HL4 and HL8 Now Live for Pre-Sale!

45HomeLab & 45Drives News
1

Hey everyone,

Another exciting topic to share! We know there’s been some chatter in other topics, but wanted to officially add it here!

The time has come, you can now pre-order your HL8 and HL4 premium servers in the 45HomeLab store!

Designed with the homelab community in mind, these open, accessible, and powerful servers are compact enough to fit comfortably on any homelabber’s desk while delivering all your homelab needs.

HL8

The HL8 homelab server brings enterprise-level architecture into your homelab, offering high performance in a compact form. With high-capacity media storage and seamless streaming capabilities, the HL8 is designed, manufactured, and assembled in North America. Its tool-less construction, built with steel and screws—no rivets—ensures durability and ease of use.

The HL8 is available in the following three options:

HL8 - Fully Built & Burned In

Fully Assembled, Tested, and ready to use.

HL8 - Chassis, Backplane & PSU

Steel Chassis, Direct-Wired Backplane, Data Cables, 500W ATX PSU.

HL8 - Chassis, Chassis & Backplane

Steel chassis with our direct-wired backplane.

HL4

Similar to the HL8, the HL4 delivers enterprise-grade architecture to your homelab offering powerful media storage and streaming capabilities in an even more compact design that integrates seamlessly into your homelab. Designed, manufactured, and assembled in North America, the HL4 features a tool-less construction with durable steel and screw assembly.

The HL4 is available in the following options:

HL4 - Fully Built & Burned In

Fully Assembled, Tested, and ready to use

HL4 - Chassis, Backplane & PSU

Steel Chassis, Direct-Wired Backplane, Data Cables, 500W ATX PSU

HL4 - Chassis, Chassis & Backplane

Steel Chassis with our Direct-Wired Backplane

Check out the video below to hear what Jeff from Craft Computing had to say about the HL8 and HL4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IitwrXJuKzw&t=201s

To pre order yours, visit the 45HomeLab Store

3 Likes
2

I am already talking people into these vs synologies :grin:

2 Likes
3

I have looked at these and they look nice. I think the product page should display that it appears only to support mini-itx motherboards. Maybe an option to allow more pci slots through the use of extenders. I found a mini-itx board that has a 16x slot that can be bifurcated into 2 8x slots. This is useful is you wanted a specific type of network (I perfer sfp+ with fiber than copper).

Either way I plan to buy one to use as a backup solution at a remote location as it doesn’t require a rack. My homelab, I have racks so I’m looking for rack mount solutions there.

1 Like
4

which motherboard is this one that you’ve found?

5

This was the board I was looking at. It’s started in the video you can bifurcation to 2 pcie slots.

https://www.amazon.com/Mini-ITX-Motherboard-LGA1700-Support-Processor/dp/B0D2PC3PTW?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=brisblo0b-20&linkId=660fbf900e1b6839b7dad83df548384a&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

The source I used to find this board is this:

The board above is N13.

1 Like
6

Bob Zelin in shambles! Excited to see these take market share away from QNAP.

How are drive temps compared to the HL15?

7

Hi Everyone,

We’re excited to announce that we’re aiming to roll out the HL4 and HL8 this October!

We’re working diligently to finalize the design and get these units out to the 45HomeLab community as soon as possible.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@45homelab.com or call 866-471-8188.

2 Likes
8

Hi @hatwarellc,

The drives temperature on our earlier prototype were 46, changes have been made since then, and we will be running thermal tests again on the final version. As soon as we have a number I will make sure to post it here.

3 Likes
9

I am new to the world of Homelab and am interested in the HL4. But I am therefore also looking for some more answers :slight_smile:

I’m curious about the first experience anyone has with the noise level of the HL4. Want to put it in an office environment and then sound is important.

Also, I read that to install Proxmox and TrueNas on the server a passtrough must be made. However, I see different ways this is done. I see the IOMMU version (PCI passtrough) and the Physical Disk version. But which one should I start using for the HL4? Could someone help me with this question?

1 Like
10

Hello!

I was going through the order process and it said shipping is free. Is this intended behaviour? Shipping within Canada.

Also, Is there a manual for the HL8 and HL4?

11

Yes shipping within North America is included in the prices shown.

12

Thanks!

something20chars

13

So couple things. Spinning Hard drives make noise. I have a synology nas and its in my basement, near my office and i can hear it clicking away all day. its tollerable but i’ll be happy when i finish my new office. other than that if you get a fully built system the noctua fan is pretty quiet and wont add to the noise.

As for Proxmox.
you will likely have Proxmox installed on the NVME drive. You want to Pass control of the SATA drives directly to your TrueNas VM so it can do its thing the best way possible.
Since the build out version will have a m.2 (pcie) sata card. you are best to just pass that PCI right to truenas. Im not sure about other drives that are connected to the motherboards SATA ports. hopefully someone whos done it can chime in.

hope this helps.

1 Like
14

Thanks @deadprints, Mike for the explanation, It helps a lot. I have a Ubiquiti Dream Machine SE under my desk (against the wall) with one harddrive for NVR. And that makes indeed some clicking noise. But that is completly fine with me.

15

Looks like that is also for The Netherlands where I live. I see no shipping upon the payment tab.

16

Probably. Here is the official wording;

“Prices shown on the 45HomeLab store include free shipping to the US and Canada. In fact, shipping is free in most of the world; however, a premium may be charged for shipment to other selected countries.”

https://store.45homelab.com/terms

You are still responsible for any VAT or import duties The Netherlands might have.

1 Like
17

Thnx @DigitalGarden!

I know about the VAT. But the VAT is also mediately deductible again for me since I have a business in The Netherlands.

Yes there could be a premium charge I think. But that amount is very low and I think about $30

18

Hey @urbanracer34,

My apologies for the delayed response.

As @DigitalGarden pointed out, the shipping is free within North America.

The starter guide for the HL8 and HL4 will be included with the unit. You can download the guide from the QR code included with your purchase.

19

Hello @Vikram-45HomeLabs ,

Is it possible for the starter guide to be put on the web without purchase?

Also, would it break the warranty of the system if any to wipe the SSD for another use?

20

Hey @urbanracer34,

I will be happy to share the starter guide with you as soon as it is available to me, kindly send me an email to info@45homelab.com and I will make sure to share the document with you.

The warranty will still hold for the hardware if the SSD is wiped out.

1 Like