My Hardware:

• Intel NUC - i5-6260U
• 16GB RAM
• 500GB SSD - A hand-me-down Samsung Drive from my primary computer

Software setup:

• Proxmox VE with 4 virtual servers running
  • 1st VM = Ubuntu server. This runs various things like:
    • MariaDB
    • InfluxDB
    • Pi-Hole
    • Other odds-n-ends services.
  • 2nd VM = HassOS. I followed this guide to install everything from Proxmox to HA.
  • 3rd VM = Ubuntu Desktop. I can remote desktop into this and do various things. This is a 64G iSCSI mount from my NAS for it's storage.
  • 4th VM = Ubuntu Docker only. I run Portainer on it to manage the containers.

Other hardware I have (all optional):

• 2 Synology NAS devices. 1 for file and backup storage, 1 for Plex media storage. Can also be used to create iSCSI storage for creating other VM servers.
• GoControl HUSBZB-1 - Zigbee & Z-wave USB dongle.
• A USB extension cable - Needed to get the HUSBZB-1 away from your NUC.
• Any USB HUB - I plug my HUSBZB-1 and a Wyze sense hub. 2.0 hub is more than fast enough.
• Bluetooth Dongle - On-board bluetooth can be shielded from your system case. Get an external one to greatly extend it's range.

Pics:

• USB setup
• Hardware case (out dated but still same rack)
  • Bottom: Intel NUC w/USB hub, 750GB Drive (now dead), 1 Synology NAS.
  • Top: Router, Cable modem.
• HassOS VM Dashboard - HA runs fine with a 24GB drive partition and 2GB RAM.