Have you been trying to make the decision between a rack-mount server and a desktop? Do you even know what a rack-mount server is? These enterprise-grade servers are what run the internet, but do they belong in your homelab?
I've been using enterprise-grade hardware in my homelab since 2021, and with three rack-mount servers sitting next to my desk, I've learned a lot about what these systems have to offer. While they're fantastic at some tasks, they're definitely not always the right choice. Here's everything you need to know about rack-mount servers and whether you should add one to your homelab or not.
What Makes Rack-Mount Servers Different From Desktop Computers
Rack-mount servers are quite different from a traditional desktop computer. For starters, rack-mount servers don't use consumer-grade hardware. In the average rack-mount server, you're going to find enterprise-grade components, like Intel's Xeon line of processors , ECC memory, dual-socket motherboards, and a whole lot more.
Rack-mount servers aren't designed to be run in a house. While I do have some at my house, rack-mount servers are built to be run in a data center. They require cooler environments, get louder (due to lots of fans and cooling needs), and can draw a lot of power .
Conversely, most traditional desktop computers are whisper-quiet and built with affordable components. A desktop doesn't have to be built to run 24/7/365 under constant load like a rack-mount server does, so the components don't need to be as beefy.
Advantages of Rack-Mount Servers
Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek
Compared to a traditional desktop computer, a rack-mount server has many advantages. For starters, most rack-mount servers have two CPU sockets and can support hundreds of gigabytes, if not terabytes of RAM. This is a stark contrast from traditional desktop computers, which support just one processor and typically max out at 128GB or 256GB of RAM.
Servers also run enterprise-grade processors, typically in the Intel Xeon or AMD Epyc lineup. These processors offer far higher core counts and more PCIe lanes than consumer-grade processors. Add this to the fact that you can run two of each processor, and you get way more PCIe lanes than consumer computers.
Having more PCIe lanes means you can attach more storage and other peripherals to rack-mount servers. This is why some servers will have 36 drive bays on the front, while still being able to house graphics cards, multi-gig Ethernet adapters, and much more on the back.
Rack-mount servers are also designed to run headless —meaning there's no monitor attached. Instead, most rack-mount servers have something called IPMI, or IP management interface. Each manufacturer has their own IMPI styling, but they all do the relatively same thing: let you manage the server without having a display or keyboard plugged in.
The IPMI interface runs on its own and is independent of the actual server. Even if the server is powered down, as long as the power cords are plugged in and the IMPI Ethernet jack has a connection, you can manage the server. With IPMI, you're able to remotely turn on or off the server, check the stats of the server, update the BIOS, or even initiate a remote KVM session.
The remote KVM session has been particularly useful for me, as it allows me to check the display output of the server after it boots to see if an IP address for my NAS has changed or not.
Overall, if you want the most capable computer money can buy, it's almost always going to be some form of a rack-mount server.
Disadvantages of Rack-Mount Servers
Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek
While it might sound like a rack-mount server is the best computer ever made, there are definitely some drawbacks to consider. For starters, rack-mount servers are loud. Extremely loud. This is because these servers are designed to be used in a data center where there's ample cooling and noise isn't an issue. The type of CPU coolers you're used to seeing in a desktop isn't present in servers. Instead, servers have a heat sink on the processor and high-powered fans that draw air across the entire chassis.
With all the extra features and capabilities that servers offer, they're also much more power-hungry than traditional desktops. I recently decommissioned one of my old servers in favor of a newer desktop. Why? The server costs about $20-$30 per month to run, and the latest desktop costs about $6 per month.
Modern desktops are getting smaller and smaller while still packing a punch. Rack-mount servers? They're massive, and there's no real reason to shrink them. The average full-size rack-mount server is about 19 inches wide, 3.5 inches tall, and 29 inches deep. While this is significantly shorter than most computers, it's much wider and deeper, taking up a bigger footprint overall.
Rack-mount servers also don't run consumer-grade parts. If your RAM goes bad, you can't just go down to Best Buy and pick up some more RAM—not if you want the server to function as it's supposed to. It uses ECC RAM, which is harder to get ahold of. Processors are the same way. You can't just buy a Core Ultra 7 at Best Buy or MicroCenter to slap in an enterprise-grade server; it simply won't work.
When a Rack-Mount Server Makes More Sense Than a Tower
Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek
Sometimes a tower server is the perfect tool for the job. As I said, I run one in my homelab as my virtual machine host. However, a rack-mount server is the best tool for the job when it comes to a storage system, which every homelab should have .
I don't run a traditional NAS. I purchased an old enterprise-grade rack-mount server on eBay for around $300 a few years ago. This server gives me plenty of RAM and more cores than I could ever need. However, it also gives me 12 3.5-inch hard drive bays on the front.
For the price, there's no way I could have gotten a better storage server than an old rack-mount system. The price for retired enterprise-grade gear is just unbeatable.
The Two Types of Rack-Mount Servers
Lastly, there are two different types of rack-mount servers. The kind that I've talked about so far are enterprise-grade systems, typically in a 1U or 2U size (this is how server racks are measured). These are the most common types of rack-mount servers, and are what you'll see most of the time when doing research.
However, there's another option: building your own rack-mount server in a rack-mountable PC case . It's definitely possible to buy a rack-mountable PC case and build a computer inside of it. Doing this allows you to use consumer-grade components and be in charge of everything about the server start to finish.
The one thing you lose out on with most consumer-grade hardware is IPMI functionality, alongside the dual CPU and extra RAM capabilities. However, if you can live without those features, then building a custom rack-mount server could be just the thing you need.
If you're just getting started on your homelab journey, there's a long (but fun) road ahead of you. Choosing the right hardware is only part of the process. Software is also key, and I love Docker and Unraid for my homelab.
All of my day-to-day services run on Docker . I have a Proxmox virtual machine host that runs an Ubuntu 24.04 VM for Docker. On that same server, I have a Windows VM to run my game servers .
Then, on a separate system, I have Unraid running to keep up with my storage needs. Right now, that server is sitting at 60TB total storage (72TB with redundancy), and I have 50TB of that used up right now. Because I have a rack-mount server with 12 drive bays (and only 10 populated), I can easily expand the server to have more storage in the future should the need arise.
