SYS_COMPUTE
Compute & Virtualization
XEON / EPYC · RAM · HYPERVISORS
Install multi-socket motherboards, allocate ECC DDR5 memory, configure CPU core pinning, and run hypervisors with isolated virtual machines.
HOMELABSERVER SIMULATOR
IN ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT · INDIE GAME BY VIKESH YADAV
HOMELAB:
SERVER SIMULATOR
The ultimate realistic server infrastructure, homelab, and datacenter simulation game. Slot enterprise hardware into 42U racks, configure 802.1Q VLANs, deploy Docker microservices, manage ZFS RAID-Z2 storage arrays, balance thermals & power, and keep the system alive.
TARGET PLATFORMGoogle Play (Android)
DEVELOPMENT STAGEClosed Alpha In Progress
INDIE CREATORVikesh Yadav
RACK-42U // HARDWARE TELEMETRY HUD
48-PORT 10GbE SFP+ SWITCHVLAN 10 (Mgmt), 20 (Storage), 30 (Public) active
2U DUAL-NODE COMPUTE64 Cores · 256GB ECC DDR5 · Proxmox VE 8
4U 24-BAY ZFS STORAGE ARRAY72 TB Raw · RAID-Z2 · NVMe L2ARC Cache
100%Authentic Logic
Real-world networking, storage pools, power limits, and thermal throttling.
42U+Full Rack Freedom
From a bedroom tabletop mini-PC to multi-rack datacenter server cages.
CLI & GUIDual Control Stack
Switch seamlessly between tactile 3D hardware racking and interactive CLI terminals.
IndieBy Vikesh Yadav
Crafted with passion for homelabbers, sysadmins, self-hosters, and gamers.
01 // THE ARCHITECTURENOT JUST A TYCOON.
NOT JUST A TYCOON.
A COMPLETE LIVING INFRASTRUCTURE.
Homelab: Server Simulator treats every server, cable, and disk as an interdependent system. Every decision creates ripple effects across your infrastructure.
PHYSICS & LOGIC ENGINE
Everything Connects. Everything Matters.
Under-power a server? Your UPS battery drains in minutes. Route storage traffic through an unmanaged 100Mbps bottleneck? Your streaming microservices buffer and crash. Forget to tune chassis airflow? CPUs throttle under peak load.
Designed around a balance of 70% engaging gameplay and 30% realistic tech concepts, giving you the authentic thrill of solving real sysadmin puzzles without tedious cert exams.
Hardware Degradation & S.M.A.R.T. ChecksSimulated drive failures, bad sectors, and hot-spare resilvering.
Dynamic Power Grids & Battery RuntimesDual redundant power supplies, PDU load balancing, and battery alarms.
Real Network Topology & VLAN RoutingConfigure subnets, isolation rules, port bonding, and DNS servers.
SYSTEM TOPOLOGY // SIMULATION ENGINEONLINE
FIBER WAN1 Gbps / 1 Gbps
FIREWALL ROUTERVLAN 10 / 20 / 30
10GbE SFP+ CORE SWITCHLACP Port Trunking
COMPUTE NODE64C / 256GB
ZFS NAS ARRAY72TB RAID-Z2
DOCKER STACK12 Services
02 // CORE SUBSYSTEMSEVERY SYSTEM.
EVERY SYSTEM.
SIMULATED WITH PRECISION.
Explore the six core pillars that drive Homelab: Server Simulator by Vikesh Yadav.
SYS_NETWORK
Managed Networking
SWITCHES · VLANS · SFP+ · SUBNETS
Route physical and virtual traffic. Segment IoT, storage, and public services with 802.1Q VLANs, configure DHCP scopes, and saturate 10GbE DAC links.
SYS_STORAGE
Storage & RAID Arrays
ZFS · RAID-Z2 · NVME CACHE · BACKUPS
Build fault-tolerant storage pools. Manage SAS backplanes, configure hot spares, scrub arrays for bit rot, and schedule automated offsite snapshots.
SYS_POWER
Power & Redundancy
DUAL PSUS · SMART UPS · ATS · LOAD
Balance circuit breaker loads. Hook up uninterruptible power supplies, configure dual-feed redundant power supplies, and survive simulated grid blackouts.
