Here is a breakdown of the hardware that was used.
Most was given to me over the past few years, i spent about $50 for the Dlink switch and a dozen patch cables, and the $10.50 for a domain for a year, but you don’t need that.
The Brain: Dell laptop
| Component | Specification |
| Model | Dell Precision M4800 Workstation |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-4710MQ (4C/8T, 3.5GHz Turbo) |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR3L |
| Primary Storage | 256 GB Samsung SSD (9% Utilization) |
| Integrated GPU | Intel HD Graphics 4600 |
| Discrete GPU | NVIDIA Quadro K1100M (Nouveau Drivers) |
| Display | 15.5″ FHD (1920×1080) @ 60Hz |
| Operating System | Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena” (Xfce 4.18.1) |
| Kernel | 6.17.0-19-generic |
| Network | Intel Wireless 7260 + Gigabit Ethernet |
| Containers | Docker Engine (Active via docker0) |
| Battery Health | 58.7% (58.6Wh remaining) |
| CPU Temp | ~51°C (Idle/Light Load) |
| GPU Temp | ~33°C |
| Peripherals | Logitech Wireless Interface |
The Storage:
Western Digital’s MyCloud, home cloud
| Component | Specification |
| Model | WDBVXC0040HWT (Single-Bay) |
| Serial/ID | G1C BGDJRA 3918Q |
| Processor | Realtek RTD1295PB-CG (Quad-Core 1.4 GHz) |
| Memory | 1 GB DDR3L |
| Storage | 4TB 3.5″ HDD (5400 RPM) |
| RAID | Not Supported (Single Drive) |
| Network | 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) |
| USB | 1 x USB 3.0 (Import Only) |
Physical & Software Specs
Dimensions: ~6.9″ H x 5.5″ D x 2.1″ W
Power: External AC Adapter (100–240V)
OS Support: Windows 7+, macOS 10.12+, iOS 9+, Android 4.4+
Backup: Compatible with Time Machine and Windows Backup
Requirement: Mandatory WD account & active internet for setup.
Setup Note:
Status: Contains multimedia. Primarily used for simplified home backups. Note that this unit requires a “cloud” handshake via the WD portal for most functions.
Storage Node: Synology DS118
Role: Future Home Cloud Node
Current Drive: 1TB SATA
Storage Node: Synology DS114
Role: Guest Phone Backup Server
Current Drive: 250GB SATA
| Component | Specification |
| Processor | Realtek RTD1296 (Quad-Core 1.4 GHz, 64-bit) |
| Memory | 1 GB DDR4 |
| Max Capacity | 18 TB (Single Drive) / 108 TB Volume |
| Transcoding | 10-bit 4K H.265 (HEVC) @ 30 FPS |
| Network | 1 x Gigabit LAN |
| USB | 2 x USB 3.0 (Rear) |
| Power Draw | 9.4W (Access) / 4.22W (Hibernation) |
| Performance | ~113 MB/s Read / 112 MB/s Write |
| Component | Specification |
| Processor | Marvell Armada 370 (1.2 GHz Single Core w/ FPU) |
| Memory | 512 MB DDR3 |
| Expansion | 1 x eSATA Port |
| Network | 1 x Gigabit LAN |
| USB | 2 x USB 3.0 (Rear) |
| Power Draw | 16.25W (Access) / 6.88W (Hibernation) |
| Acoustics | 18.2 dB(A) (60mm Quiet Fan) |
| File System | EXT4 |
Network
| Segment | Hardware | Role |
| Local Hub | D-Link 8-Port Gigabit Switch | Physical backbone for all wired nodes. |
| Bridge | Linksys AC1200 (E5400) | Wireless Bridge mode; links local switch to ISP. |
| ISP Gateway | Xfinity Router | External. Provides WAN access only. |
Note on Architecture:
All primary nodes (Dell M4800, Synology units, WD MyCloud) are hardwired to the D-Link switch. The Asus laptop and mobile devices remain on wireless. This physical separation ensures that the internal data hoard remains high-speed and accessible even if the Xfinity WAN link goes down.
Centralized Power: The “Donor” PSU
Role: Unified DC Power Rail for Storage & Networking
| Component | Specification |
| Donor Unit | HP 210W Proprietary PSU |
| Modification | Custom-soldered 24-pin Harness |
| Output Rails | Dedicated 12V / 5V lines for peripheral hardware |
| Cooling | Internal Active Fan (HP OEM) |
| Efficiency | Higher than 4+ individual AC adapters combined |
| Powered Device | Power Source |
| Synology DS118 | 12V Rail (Custom Lead) |
| Synology DS114 | 12V Rail (Custom Lead) |
| WD MyCloud Home | 12V Rail (Custom Lead) |
| D-Link 8-Port Switch | 5V/12V Rail (Custom Lead) |
| Linksys AC1200 | 12V Rail (Custom Lead) |