What’s new: PCI storage cards are recommended for home lab upgrades due to their ability to expand storage options, support faster NVMe SSDs, allow integration of SAS drives, and enable direct access for virtual machines. They are particularly useful for users managing large volumes of data, such as media libraries or virtual machines.
Who’s affected
Admins and DevOps professionals managing home lab environments who require enhanced storage capabilities and performance.
What to do
- Consider adding PCI storage cards to expand the number of drives in your home lab.
- Utilize M.2 PCIe cards for faster NVMe SSD integration to improve VM responsiveness.
- Explore SAS adapter cards for incorporating enterprise-grade HDDs for reliable data storage.
- Pass SATA controllers to virtual machines for optimal NAS performance, using HBA cards if necessary.
- Avoid hardware RAID cards to mitigate data recovery risks associated with potential failures.
