Executive Summary & The 6-Year Evolution
This profile documents the physical hardware layers, local automation matrices, and high-performance routing topology powering the ricks.page edge network. Designed to scale with heavy real-time data ingestion, this homelab segregates core layer-3 gateway functions from dense multimedia processing workloads.
By transitioning from a single-point-of-failure "all-in-one" setup to a distributed compute and storage layout, the environment achieves maximum routing throughput, local analytical machine learning, and physical drive redundancy—all managed from a single, deeply satisfying web browser tab.
The journey began in early 2020 with the purchase of a UniFi Dream Machine Pro (UDM Pro). What started as a modest quest to replace laggy ISP-provided equipment quickly snowballed into a multi-generational, neighborhood-shaming infrastructure race. Over the last six years, the environment has undergone continuous expansion:
- Keeping Up with the WiFi Neighbors: Upgraded from baseline access points to cutting-edge WiFi-7 (6GHz) APs to guarantee that local wireless speeds remain faster than the physical Ethernet lines of the houses next door. [View APs]
- The IoT Explosion: Integrated the UniFi SuperLink ecosystem, deploying smart FOBs, environmental sensors, and physical USL-Relay Switches to automate real-world access and mechanical functions. [View SuperLink]
- Multi-Generational Camera Fleet: Graduated from basic 1080p surveillance units to high-bandwidth 2K and 4K cameras, ballooning our continuous ingestion stream to 26.5+ Mbps of non-stop, high-definition data writing. [View Protect Cameras]
Eventually, the laws of physics caught up. The UDM Pro—which had loyally acted as the router, firewall, switch controller, IoT brain, and video recorder—reached its hardware limit. The CPU began redlining, the web console lagged, and we faced a critical architectural crossroads.
Hardware Bottlenecks
- CPU Redlining: 26.5+ Mbps camera streams + deep packet inspection caused Gateway load spikes.
- Disk Bottlenecks: Single-drive bay layout meant zero protection against HDD mechanical failures.
- Console Lag: Web console load times slowed down due to background video indexing database pressure.
System Architecture & Topology
Click on any network element below to inspect device specifications, uplink bandwidths, and layout roles.
UDM Pro
L3 Router / FirewallPoE Switch
L2 Distribution HubUNVR G2
4-Bay NVR (RAID 5)Protect Cameras
4K / 2K Fleet IngestionHome Assistant
Intel NUC CoreSuperLink & Relays
Physical ControlsUniFi Dream Machine Pro
Functional Responsibility
Handles external Fiber WAN internet termination, pure Layer 3 wire-speed packet routing, VLAN definitions, firewall rules, and local DHCP pools.
Offloading Impact
Moving the Protect database and video storage off this device dropped memory usage by 40% and completely resolved UI latency and client database timeouts.
Interface Connection
10G SFP+ DAC Uplink to core Switch.
Step-by-Step Protect Migration Protocol
Migrate Configs Without Resetting Cameras
Many administrators fear that adding a dedicated NVR means climbing ladders to physically reset and re-adopt every security camera. By following this local configuration transfer backup protocol, you can migrate the database in 10 minutes with zero camera downtime.
Export Config
Open your UDM Pro interface, navigate to the **UniFi Protect** application. Go to **Settings > System**, click **Export Configuration**, and save the `.unifi` file locally.
Stop Old App
In the UDM Pro Console OS portal, go to **Applications**, click the three dots on **UniFi Protect**, and choose **Stop**. This halts local database writes immediately.
Rack & Boot
Populate your UNVR G2 drive bays with WD Purple drives. Connect the power and the Ethernet line back to your switch, and let the console boot up.
Import Config
Adopt the UNVR G2 console. Open the new Protect app, skip clean setup, go to **Settings > System**, select **Import Configuration**, and upload the backup file.
Remap HA API
Open Home Assistant. Go to your UniFi Protect integration settings. Update the target host IP address to point to the new IP assigned to your dedicated UNVR G2.
