A Homelab Raspberry Pi Cluster
Raspberry Pi Docker Swarm Kubernetes 3D Printing

A Homelab Raspberry Pi Cluster

I decided to take the plunge and build a nifty Raspberry Pi cluster. Lets take a journey.

I’ve always been obsessed by the idea of having my own homelab, a space to experiment with different technologies and learn new skills—and break things with no consequences. Recently, I decided to take the plunge and build a Raspberry Pi cluster. This post will summarize my experience, including the components I used and the challenges I faced.

Why a Raspberry Pi Cluster?

Raspberry Pis are affordable, low-powered, and surprisingly versatile single-board computers. By clustering them, we can create a more scalable system for various tasks and services, opening up a world of local distributed compute exploration with things like Docker Swarm and Kubernetes (and every flavor between).

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Step 1: Components

Parts List:

  • 5x Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
  • 5x PIMORONI Aluminium Heatsink Case
  • 5x USB-A to USB-C 6-inch cables
  • 5x CAT 5/6 3-inch cables
  • 1x Netgear GS108Ev3 Switch
  • 1x Anker 60W 10-Port Desktop Charger
  • 2x 80mm USB Powered Fans

Details:

  • To kick things off, I grabbed 5 of the Raspberry Pi 4 B. I chose these because they are affordable compared to the newer Raspberry Pi 5 series, and they have lower power requirements—making my power solution much easier to deliver in a small enclosure.
  • For this project, I chose an enclosure that I could 3D print. There are tons of Raspberry Pi cluster cases you can print, but because I like doing things the hard way, I went with this one.
  • Due to my choice, I was temporarily locked into using a Netgear GS108Ev3 switch (which I happened to have laying around anyways), and an out of production Anker 60W 10-port Desktop Charger (thanks eBay!).
  • The Pis themselves slot into the case using a specific Aluminum Heatsink Case, which was cheap and easy to grab.
  • To keep the setup relatively cool, I got two USB Fans. I wanted some control, so I went with a prewired USB dual fan setup with a speed controller that I could hack up and mount to the rear grill of the enclosure.

Step 2: Print the Enclosure

Let the fun begin.

Beware: This enclosure is great, but it is also huge. The main body alone will take you over a day and a half to print (depending on your printer settings) and will require a full spool of filament to get done in one shot.

More to come soon™!