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Mark 1 – Compact, GPU-Focused, Experimental

Syrup Mk1 was a Mini-ITX Ubuntu server built primarily around:

• Local AI workloads (RTX 3060 12GB)

• GPU experimentation

• Always-on containerized services

It ran reliably, but storage architecture and container workflows were influenced by external NAS behavior and Synology constraints. Over time, I found myself fighting abstractions rather than working directly with Linux.

Mk1 was the proof of concept, Mk2 became the refinement.

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Mark 2 – Simplified, Full Linux Control, Scalable Storage

Syrup Mk2 represents a deliberate architectural reset.

I moved away from appliance-style NAS behavior and layered RAID configurations (mdadm + btrfs stacks) in favor of a simpler, more transparent Linux-native approach.

Hardware was upgraded to a full ATX platform:

• Ryzen 7 7700X

• 32GB RAM

• RTX 3060 12GB

• 2× 2TB SATA SSDs (hot storage)

• 4× 8TB HDDs (cold storage)
  
  

The goal was clarity and control.

Mk2 runs a straightforward Ubuntu Server base with Docker-managed services including:

• Jellyfin (media streaming)

• Home Assistant (automation)

• Glance dashboard

• Glances monitoring

• Valheim server

• SMB file shares

• Obsidian vault hosting

• Hoarder bookmarks
  
  

Despite the workload variety, the system operates with low CPU utilization and significant headroom, functioning as a stable, quiet infrastructure backbone.