Fully MAXED-Out UniFi Mini Network Rack

After building a mini rack that included an entire Homelab, I decided to build 2 more custom mini racks that focus solely on networking.

Thank you to DeskPi for sending this mini rack. Note: I was not paid to make this video nor did DeskPi or Ubiquiti have any input. I just love racks of all sizes and UniFi gear fits nicely in it, not to mention there are quite a few 3D printed models for their gear.

If you want to see more ideas on mini racks, check out Project MINI RACK from Jeff Geerling

Products in this Video (includes affiliate links)
4u Rack

8u Rack

3D Printed Items

00:00 - 10" Mini Network Racks
02:04 - 4u Mini Rack
02:29 - Gateway / Firewall
02:57 - PoE Switch
03:42 - Mini Switches
04:02 - WiFi Access Point
04:29 - 8u Mini Rack
04:42 - Gateway / Firewall
05:16 - What are those colored labels?
05:43 - High Density PoE Switch
05:59 - 10 Gigabit Switch
06:18 - Powerful PoE Switch (PoE+++)
06:51 - Modifying 3D prints
07:12 - 2.5 Gigabit Mini Switch
07:46 - Rack Shelf
08:03 - WiFi Access Point
08:25 - Why the Cloud Gateway Max?
08:44 - Powering the entire 4u Rack with a single network cable
09:12 - Is a Mini Rack useful?
10:26 - 3D Printing makes Mini Racks more useful

Thank you for watching!

[sgtapone]

This! This is why my wife has grown to become alarmed when I watch Jeff and Tim's videos.

[tomazzaman]

Me, in a couple of weeks, when my wife finds one of these somewhere in our house: "Blame Tim and Jeff".

[christopherhill]

I had finished planning my 10" mini rack and was recently talking to my friend about getting panels made to suit.
This is perfect timing as now I can use ones that fit perfectly straight from the start instead of trial and error.

[AZTrucker]

This is pretty cool for the ppl that dont have or want a massive rack of equipment like us. This is awesome.

[gpricetube]

I was searching for this literally last night! 😮

I’ve seen mini racks but wondering why there wasn’t a UniFi mini rack on YouTube. Found the same designer and started printing the 10” rack from his collection.

Really excited about this form factor.

[ivanlawrence]

I have a Unifi Dream wall... And by "dream wall" I mean I took my ubiquity hardware and bolted it all to the wall on some plywood. It's a rustic dream ;)

[adamw]

This is exactly what I have been looking for! Love the small size and packed in functionality, now its off to price all this goodness out haha! Great vid, Tim!

[imreveres]

NOWAY! I'm the man in IT! This is my playground, her's in the whole house.

[Amnk]

Holy crap…. This video was just what I was looking for!! Been sitting the past couple of days looking to find out what Unifi stuff I wanted to upgrade my home network, and then came to think how I would place this in my utility closet, where there were not enough space for a 19” rack…. 10” rack is perfect for this!! I’m located in Denmark, and those racks shown does not seem to be available currently, and/or not shipped here. Will go search now I know what to search for though!

[aaron]

They definitely look nice, but they are feeling like more of a solution in search of a problem. Especially the 4U, feels like why don't you just put them on the shelf next to each other and save yourself $100. The larger at least looks useful, but like ITX form factor feels very difficult to grow into. You would have preplan the whole build and buy just the right size versions of everything you need so everything fit just right. When it works out it looks great, but I don't think i could ever recommend anyone get a mini rack to "get into it" and see what works out, they would have to build out their setup first, and then if it happens to be arrangeable just the right way then they could buy a mini rack for neatness.

[hackopus]

Most home users (assuming 3 bed, 2-3 baths, 2 living rooms) shouldn't need more than a 10-inch rack and that's why I believe it will gain so much traction. Even smart-home users or IT nerds (like me) only need enough ethernet ports for each room in the house which, as aforementioned, shouldn't add up to more than 10 ports.

Now, as a network engineer, that's certainly not enough. So lets make it 20. Two ports per room, with extra to spare like printers, TVs, and even cameras. Two 1U 10-inch racks for space, and a 2U switch at 1Gig switch for a total of 4U - 24 ports.

As a cyber security dork in my off time, I need cameras and IDS, so take those extra 4-8 ports and throw in cameras at the 4 corners of the house perimeters.

Now let's add home lab networking, just one of those ports can go to a DMZ router in any of those rooms, and can even be a part of this rack, so lets add a 1-U Protectli Vault.

So far, we're at only 5-U for a nerdy setup. Add a couple mini-PC's which, for a ProxMox cluster, 3 unit setup, takes up 3-U of space and we're at a total of 8-U plus power supplies for it all which would make a perfect 10 by 10 rack.

I'd say, for the average user, this is more than enough and I fully 100% understand a 10inch rack hype. The only thing to add to this setup would be a NAS, but that is sometimes a whole box by itself so I didn't add it.

[Shakou]

I love this conceptually bc it lets me put a ton of different racks together and still keep it small. Like i have the 4u on top of the 8u-the 4u is my networking node, the 8u is my home lab, various servers, and compute center, and the 12u that came out recently im gonna turn into the home central pc and nas

[anonymousx]

These are so awesome! Love your videos man ❤

[blatcher]

I have the same vertical stand for the U6/U7 - Ubiquiti should make that too

[dm-ohio]

Getting some good use of that 3D printer. Awesome!!!

[FlightdeckJohnny]

Nice. The next thing would be to implement this kind of a solution into a drawer unit to hide it under a desk, which would make the wife and family happier.

[hp_]

One does not simply start a video by saying 'you've probably seen the ginormous racks...' 😂

[JackWeems]

The next time I upgrade my home lab it will very likely be based about a 10" rack. These look awesome

[primeix]

I like it! Solid video man keep up the good work!

[gravity_au]

3d printed 19" 48ru and you have me sold... 😂