The Decision Fork
Migrating to a top-tier gateway vs. specializing hardware resources
Gateway Replacement (UDM Pro Max)
Replace the primary router with a more powerful, all-in-one gateway unit.
- Requires wiping, rack removal, and selling the old UDM Pro hardware.
- High probability of network downtime during config restore and ISP provisioning.
- Single-box design: Gateway CPU is still sharing packet inspection and camera duty.
- Drive bays capped: Lose 50% raw storage capacity running RAID 1 mirror protection.
Dedicated NVR (UNVR G2)
Install dedicated video database hardware and keep the existing gateway in service.
- Keep trusted UDM Pro gateway racked and operational.
- Zero downtime install: Simply plug the NVR into a switch and restore backup.
- Specialized compute: Offload AI database algorithms to dedicated 8-core CPU.
- Four drive bays: Run RAID 5 drive failure protection with 75% capacity retention.
The "Wife & CFO" Pitch
When another glowing, 1U metal chassis shows up in the server rack, the sovereign "Higher Powers" of the household will naturally ask: "Why are we spending hundreds of dollars on another metal box?" Here is the bulletproof, fiscally responsible defense of the UNVR G2:
Financial Drive Savings
RAID 5 requires a minimum of 3 drives and reclaims 75% capacity while retaining full drive failure safety, saving massive storage expansion budgets compared to UDM Pro Max's 50% loss mirror layout.
Zero Downtime Clause
No home networks are disconnected. Streaming, smart home automation, and work tunnels remain fully online since we are not swapping primary core routing gateways.
Network Load Isolation
Isolates camera traffic and database workloads entirely, meaning sudden motion event indexing spikes will never crash or lag standard home internet packet routing.
RAID Storage Calculator
Estimate drive cost efficiency and total usable space for your UNVR G2 setup.
Localized Intelligence & Relays
The true strength of this homelab architecture lies in bridging local AI detection telemetry with physical smart-home relays. Since the video processing runs locally on the UNVR G2's hardware, detections occur with sub-100ms latency.
By using local APIs, event triggers—like recognizing a specific license plate in the driveway after hours, or detecting a person in the backyard—are immediately broadcast to a local Home Assistant core running on our network switch.
These events trigger local conditional automations that communicate with UniFi SuperLink Gateways. These gateways then trip low-voltage physical relays (USL-Relay Switches) to control real-world gates, override light circuits, or sound physical alarms—fully localized, without depending on external cloud services.
# Trigger local physical relay when vehicle is detected at night
alias: "Security: Auto-Open Gate"
trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id: binary_sensor.driveway_camera_vehicle
to: "on"
condition:
- condition: time
after: "22:00:00"
before: "05:00:00"
action:
- service: switch.turn_on
target:
entity_id: switch.usl_relay_gate_switch
- delay: "00:00:01"
- service: switch.turn_off
target:
entity_id: switch.usl_relay_gate_switchThe Hardware Stack
UniFi Protect NVR G2
Dedicated 4-bay rackmount network video recorder. Moves video ingestion and database storage completely off the core router, providing robust storage safety.
View on AmazonWD Purple Hard Drives
High-reliability surveillance drives built for continuous, 24/7 high-definition write cycles. Perfect for scaling RAID arrays inside NVR housings.
View on AmazonDream Machine Pro
The primary security gateway and central core router. Dedicated strictly to layer-3 data routing, firewall defenses, and VLAN segregation.
View on AmazonUniFi PoE Switch
Distributes local Power over Ethernet directly to access points, environmental sensors, low-voltage control gates, and wired PoE cameras.
View on Amazon10G SFP+ DAC Cable
High-speed Direct-Attach Copper cable providing a 10Gbps link between the UDM Pro gateway and the network switch.
View on AmazonIntel NUC Mini PC
Compact, power-efficient computer hosting our Home Assistant core database to automate real-world smart relays and security overrides.
View on Amazon