Server rack

[northan]

I was up in my loft last night, with a dreamy look on my face as I tried to envisage a server rack, with all my equipment and patch panels.
Then I returned to earth and thought it was a stupid idea, as I live in a 2 bed terrace it would be really OTT, or would it?????

Can I make a diy rack system, with panels on the cheap?

I did some quick drawings, pricing and research and found it quite cheap, if i build my own rack.
So this is going to be the start thread for my new sideline project

Please feel free to follow my long haul, from clearing space in the loft to building and wiring the rack system.
Don't expect this to be quick, because I have to fit this in when I can, but please if anyone has advice before I start let us know.

[ali_g]

I don't have any advice, but i do have a rack-mountable Case for a PC if you want it, although transport could be tricky, i live in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

[enjaytee88]

I too have had that dream.

Mrs Enjaytee keeps reminding me that we also live in a semi and it isn't a mansion which needs to be bristling with technology. Home automation isn't on evertone's shopping list when we come to sell she says...

My sever rack now consists of a bargain £20 flat pack PC desk from Asda now modified to take a full tower case.

A rack is on the shopping list and I guess will be bought/built when I decide to put in a managed switch for the ethernet (for VLAN).

Keep your ideas coming and we'll compare notes.

[northan]

Yea its not a question if we move but when.
So when I do things, I try try to keep in mind about things that can come with us.
As for the server rack, I convinced other half it would be a good idea, because obviously I could organise the cluuter up there and improve the storage.

[dunks517]

ooohh, a 19" rack in the house? Freestanding sounds good, inset into a wall even better:



That pics is a couple of years old and is now 42u rather that 22u as shown.

Throw in gaps for cooling, a network switch, speaker switch, HD-DVD player, network printer and karaoke player and bigger desktop and the space goes...

[northan]

lots of respect on that dunks.
Got to ask, did something happen to your volume knob on the sony amp?

[dunks517]

(01-23-2010 11:37 PM)northan Wrote:  lots of respect on that dunks.
Got to ask, did something happen to your volume knob on the sony amp?

The blanking plate above was being unscrewed and swung down in a guillotine stylee and decapitated the volume knob!

[ali_g]

Can you explain the remote eye things? and explain how to use them, and where to purchase such an item please?

[dunks517]

(01-25-2010 12:50 PM)ali_g Wrote:  Can you explain the remote eye things? and explain how to use them, and where to purchase such an item please?

The are ir emitters from a Keene Ir controller with the receiver in the living room wall.

They can be found here:

Keene IR Controller

Regards

Duncs

[elootos]

(01-26-2010 12:17 AM)dunks517 Wrote:  The are ir emitters from a Keene Ir controller with the receiver in the living room wall.

They can be found here:

Keene IR Controller

The Keene model is the one I used to use, and I'd say it's the one used by most people. That link also has a diagram explaining the layout of the kit.