As mentioned in another thread I've got computer servers in the basement which I want to rack mount for a more professional look. I bought a "25U" rack which is 4 feet tall, but I wanted to raise it off the floor for a more convenient height and contain some UPS units. So I broke out the Festool tools and built a box on wheels out of prefinished maple plywood. Eventually I'll probably add maple side panels to give it a more finished look.
Rackmount computer cabinet
- Thread starter sprior
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Sparktrician
Member
Are you considering using some iron-on maple veneer for the front of the base cabinet to make it look like a face frame and cover the plywood edges?
bkharman
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- Jul 1, 2013
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Nice work! Does the empty rack on top, "rack" when weight is added? Does it twist side to side at all? Would hate for that plywood box to go trapezoidal on you with a rack full of kit! I see you have a face frame of sorts, I am sure that helps.
Now onto the more pressing question, why does a Conneticut Yankee have corn hole board?? [big grin]
Now onto the more pressing question, why does a Conneticut Yankee have corn hole board?? [big grin]
Sparktrician
Member
That face frame is actually on the back. It's a piece that fits inside the outside pieces and is intended to be a structural support to keep it square. Not going to edge band that as it isn't the pretty side. The front is frameless and edge banded.
I haven't tested under load except to sit on the cabinet before putting the rack on - it didn't move.
I have a tendency to over engineer things and make them clunky which I resisted on this one, would be tragic if this was the one time it would be justified.
They won't happen right away, but I do plan to put side panels on and they'd be bolted to both the frame and the cabinet. This will strengthen the whole thing, but I hope it will still be sound without it.
I haven't tested under load except to sit on the cabinet before putting the rack on - it didn't move.
I have a tendency to over engineer things and make them clunky which I resisted on this one, would be tragic if this was the one time it would be justified.
They won't happen right away, but I do plan to put side panels on and they'd be bolted to both the frame and the cabinet. This will strengthen the whole thing, but I hope it will still be sound without it.
Sparktrician
Member
bkharman said:
Uh-oh!!! The steel and Formica vendors are going to send Vinnie and Guido to have a chat with you...
[poke] [tongue]
Since it's in a house and not a data center it should be a little less utilitarian and look cooler. But this setup should be practical as well, those wheels move quite nicely so I can turn it to work on the connections in the back. The cabinet will hold the vertical UPS units so I'm not wasting bottom rack space on that stuff. It raises the expensive stuff higher from the floor in case anything bad happens and to a more comfortable height.
Yeah, I've got to watch that carefully. I'm planning to keep the actual servers as low in the rack as possible and it's been suggested that I place the UPS's as far back in the under cabinet as possible. If necessary an extension in front is a possibility.
The goal for tonight was to get all the machines mounted in the rack and running again as soon as possible. Neatly if possible, but by any means necessary if not. I already know I'm going to want to rearrange some things on the rack including moving the network switch higher. I'm planning to put a patch panel on the back which the wires hanging down the wall will plug into. That'll take a while to neaten them up one by one. But for now all the systems are back online.
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Put the finishing touch on this tonight. I built a screen door to cover the bottom cabinet and darken out the UPS units a bit. It's held in place with a pair of magnets and I think the handles complete the tech look. I'll be wrapping the cables from the wall together so they'll look like a big cable.
I'm quite happy with the result, it's a huge improvement over what I started with.
I'm quite happy with the result, it's a huge improvement over what I started with.
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No, but it hasn't been a problem. The top and back are open and don't feel excessively warm. The middle section of the rack isn't populated with computers, those are just front blanks. It'll probably never be more than half full, but I can add temp monitoring if it ever becomes necessary.
ShawnRussell
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- Sep 2, 2011
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This is Nostalgia for me.. HP DL server, KVM, UPS, all you need now is a slide out keyboard tray with fold up LCD.
I have a Sunblade 1000 and 100 if you want them. [tongue]
I have a Sunblade 1000 and 100 if you want them. [tongue]
I'd love a slide out keyboard and fold up LCD, but they're freaking EXPENSIVE ($600) [eek]! So instead I set up a cheap LCD and keyboard on a long KVM extension cable and put them on the rolling cart next to the rack. Not as cool, but much more reasonably priced.
