs. We'll cover the fundamental concepts, break down the key specifications to consider, highlight popular and reliable models favored by the homelab community, and touch on essential installation steps like firmware flashing and cable selection. By the end, you'll be equipped to choose an HBA that unlocks the full storage potential of your server.

Have you ever found yourself staring at a server, knowing you need more storage but dreading the cost and complexity of adding more host bus adapters? Running out of space is a common problem, and thankfully, there's a neat solution you might not have considered: SAS expanders.

A SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) expander is a hardware device that significantly increases the number of SAS and SATA drives connected to a single SAS port on your host controller. Think of it as a multiplier for your storage connectivity. In this post, we'll dive into what SAS expanders are, how they work to extend your server's capabilities, and the basic considerations for using them effectively. Whether building a high-density storage solution or simply trying to maximise your existing infrastructure, understanding SAS expanders can unlock new possibilities for your data storage needs.

If you have built computers in the past or live in a household with multiple computers, you may want to build a NAS (Network Attached Storage) to provide storage accessible to all machines on the network. This can be used to run a media server, a game server, or simply a file server.

In this article, we will talk about how you effectively plan an Unraid build so you can avoid some common mistakes during the journey. Some hardware will be recommended for your build, and some good considerations for the server's future to ensure you don't build yourself into a corner. Some great resources for going further with your Unraid server will also be shared to keep you learning.

If you are looking to start a homelab a Raspberry Pi computer is a great option as it is low noise, low power and is easily expanded with further modules if you need new storage or other features out of your Raspberry Pi like connecting cameras or displays. As a homelab device, it is a great way to start building out a lab and working on your projects in a cheaper and smaller form factor. Or if you want the challenge you can try and run as much as possible to get the most out of this small device.