How to use an old laptop or computer as a homelab

2025-07-26

I had been wanting to start a homelab for a while, and it occurred to me that I could reuse an old laptop I had lying around unused for about ten years. Its main specifications are:

  • Model: Asus X555LAB (2015)
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-5010U (dual-core, 2.00GHz)
  • RAM: 4GB DDR3
  • Storage: 1TB SSD

Any computer can serve as a homelab. It's a great way to give our devices a second (or even third) life instead of wasting them.

Homelab use cases

You can use it to:

  • Install a Linux server (for example, Ubuntu Server or Fedora Server)
  • Learn about Docker and run containers
  • Set up Prometheus + Grafana for monitoring
  • Create and test your own automation scripts in Bash or Python

In my case, I started by:

  • Installing Ubuntu Server
  • Configuring Netplan to get connectivity via USB tethering to install network drivers and then connect to Wi-Fi
  • Running containers with Docker
  • Deploying a monitoring stack with Prometheus + Grafana

In my homelab repository (a work in progress, but growing week by week), you can find ideas that might be useful if you're interested in building your own DevOps and/or SRE "lab".

Alternatives to avoid depending on the terminal

You don’t have to use a Linux distribution designed strictly as a server. You can take advantage of lightweight desktop environments with a GUI, such as Lubuntu or Debian with XFCE or LXDE.

However, keep in mind that one of the benefits of not using a graphical interface is lower resource consumption. So if your hardware is limited, it's probably best to use a Linux distribution without a GUI.

SSH connection

If using the machine physically is inconvenient for some reason, you can connect to it from your main computer using SSH.

In my case, the laptop I use as a homelab no longer has a battery (it had swollen and I had to remove it), and the keyboard stopped working properly. Also, its screen resolution feels uncomfortable compared to my current laptop. That’s why I prefer connecting via SSH: I can still use the hardware without sacrificing comfort.

Conclusion

Next time you have a laptop or computer you’re no longer using, think twice before throwing it away or giving it away — it might be perfect for a homelab. This way, its useful life is extended, and you get an environment to practice and experiment freely.