SYS_COOLING
Thermal & Airflow Dynamics
FAN PROFILES · AIRFLOW · CFM · HEATMAP
Optimize cold aisle / hot aisle pressure. Customize high-RPM PWM fan curves, prevent thermal throttling, and manage ambient server room temperature.
SYS_SERVICES
Docker & Self-Hosted Apps
CONTAINERS · PROXIES · DNS · UPTIME
Spin up real self-hosted services including Pi-hole DNS, Nginx reverse proxies, Home Assistant, Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, and Grafana monitoring stacks.
03 // GAMEPLAY PHILOSOPHYWHY HOMELAB SIMULATOR?
WHY HOMELAB SIMULATOR?
BUILT FOR TECH ENTHUSIASTS.
Most tycoon games reduce technology to meaningless clicker timers. Homelab: Server Simulator is designed from the ground up with genuine sysadmin mechanics, authentic terminology, and real troubleshooting logic.
| FEATURE / CONCEPT | GENERIC MOBILE TYCOONS | HOMELAB: SERVER SIMULATOR |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Logic | Generic clicker timers and arbitrary point meters | ✔ Authentic calculations for power wattage, thermal CFM, and 10GbE bandwidth |
| Networking Mechanics | Abstract speed boosters (+5% speed) | ✔ Real 802.1Q VLAN segmentation, subnets, MTU frame sizing & DAC trunking |
| Storage & Data Safety | Single storage upgrade bar | ✔ ZFS pools, RAID-Z2 parity, SAS drive backplanes, S.M.A.R.T. bad sectors & resilvering |
| Command Line Control | None (simple 2D mobile buttons only) | ✔ Full interactive Linux-style CLI terminal with status, docker, zpool & iperf3 |
| Developer & Vision | Corporate ad-heavy studio template | ✔ Indie passion project crafted by Vikesh Yadav for homelabbers & sysadmins |
04 // INTERACTIVE PREVIEWTAKE THE TERMINAL.
TAKE THE TERMINAL.
EXECUTE SIMULATOR COMMANDS.
Test drive the in-game command line interface. Click any command below to inspect simulated server metrics, ZFS storage arrays, Docker stacks, and incident triages.
05 // GAMEPLAY MECHANICSBUILD. CONFIGURE.
BUILD. CONFIGURE.
TROUBLESHOOT. SCALE.
Authentic Hardware Racking & Cabling
Slot servers into 1U, 2U, and 4U chassis rails. Connect CAT6a, DAC, and fiber optic patch cables into managed switches with realistic port assignment.
Interactive Linux CLI & OS Management
Access authentic terminal consoles. Execute shell commands, configure IP routing tables, inspect system logs with journalctl, and diagnose network drops.
Dynamic Disaster Drills & Triage
Experience realistic infrastructure incidents: sudden drive sector corruption, failing power supplies, cable disconnects, thermal alarms, and packet storms.
Progress from Bedroom Homelab to Enterprise Datacenter
Start with a single secondhand mini-PC in your bedroom. Earn resources by hosting uptime-critical services and expand into multi-rack enterprise colocation facilities.
06 // TARGET SPECS & PLATFORMSOPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE.
OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE.
PLAY ANYWHERE.
Homelab: Server Simulator is engineered with lightweight, optimized shaders and logic for smooth 60 FPS gameplay on Android phones and tablets.
TARGET PLATFORM
Google Play (Android)
- Target OS: Android 10.0 (API 29) or higher
- Memory: 3 GB RAM minimum (4 GB recommended)
- Storage: ~180 MB free space
- Graphics: OpenGL ES 3.0 / Vulkan compatible
POST-LAUNCH ROADMAP
PC & iOS Expansion
- Steam / PC: Extended widescreen 42U rack zoom & multi-monitor support
- iOS / iPadOS: Retina display optimization & Apple Silicon efficiency
- Cross-Save: Cloud profile sync across compatible devices
- Controller Support: Gamepad and keyboard CLI navigation
07 // DEVELOPMENT TIMELINETHE ROADMAP.
THE ROADMAP.
FROM FIRST BUILD TO GLOBAL LAUNCH.
