My Home Server Build: A Journey Back to Servers

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Written By Sam Baxter

In my career, I’ve gained substantial experience working with servers and deploying applications. My first server was a gift from a friend who believed I would benefit from it. That server was an HP Proliant DL380 G5. While it was a fantastic learning tool, it was too loud for a home environment. After that, I didn’t keep a server at home, as I had nearly unlimited access to server resources at work.

Recently, I decided it was time to set up a home server to support my offensive security studies. After some research, I came across the website Serve The Home, which focuses on high-performance workstations and mini server builds. I found a model that suited my needs, and I purchased three of the units barebones, along with additional RAM and storage.

Hardware

  • Server: Minisforum MS-01
  • CPU: Intel® Core™ i9-13900H
  • RAM: Crucial 96GB Kit (48GBx2) DDR5-5600 SODIMM
  • Storage: 2x SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 2TB

Software

  • Hypervisor: Proxmox VE 8.2

I will use this server to stage applications for vulnerability testing, which will be instrumental in my pursuit of discovering my first CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures).

Stay tuned for future blog posts where I’ll dive into the specific applications I’m deploying and continue documenting the server build process.

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