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# Oak Mini Rack 8HE – Bringing Forest-Grade Stability to My Homelab
- URL: https://www.kollr.at/mini-rack/
- Published: 2026-07-02T11:12:19.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-07T16:04:27.000Z
- Description: How I built a solid oak 10-inch mini rack that blends into my living space while running a full Proxmox homelab.
- Author: Georg Koller
- Tags: Network, Proxmox

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/rack_full-1.png)

When I first discovered [Jeff Geerling's Mini Rack project](https://mini-rack.jeffgeerling.com/?ref=kollr.at), I immediately loved the idea of having a compact homelab that doesn't dominate an entire room.  
  
There was only one problem.  
  
Most mini racks still look like networking equipment.  
  
I wanted something that could live in my office—or even the living room—without looking out of place. That became the starting point for building my own ***8U oak mini rack***.

### Idea

Instead of designing another aluminum frame, I wanted to combine traditional woodworking with modern homelab hardware.  
  
The goal was simple:  
  
\- blend naturally into a living space  
\- remain fully modular  
\- keep excellent airflow  
\- still function as a serious homelab  
  
The result is a rack built from **solid oak**, combined with **IKEA SKÅDIS pegboards** as lightweight side panels.  
  
The warm wood completely changes the appearance of networking equipment. Rather than looking like a server cabinet, it feels more like a piece of furniture.

### Hardware

The rack currently contains:  
  
\- Fortinet FortiGate 60F  
\- Cisco Business 250 Series Switch  
\- Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q running Proxmox VE  
\- Patch Panel  
\- SSD Mount  
\- Wi-Fi Access Point  
\- LTE Router  
\- Internal Power Strip  
  
Everything fits into a compact 10-inch format while remaining easy to access.

### Why Oak?

I'm definitely *not a carpenter.*  
  
This project was built using fairly basic tools:  
  
\- Circular saw  
\- Jigsaw  
\- Homemade router table  
\- Drill  
  
Despite my limited woodworking experience, oak turned out to be an excellent material.  
  
Besides being incredibly sturdy, it gives the rack a timeless appearance. Every board has its own grain, making every build unique.  
  
Instead of trying to hide the technical equipment, the wood complements it.

### IKEA SKÅDIS as Side Panels

One of my favorite decisions was using IKEA SKÅDIS pegboards.  
  
They provide several advantages:  
  
\- lightweight construction  
\- excellent airflow  
\- easy mounting of accessories  
\- clean Scandinavian look  
  
Unexpectedly, they fit perfectly into the overall design.

### 3D Printed Patch Notes

One small feature has become one of my favorites.  
  
I designed small 3D-printed clips that hold paper labels directly on the pegboard.  
  
Instead of opening network documentation every time I change something, I simply update the paper note.  
  
Sometimes the simplest solutions are still the best.

### Running Proxmox

The Lenovo ThinkCentre runs *Proxmox VE* and hosts the majority of my home infrastructure.  
  
The focus isn't on building a huge cluster but on running lightweight, reliable services for everyday use.  
  
Typical workloads include:  
  
\- Docker containers  
\- Network services  
\- Monitoring  
\- Automation  
\- Development environments  
\- Internal infrastructure  
  
The rack keeps everything organized while remaining compact enough to disappear into everyday living spaces.

### Building Something That Doesn't Look Like a Server

One thing I often notice about homelabs is that they are designed only for function.  
  
This project tried to balance **functionality** and **design**.  
  
Networking equipment doesn't have to look industrial.  
  
With natural materials and a bit of planning, a homelab can become something you're actually happy to display instead of hide.  
  
For me, that's exactly what this oak mini rack achieved.

## Gallery

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/workshopp.jpg)

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/assembly.jpg)

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/assembly-3.jpg)

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/skadis-paper-clips.jpg)

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/thinkcentre.jpg)

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/final-2.jpg)

![](https://www.kollr.at/content/images/2026/07/proxmox.png)

### Final Thoughts

This project reminded me that building infrastructure can also be creative.  
  
It doesn't always need to be another black metal cabinet.  
  
Sometimes a few pieces of oak are enough to completely change the character of a homelab.  
  
If you're thinking about building your own mini rack, I can highly recommend experimenting with materials outside the usual aluminum profiles.  
  
You might end up with something that fits your home just as well as your hardware.