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Can This Tiny Board Replace Your Entire HomeLab? – Zima Board 2

2025-04-23 Science & Technology
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NetworkChuck
NetworkChuck
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Description

Data brokers are selling your info. Stop them with Incogni: https://incogni.com/networkchuck Plus, get 60% off Incogni with code: NetworkChuck ZimaBoard 2 on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/4jgh4y7 NetworkChuck Cloud Browser: https://browser.networkchuck.com/ IceWhale just sent me the brand new Zima Board 2 – a tiny, fanless, x86 single-board computer that’s basically a full PC in your pocket. So of course… we’re gonna try to break it. I’m throwing pfSense, Ubuntu, and even Proxmox at it to see if this thing can actually run an entire homelab by itself. Let’s see what it can handle. 🔥🔥Join the NetworkChuck Academy!: https://ntck.co/NCAcademy TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Unboxing 02:29 - Specs 07:12 - Battle Plan 08:47 - Initial Setup (Zima Board + Proxmox) 12:42 - Getting Internet Access 13:20 - Setting up pfSense on a VM 20:34 - Installing Snort 21:00 - Removing PCI Card 22:45 - Setting up Ubuntu VM 24:15 - Throughput Testing 26:19 - Testing with IDS/IPS 27:24 - Squeezing in Containers **Sponsored by Incogni SUPPORT NETWORKCHUCK --------------------------------------------------- ➡️NetworkChuck membership: https://ntck.co/Premium ☕☕ COFFEE and MERCH: https://ntck.co/coffee Check out my new channel: https://ntck.co/ncclips 🆘🆘NEED HELP?? Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/networkchuck STUDY WITH ME on Twitch: https://bit.ly/nc_twitch READY TO LEARN?? --------------------------------------------------- -Learn Python: https://bit.ly/3rzZjzz -Get your CCNA: https://bit.ly/nc-ccna FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/networkchuck/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/networkchuck Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NetworkChuck/ Join the Discord server: http://bit.ly/nc-discord AFFILIATES & REFERRALS --------------------------------------------------- (GEAR I USE...STUFF I RECOMMEND) My network gear: https://geni.us/L6wyIUj Amazon Affiliate Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/networkchuck Buy a Raspberry Pi: https://geni.us/aBeqAL Do you want to know how I draw on the screen?? Go to https://ntck.co/EpicPen and use code NetworkChuck to get 20% off!! fast and reliable unifi in the cloud: https://hostifi.com/?via=chuck Can the Zima Board 2 Replace Your Entire Homelab? Zima Board 2 Running pfSense, Proxmox, and Ubuntu Is the Zima Board 2 Good for Homelab Projects? Full Review of the New Zima Board 2 Testing Zima Board 2 as a Firewall and Server Zima Board 2 vs Zima Board 1: What’s Changed? Building a Portable Homelab with Zima Board 2 Zima Board 2 for Networking, Security, and Virtualization Running Proxmox on a Mini PC: Zima Board 2 Test Can Zima Board 2 Replace Your Raspberry Pi? #ZimaBoard2 #HomeLab #Firewall

Top Comments (10)

@daven6634 2025-04-23

I'm going to just say it, using sticky notes to breakdown a comparison is an amazing video technique, lets the audience back reference, compare themselves, and is quite nice to look at instead of just boxes. I honestly love how creative your videos are, please keep up the good work.

399 13 replies
@Blockpie 2025-04-23

Im Happy that you have switched back from doing ai content. The ai content was good at first but you ended overusing it for a while. Thank you.

92 4 replies
@dktol56 2025-04-24

The other side of the cardboard packing can be used as a temporary open air case for the zimaboard2 and two 2.5" SATA SSD's (or, ugh ,hard drives). Environmentally friendly and kind of cool. I like it.

48
@NetworkChuck 2025-04-23

Data brokers are selling your info. Stop them with Incogni: https://incogni.com/networkchuck Plus, get 60% off Incogni with code: NetworkChuck ZimaBoard 2 on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/4jgh4y7 NetworkChuck Cloud Browser: https://browser.networkchuck.com/ IceWhale just sent me the brand new Zima Board 2 – a tiny, fanless, x86 single-board computer that’s basically a full PC in your pocket. So of course… we’re gonna try to break it. I’m throwing pfSense, Ubuntu, and even Proxmox at it to see if this thing can actually run an entire homelab by itself. Let’s see what it can handle. 🔥🔥Join the NetworkChuck Academy!: https://ntck.co/NCAcademy TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Unboxing 02:29 - Specs 07:12 - Battle Plan 08:47 - Initial Setup (Zima Board + Proxmox) 12:42 - Getting Internet Access 13:20 - Setting up pfSense on a VM 20:34 - Installing Snort 21:00 - Removing PCI Card 22:45 - Setting up Ubuntu VM 24:15 - Throughput Testing 26:19 - Testing with IDS/IPS 27:24 - Squeezing in Containers **Sponsored by Incogni

32 8 replies
@SpectacularAustin 2025-04-23

You said you never setup LXC container before but when I watched your proxmox video from many years ago you taught me how to do it lol

26 4 replies
@tdtommy196 2025-04-23

Monday Chuck is way smarter than Friday Chuck.

10
@pcdoc1097 2025-04-23

The cardboard box seems to have cut-outs to convert the box and packaging to a mini-rack for the Zimaboard and the SSDs in a compact , neat neat layout.

8
@rdb389 2025-04-23

Awesome little board. My only comment would be that I left PFSense back when they removed the home user full license option. Switched to OPNSense and never looked back.

8
@ZeroKeyStrokes 2025-12-14

I am a beginner homelabber, and watching you just mess around and mess it up, and trying different stuff is inspiring. So many pros never show the reality of tech. Sometimes it's just plug stuff in and keep trying things to get it working.

2
@Daily-Thoughts1234 2026-02-08

@NetworkChuck can you make a longer video on how to do each step? I know it's a big ask :D

1

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