45Drives has announced a strategic partnership with Lime Technology, Inc., the developer of Unraid OS, to integrate the operating system into its 45HomeLab division platform. The collaboration will result in the 45HomeLab >< Unraid Signature Series, a new line of servers specifically designed for self-hosters and homelab enthusiasts, scheduled to launch in Spring 2026. These systems will be jointly engineered, with hardware components selected, built, validated, and tested to ensure tight integration with Unraid OS. An Unraid Lifetime license will come pre-installed on all systems manufactured in the United States and Canada.
The partnership unites two companies with over two decades of experience in designing infrastructure that emphasizes durability, flexibility, and user control. Both organizations advocate for storage and compute platforms that remain open and adaptable, supporting growth without vendor lock-in. Dr. Doug Milburn, President of 45Drives, stated that the partnership reflects their infrastructure philosophy across all divisions, designing systems to be owned, expanded, and adapted over many years. He noted that the open-source Linux-based foundation of Unraid OS aligns closely with this approach, and integrating it into 45Drives platforms provides customers a trusted, validated path to build and grow their systems without sacrificing control or long-term flexibility.
Tiffany Jones, CEO of Lime Technology, emphasized that Unraid was created to give people long-term freedom over their hardware and data, a philosophy that aligns with how 45Drives approaches infrastructure. Together, they aim to provide builders and professionals a validated platform that can evolve with their needs rather than being replaced as requirements change. The 45HomeLab >< Unraid Signature Series represents the first stage of this strategic partnership, establishing a validated and fully supported hardware foundation for Unraid users. 45HomeLab delivers premium, North American–manufactured homelab systems based on the enterprise heritage of 45Drives' Enterprise division, featuring architectural philosophy, direct-wired design, and long-term serviceability standards tailored for advanced home users and technical enthusiasts.
Both 45HomeLab and Unraid have built strong, engaged communities within the homelab space and are respected brands among technical users. By starting with 45HomeLab, the companies align with a highly engaged technical community that values performance, flexibility, and ownership. This initial phase allows for the delivery of tightly integrated, validated systems while gathering real-world feedback to inform future expansion into professional and creative markets. The companies share a builder culture, serving hands-on users who prioritize performance, transparency, and control, with hardware designed to last paired with software built to evolve on the same system for years. Unraid OS, created in 2005 to solve real-world storage challenges, has grown into one of the most flexible and approachable NAS operating systems, enabling users to combine storage devices of varying sizes and types while maintaining full control over data, applications, and virtualized workloads. More information about the partnership is available at https://unraid.net/blog/45homelabxunraid.
