Phone Farm Hardware Buyer Roadmap: From Zero to Commissioned Lab

**1. Define workload** — mobile app QA, device management, SIM lab, or multi-device workflow. Hardware choice follows workload. **2. Pick platform** — Android (ADB + USB hub), iPhone (macOS + Lightning/USB-C plan), or mixed (separate rack rows). **3. Size the rack** — Start with one Phone Farm Box or Motherboard Box sample. Scale to empty chassis rows or custom cabinet above 40 devices. **4. Plan network** — One VLAN or router segment per 20–40 devices when IP isolation matters. **5. Commission hardware** — Power, USB topology, burn-in, slot map documentation. **6. Operate & maintain** — Weekly detection spot-checks, monthly fan filter cleaning, quarterly cable inspection. Real device farms use physical ARM hardware — not cloud VMs. PhoneFarm ICU supplies the rack layer; your team runs device management software on a control workstation.