Homelab Audit and Hardware Optimization
Overview
- Project: Aloysius Productions Infrastructure
- Status: Active — transitioning from ad-hoc to tiered architecture
- Goal: Optimize hardware allocation across Mac Mini, Lenovo laptop, sim rig PC, and Oracle Free Tier
Current State Audit
| Device | Current Role | Bottleneck | Target Role |
|---|
| Sim Rig PC | PseudoNAS / Docker Host | Wastes high-end GPU/CPU on idle file serving | Pure Performance: Gaming, AI/Rendering |
| Mac Mini #1 | General / Music | Resources split between iOS Dev & Media | Production Node: Music & Streaming |
| Lenovo Laptop | Access Point / Coding | Limited by mobile hardware | Thin Client: Remote coding via SSH |
| Oracle Free Tier | Underutilized | 24GB ARM RAM idle | Edge Node: VPN, Reverse Proxy, Monitors |
Optimization Strategies
PseudoNAS Migration
“Using a gaming rig as a NAS is like using a Ferrari to deliver mail.”
- Move non-GPU Docker containers to Oracle Free Tier or Mac Mini
- Keep only high-disk-I/O or Windows-specific containers on sim rig
- Transition to “Storage Slave” role until dedicated NAS acquired
iOS Development: Remote Workflow
- VS Code Remote SSH — Code on Lenovo, compile on Mac Mini
- Docker Desktop on Mac — Host backend/API services locally for full-stack testing
- Tailscale mesh — Private VPN for iOS Simulator remote access via Jump Desktop
Oracle Free Tier Activation
- WireGuard/Tailscale VPN — Secure bridge between home and cloud
- Uptime Kuma — Docker-based monitoring for home hardware
- Static IP + Nginx Proxy Manager — Secure remote access without home router holes
Second Mac Expansion Plan
| Device | Role | Notes |
|---|
| Mac Mini A (“The Mule”) | Docker, iOS Build Server, 24/7 tasks | Headless operation |
| Mac Mini B (“The Artist”) | Music Production & Streaming | Clean — no background containers that cause audio latency |
Three-Tier Architecture
| Tier | Purpose | Devices |
|---|
| Performance | Heavy compute, GPU tasks | Sim Rig PC |
| Production | Dedicated workloads | Mac Mini(s) |
| Edge | External access, monitoring | Oracle Free Tier |