Why a New Server?

My old server had served me faithfully for years — but at some point, every system reaches its limits. Increasing power consumption, limited expandability, and growing demands on my homelab made it clear: it was time for an upgrade.

I had been eyeing the Minisforum MS-01 for a while. A compact, powerful mini server that ticks all the boxes for a modern homelab. But more on that in a moment.

What Is the Minisforum MS-01?

The Minisforum MS-01 is a mini PC specifically designed for server and network use cases. Despite its compact form factor, it packs serious hardware:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-13900H (14 cores, 20 threads)
• RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5
• Storage: 2x M.2 NVMe slots + 1x 2.5" SATA
• Network: 2x 2.5GbE + 1x 10GbE SFP+
• Connectivity: USB 4, HDMI 2.0, USB-A 3.2

The real killer feature? The 10 Gigabit SFP+ port. For a homelab, that's a game changer — especially when dealing with large file transfers, backups, or virtualization traffic.

My Old Setup vs. the MS-01

Let me give you a quick comparison of what changed:

The power savings alone were worth the switch. Going from ~120W to ~25W at idle translates to significant savings over a year.

The Migration Plan

A server migration always needs a solid plan. Here's how I approached it:

1. Inventory: Document all running services, Docker containers, and configurations
2. Backup: Full backup of all data, configs, and Docker volumes
3. Fresh install: Set up the MS-01 with a clean OS (Proxmox / Ubuntu Server)
4. Restore: Migrate services step by step using Docker Compose
5. Testing: Verify everything works before decommissioning the old server

Docker Makes Migration Easy

One of the biggest advantages of running everything in Docker is portability. Most of my services are defined in docker-compose.yml files, which made the migration surprisingly smooth:

1. Copy the compose files and volumes to the new server
2. Run docker compose up -d
3. Done.

Of course, there were some edge cases — services with hardcoded paths, specific network configurations, or databases that needed proper export/import. But overall, Docker made this migration so much easier than it would have been with bare-metal services.

What About Unraid?

Some of you might wonder: why not use Unraid? And that's a valid question. Unraid is a fantastic platform for home servers, especially for storage management and Docker/VM hosting.

For this particular setup, I went with a more traditional approach — but Unraid remains an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-in-one solution for their homelab. I've written about it before:

First Impressions After the Migration

After running the MS-01 for a few weeks, here are my impressions:

• Performance: The i9-13900H handles everything I throw at it effortlessly — multiple Docker containers, databases, reverse proxies, media servers, you name it.
• Power consumption: Hovering around 20-30W under normal load. My electricity bill will thank me.
• Noise: Virtually silent. I can have it sitting on my desk without being bothered.
• Network: The 10GbE SFP+ port is incredible for inter-server communication and backups.
• Size: From a full tower to something the size of a thick book. Space savings are enormous.

Conclusion

The migration from my old server to the Minisforum MS-01 was one of the best upgrades I've made to my homelab. The combination of performance, efficiency, and compact form factor makes it an ideal choice for anyone running a home server.

If you're considering a similar upgrade, here are my key takeaways:

• ✅ Docker is your best friend for migrations — containerize everything
• ✅ The MS-01's 10GbE SFP+ is a game changer for homelab networking
• ✅ Power savings from ~120W to ~25W add up significantly over time
• ✅ Plan your migration carefully — document, backup, test

Have you made a similar migration? Let me know in the comments!