# Building a mini Homelab that fits in my carry-on

DevFeed: [Building a mini Homelab that fits in my carry-on](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/building-a-mini-homelab-that-fits-in-my-carry-on-10470.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2026/mini-homelab-network-fits-in-carry-on/>)

Author: jeff@jeffgeerling.com (Jeff Geerling)

Published: 2026-08-28T15:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Jeff Geerling](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/jeff-geerling.md>)

Topics: [Homelab](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/homelab.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/networking.md>), [Ubiquiti](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ubiquiti.md>), [Local-First](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/local-first.md>), [Hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/hardware.md>), [SOC](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/soc.md>)

Tags: [5g](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/5g.md>), [arm](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/arm.md>), [battery](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/battery.md>), [building](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/building.md>), [cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cloud.md>), [ethernet](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ethernet.md>), [fees](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/fees.md>), [hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hardware.md>), [homelab](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/homelab.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [local-first](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/local-first.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networking.md>), [opnsense](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/opnsense.md>), [portable](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/portable.md>), [ubiquiti](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ubiquiti.md>), [unifi](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/unifi.md>), [video](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/video.md>), [vpn](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vpn.md>), [youtube](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/youtube.md>)

## AI overview

The author describes building a portable homelab that fits in carry-on luggage for a trip to Chicago. It supports 1-10 Gbps networking, battery operation, multiple WAN connections, and 12 wired Ethernet connections. The article also shares first impressions of Ubiquiti UniFi, highlighting its local-first operation, optional cloud integration, lack of core licensing fees, and easy web-based management, while criticizing its proprietary ecosystem and limited hardware control.

## Source excerpt

I'm traveling to Chicago for VCF Midwest next month. I'll be demoing NTP time history on vintage Macs, with my own GPS-derived NTP service hosted on an Xserve G5, synced via NTP or a strange AppleTalk timing extension from the 1990s. So I built a little 'portable homelab' (pictured above) that supports 1-10 Gbps networking, can run off a small battery for at least an hour, switches between multiple WANs (so I can get my own 5G Internet connection, in case I need it), and gives me 12 wired Ethernet connections.