Written 23 Aug 2026. This is the first note if you are new. You don't need to buy a thing.

Start with what you already have

You don't need to spend money to start a home lab. The first lab is an old laptop that still turns on, or a retired office PC someone is giving away. The notes on this site are for later, after you have something running.

Look in the closet, the guest room, the drawer of chargers. A five-year-old laptop with 8 GB of memory is enough to learn. Install Linux, or a small home-server tool, and leave it on. That's a home lab. You don't need a rack, a new switch, or a file box you haven't filled yet.

If you truly have nothing, look on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or a local buy-nothing group for a retired Dell OptiPlex, an HP EliteDesk, or a tiny office mini PC. Offices throw these out when they refresh. People sell them for $20–60, or give them away. Ask for one that still boots, has 8 GB or more of memory, and a real ethernet port on the back. Skip the giant loud 1U servers. Those are space heaters. A small desktop or mini PC is the one you want.

When that computer is on and you have a reason to upgrade (files are slow, Wi-Fi dies in the back room, the old laptop is too loud), then come back and pick a buy. Until then, keep the card in the wallet. If you already have the computer, pick an OS first. Got it from Marketplace? Copy off anything you still want (copy your files off before you wipe), then wipe it before you install, then follow the first weekend install.

What to do with what you have

What you have	What to do	When to spend
An old laptop that still boots	Leave it plugged in. That is the lab. Learn on it.	Not yet. A new mini PC waits until this one is actually in the way.
Nothing in the house	Marketplace or a buy-nothing group. OptiPlex, EliteDesk, or a tiny office mini PC. $0–60.	Pay for a used office box, not a new N100, until you know you will leave it on.
A PC that is loud or uses too much power	Use it anyway for a week. Then look at a quiet tiny computer if you still hate the noise.	Only after you know you will keep a computer on overnight.

Skip

Skip buying a rack, a new switch, or a NAS on day one.
Skip a used 1U server from an office liquidation. It will be loud and it will raise the power bill.
Skip “lab starter kits” that are just a shopping list.
You are allowed to spend later. You are not required to spend to start.

Sources

This note is advice, not a product card. Local Marketplace and buy-nothing listings move by the hour. A retired OptiPlex or EliteDesk is the usual find. For when you actually want to spend, see used office gear and a tiny new computer.

Also on this topic

Optional: track what you haveLab plan at plan.labthrift.com. Username and a passkey. No email. Not required reading. Keep a lab plan with a passkey, not an emailOptional checklist on plan.labthrift.com. Username and a passkey. No email recovery. Add a second passkey. Copy your files off before you wipePull photos, papers, and downloads onto a USB stick before the installer erases the disk. Skip if the computer is empty. Then wipe. What OS to put on itDebian or Ubuntu Server if you can dedicate the old PC. Leave Windows if you still use the laptop as a laptop. Your first weekendInstall the OS, name it, and reach it from the couch. Don't let the laptop sleepClose the lid. The laptop has to stay awake so SSH and Pi-hole keep working. A desktop can skip this note. When used office gear is a giftA cheap used switch can be perfect if it is quiet. A trap if it was built for a data-center aisle.