When it comes to home labs, bigger isn’t always better. I made a lot of mistakes while building one, but that’s how I realized it was smarter to start with the machine I use most — my Windows 11 desktop. I’m still learning from the experience and the wisdom my XDA colleagues share about home labs. For my home lab, I grabbed an HP ProDesk 600 G6 mini PC to run a headless home server for VMs and Docker containers.

On it, I tinker with software like OPNsense, set up VLANs, and self-host various apps. Everything works fine — until the router chokes up, and I lose access to the server. My goal has always been to build a home server that works locally, even without an internet connection. After weighing my options, I ended up adding a dual-port NIC to my desktop rather than my home server (my mini PC), and here’s why that actually makes sense.

Why did I add a dual-port NIC to my desktop first

Attempt at building a stronger control tower

My Windows 11 desktop acts as the hub or control tower for most of my home network interactions: running self-hosted apps, managing the router, accessing the Proxmox server, testing VMs, transferring files, and more. Since I prefer easier and glitch-free backups, I often keep the PC awake, especially when transferring media files. Meanwhile, I want to utilize the full potential of my mini PC’s CPU and memory resources.

On a Windows 11 PC with a dual-port NIC, I connected one 2.5 GbE port to the router and another directly to the mini PC. This setup provides me with a dedicated 1 GbE link between the mini PC and my desktop—no interruptions from a router or switch. I am comfortable managing this setup on Windows 11 and use it for basic network segmentation and as a gateway for the mini PC. In the end, it’s simple to share the internet; direct-link traffic is rock-solid between a desktop and a mini PC. And if something goes wrong on the mini PC, I can troubleshoot it all from the Windows desktop.

Aiming for consistency at an affordable cost

When transfer speeds aren’t the top priority

My consumer-grade gigabit router often reveals its limitations, especially when I experiment with file sharing. Even after segmenting my network and setting up shares, I noticed connection drops and latency, particularly when testing Docker containers or streaming media from the home server. For me, the connection between the home server and my desktop had to be consistent, even though they were only a few feet apart.

Upon closer examination of the mini PC, I noticed that backups from various apps and Proxmox frequently failed or required multiple attempts. Setting up SMB multichannel has improved transfer speeds, but stability has been inconsistent. Simple tasks like loading photo galleries in Immich or streaming videos in Jellyfin would sometimes lag. Since most of my work and data reside on my Windows 11 desktop, it made sense to upgrade its network interface.

For compatibility, a NIC’s physical connector size and electrical lane requirement must be smaller than or match your motherboard slot’s capabilities. Meanwhile, its PCIe generation can be lower, the same, or higher than the motherboard’s slot.

With a shoestring budget (of $35), I found a decent dual-port Ethernet NIC with a Realtek RTL8125B chip compatible with my Windows 11 desktop (which only had one PCIe x1 slot free). Getting a proper 2.5GbE NIC for my mini PC’s form factor was difficult and expensive, especially on eBay. Additionally, Intel or Mellanox NICs were three times more expensive. Buying a new router would cost a lot, so the desktop upgrade made the most sense.

Better management, control, and maintenance

Securely separating and isolating network segments

After installing the dual-port NIC, my setup starts to shine. I got an OPNsense VM on Proxmox to manage all the VLAN magic, keeping my networks neatly separated and secure. Since Proxmox and everything running on it still need internet access for updates, I route internet traffic through my Windows desktop’s internet connection using Internet Connection Sharing. This way, all containers and VMs on Proxmox receive updates without being directly exposed to the primary LAN.

The real takeaway: My entire IoT ecosystem runs on its own dedicated VLAN. As a result, my lab network (on LAN 2) manages mostly local-only devices, while the main LAN continues to serve internet-facing ones like a PS5, smart TV, Apple TV, HomePods, etc. That helps me continue working on projects on Proxmox without disrupting other networks.

My desktop has basically become my control center. I can reach all the GUIs for self-hosted apps, VMs, and containers without ever having to SSH into Proxmox or any VM. The troubleshooting and maintenance are relatively quick and comfortable. And best of all, even if my router throws a fit, I can keep using my mini PC. For now, I prefer keeping my mini PC lightweight and fuss-free until I figure out a proper upgrade plan.

Stability and reliability-focused, affordable upgrade for a home lab

Separating Proxmox management from my primary LAN has saved me from countless headaches and a fair share of panics. It’s a foundational step in building a more resilient and organized home lab. Adding a dual-port NIC to my desktop has completely transformed how I work with my home server.

It’s about building a reliable and efficient home lab, especially when you’re on a budget. For anyone starting a home lab, upgrade the machine you use the most first, plan your network thoughtfully, and keep things simple. While I still dream of a 10GbE home network, I’m no longer chasing it. I’m happy to make the most of the 2.5GbE upgrades and use them efficiently. After all, the upgrades are supposed to make life smoother. While faster gear is fun, I’d rather not lose sleep over network hiccups.