Follow the development timeline as Vikesh Yadav brings Homelab: Server Simulator to Google Play.
PHASE 01COMPLETED
Core Simulation Engine & Physics
Hardware slotting, power draw calculations, thermal modeling, and base rack mounting physics.
PHASE 02ACTIVE
OS, Network Stack & CLI Terminal
VLAN routing, ZFS pool management, Docker container orchestration, and interactive terminal console.
PHASE 03UPCOMING
Google Play Closed Alpha & Beta Testing
Mobile touch controls optimization, performance tuning, community playtesting, and stability stress tests.
PHASE 04RELEASING SOON
First Public Release on Google Play
Global availability on the Google Play Store with full campaign mode, sandbox lab builder, and regular content updates.
EARLY ACCESS · CLOSED ALPHA PLAYTEST
Join the Homelab Simulator Alpha Waitlist
Be among the first to rack servers, configure VLANs, and stress-test the simulation engine. Receive exclusive Google Play alpha invites, developmental devlog updates, and shape upcoming hardware modules.
08 // FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSFREQUENTLY ASKED
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS.
What is Homelab: Server Simulator?
Homelab: Server Simulator is an in-depth simulation and strategy game designed by indie developer Vikesh Yadav (BuildWithVikesh). Players design, build, wire, configure, and maintain realistic server infrastructure. From a single homelab shelf to a multi-rack enterprise datacenter, you manage compute, networking, storage, power, and cooling.
Who is the developer of Homelab: Server Simulator?
Homelab: Server Simulator is independently designed and developed by Vikesh Yadav, the software developer and creator behind BuildWithVikesh. The project stems from a passion for computer architecture, Linux systems, self-hosting, and interactive gaming.
When will the first release be available on Google Play?
The game is currently under active alpha development. The first release is coming soon to the Google Play Store for Android devices. You can join the early access waitlist on this page and subscribe to the BuildWithVikesh YouTube devlog for playtest invitations.
How realistic is the server and network simulation?
Homelab: Server Simulator is crafted with a balanced 70% engaging gameplay and 30% realistic sysadmin depth. It accurately simulates actual infrastructure concepts—such as 802.1Q VLANs, RAID-Z2 storage pools, Docker container deployments, UPS battery runtimes, and thermal throttling—while ensuring an intuitive, addictive gaming experience.
Can I customize server hardware, cabling, and software stacks?
Yes! You can choose individual server chassis (1U, 2U, 4U), CPUs (Xeon/EPYC), ECC DDR5 memory modules, SAS/NVMe drives, SFP+ network cards, cable management arms, and patch cables. On the software side, you can deploy hypervisors, manage storage pools, configure subnets, and host self-hosted microservices.
Will Homelab: Server Simulator come to PC, Steam, or iOS?
The primary release target is Google Play for Android to provide a portable, tactile simulation experience. PC/Steam and iOS versions are on the post-launch roadmap based on community interest and feedback.
How do I participate in the Closed Alpha Playtest?
You can sign up directly through the Alpha Waitlist form on this page. Alpha testers receive exclusive builds, have their feedback incorporated directly into new hardware modules, and receive special in-game recognition.
Is Homelab: Server Simulator free to play?
The game is designed with a player-first philosophy. Core campaign and sandbox experiences will be fully accessible without predatory paywalls or forced ads.
MEET THE DEVELOPER
DEVELOPED BY VIKESH YADAV · BUILDWITHVIKESH
Hi! I'm Vikesh Yadav, an engineering student, software developer, and technology content creator behind BuildWithVikesh.
I created Homelab: Server Simulator because existing server games either treat infrastructure as trivial clicker meters or bury the fun under boring certification manuals. My mission is to give tech enthusiasts, self-hosters, and gamers the authentic thrill of racking enterprise servers, wiring 10GbE networks, and managing real storage pools with tactile, engaging gameplay.
OFFICIAL GOOGLE PLAY RELEASE
YOUR LAB
IS COMING ONLINE.
Homelab: Server Simulator is in active development. Pre-register on Google Play, join our closed alpha playtesting group, and shape the future of sysadmin simulation gaming.
PRE-REGISTER ONGoogle Play
↗Closed Alpha In Progress · First Release Coming Soon