Running your own server at home feels like a power move. You’ve got full control, no monthly fees, and the satisfaction of running everything yourself — whether it’s Proxmox, Unraid, Plex, TrueNAS, or a custom Docker stack. But when your self-hosted setup starts handling real workloads — backups, VPNs, Plex libraries, even business data — it stops being a weekend project and becomes a risk. Colocation might be the move for you!
Let’s talk about where self-hosting shines, where it fails, and why Michigan colocation just makes sense.
The Real Benefits of Self-Hosting
Self-hosting definitely has its place. For homelabbers, tech enthusiasts, and privacy-conscious power users, it offers:
| Pro | Why It’s Great |
|---|---|
| Full Control | You own and manage the stack end-to-end — hardware, software, and services. |
| No Monthly Fees | Once you’ve bought the hardware, there’s no bill for rack space or bandwidth. |
| Learning Experience | Running your own Plex, Proxmox, TrueNAS, or Unraid box is a great education. |
| Flexibility & Customization | Total freedom to run your own stacks, images, and configs — no restrictions. |
| Privacy | No third parties touching your data. |
If you’re experimenting or running personal projects, self-hosting is a great place to start.
But when the stakes get higher — when uptime and data integrity matter — it’s time to level up.
Fire, Flood, Theft — Your Basement Isn’t a Data Center
We’ve seen it all:
- A sump pump fails — and a TrueNAS box drowns.
- A lightning strike hits — and the entire Proxmox node gets fried.
- A break-in wipes out decades of files and backups.
Even high-profile creators aren’t immune.
Watch: LGR’s data loss after a hurricane!
“I felt physically sick. Years of my life — gone in one surge. I never want to experience that again.”
— LGR, Lazy Game Reviews
Self-hosting is fragile. When your hardware is sitting on a shelf in the basement, it only takes one moment to lose everything.
Your Power & Internet Aren’t Enough
Here’s the reality of residential hosting:
- No redundant power
- No enterprise cooling
- No static IPs without extra cost
- No backup generator for your ISP
Even if you’ve got a home generator, your residential ISP infrastructure doesn’t. Most street-side fiber nodes, pole amps, or coaxial cabinets are only backed by tiny batteries, not generators.
The Harsh Reality of Residential Internet
We hear this a lot: “I’ve got a backup generator — I’ll be fine.”
But that only solves half the problem.
Even if your server stays powered up, your internet won’t. Here’s why:
- Residential ISP hardware (like fiber nodes or cable amps) is usually powered by small battery units.
- These only last 2 to 4 hours during an outage.
- After that, your neighborhood’s internet is down, even if your lights are on.
- Restoration is not prioritized for residential zones. The bottom line is that bad weather means you’re offline, generator or not.
Meanwhile, in a proper data center like ours:
- Power is redundant and conditioned
- Bandwidth is multi-homed and enterprise-class
- Infrastructure is monitored, maintained, and restored first
Real-World Example: Plex Isn’t Pretty on a Weak Upload
Self-hosting sounds great — until Grandpa in Texas tries to watch home videos of Johnny the grandson from your basement Plex server… and the stream keeps buffering.
Or you’re trying to stream Johnny’s 4K high school football game to five family members at once — and your home upload speed chokes. Residential internet usually gives you fast download, but a weak upload. 5–10 Mbps upload just isn’t enough to push full-res video streams to multiple devices.
Even if your Plex server is a beast, your home bandwidth becomes the bottleneck — and your family ends up watching a stuttering slideshow.
Think Self-Hosting Is Cheaper? Think Again.
Here’s what it actually costs to run a modest homelab 24/7 at home:
| Item | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Power (24/7 operation) | $23 |
| Business-grade Internet | $40 |
| Cooling / ventilation | $15 |
| Total | $78/month |
That’s $78/month, just to keep your server online — not including security, uptime, or support.
Our Michigan colocation plans start at just $59/month, and include:
- Professional power and cooling
- Fast, redundant internet
- Secure facility access
- Remote hands and support
Your Data Deserves Physical Security
Our data center provides:
- 24/7 video surveillance
- Locked cabinets
- Entry logging
- Fire suppression systems
- Controlled access to authorized personnel only
You don’t get that in a spare bedroom.
Why Michigan Colocation Makes Sense
Michigan ranks among the best locations in the country for data center reliability. Here’s why:
| Advantage | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Low Disaster Risk | Safe from earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires. |
| Cool Climate | Naturally reduces cooling costs year-round. |
| Resilient Power Infrastructure | Multiple grids, clean energy mix, stable delivery. |
| Strategic Location | Midwestern hub with low-latency routes to the U.S. and Canada. |
| Tech Ecosystem | Proximity to top universities and engineering talent. |
Our Michigan-based data center gives your hardware the best of both worlds: local access and global-grade infrastructure.
Check out our blog entry about Why Michigan Matters!
You Built It — Bring It
Got your stack dialed in? We’re ready for it.
Colocate your:
- Unraid NAS
- Proxmox cluster
- TrueNAS backup system
- Docker swarm or Kubernetes lab
- Plex Server
We support client-owned gear and offer free rack and stack help during your deployment.
It’s Time to Protect What Matters
Your data isn’t disposable.
Whether it’s family photos, client files, offsite backups, or production services — your setup deserves more than a shelf in a basement.