Housing For Servers
Ok, I decided on a few things. First, that the new server will be Windows Server 2003. It just makes more sense to store files in this format if that's the kind of computers it will be talking to. I'll reserve Linux for one of my web servers, with Windows on the other one. The new server will run DNS and Active Directory etc.
Secondly, I've decided to put the server in the cupboard downstairs. My preferred options were either the cellar or the loft, but I ruled them out for the obvious reasons. The cupboard is the only real space left. Here's a picture of it:
The floor area is roughly 1m2 and it's 3m high. It's used for storing cleaning stuff and I don't really want to use the floor space. My idea was to bolt a rack to the wall (which I built ;-).
Yesterday I called this company to ask about prices for cheap racks. The smallest and cheapest they could do was the frame only for a 12U rack and costs £260. More than I really want to spend on some fancy Mechano. Not only is it an expensive option but it's 600mm wide by 850mm deep. Too big to fit in the room and leave space for access to it. So, I've ruled racks out for the moment. At least while I only have one "pizza box" anyway.
What is it with server kit that makes it so pricey? Probably the fact that it's usually sold to big business. It seems like anything that involves 19" or is measured in the U unit is going to cost a packet.
When I was at uni I worked for this company during some of the holidays*. I was part of the team that made the comms systems for the Royal Navy. Most of it was housed in 42U 19" racks, which the regularly sent to the scrapyard. Despite the fact they were "Admiralty Grey" I wish I'd kept one.
Instead of using a rack I am going to make my own housing system. It's going to look a little like the picture above. Two bits of wood, screwed to the wall, will act as the rack rails. Next time I see a cheap rack on eBay I will buy it, chop it up and use it for the parts I need. Is this crazy?
* Maybe I should work for them again. Try browsing their site in IE and then in Mozilla. Most HTML pages are text/plain, which Mozilla doesn't like, and the JavaScript pages are text/html.
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2 points jake.
1. I too have recently run into this rack-costing-a-fortune thing. I seriously considered switching to making racks and selling them for half the price.
2. From a security point of view, leaving network diagrams - of any sort - open to the public, is not a good idea. There are a lot of nasty people connected to this inter-web
It might be cheaper to get a wall mounted rack, a bit like the smaller ones on this page :
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We have various of these dotted around work, mainly to put network patch panels etc., in and not servers, but they're the right size I think if you only had one or two servers to get in there?
You could prolly fit one on the wall, and keep your ironing board under it :)
Although looking again, perhaps they're not deep enough.
Doh.
Is that a threat Gareth? ;-) I smudged out the WAN address before I posted. Surely it's useless without that info?!
Those "comms" racks aren't deep enough. My server is 650mm deep and needs room for plugs in the back.
Jake
You have already caught onto the fact that you need a deep server cabinet, most are 800mm deep.
Apart from ebay which sometimes comes up with a cabinet or two (Compaq ones are great and would probably support a battleship).
Try your local cabling contractors most when fitting stuff for corporates seem to replace the old cabinetas for something new and I have seen a fair few in my time in the skip, but if they know you are a chance to earn a few bob.
Otherwise try some of the chrome shelving www.spectrasystems.co.uk/chrome_shop_shelving.htm
to stack it on.
I was just having a look at the rack our gear is on in the closet here. Not much more than 4 or 5 pieces of angled aluminium bolted together. Between you and your Dad, and a trip to the scrap heap, you should be able to make any custom rack you like. Just need a drill with a die/tapping kit. :-)
Not at all Jake :)
I've done a bit of security work recently, and, of course, you can't hide everything, but one of the major steps to invading a network is to put together exactly the information you have there.
It's kinda like putting a sign in your car "Keys in the front door".
Yep, they're expensive all right - I'm sure its mostly a case of "they saw you comming" but then again the tooling to make a rack is not exactly cheap either.
There are racks...and there are racks of course - IBM, Compaq, Dell make some beautiful units that "just work"...or you can buy a cheap and nasty "made in Asia/India" clone that works just fine but needs twice the effort (read: cuts, scuffs, brute strength and lotsa swearing) to get things installed.
Two "cheap" 42U units we purchased recently cost $4,000 NZD each. Compare that with $10,000 NZD for the Dell equivalanent and suddenly all that extra f**king around makes sense!
I've really enjoyed this subject matter - for once I can relate to it!
Hmmm. All this tech talk and one thing seems to have been forgotten. Karen may well have to actually move in with the neighbours to get some techno-peace. Jake, you've got the loft and the cellar, and now you want the hall cupboard too. I think you should raise the bed a few inches and you'll have an ideal location. Handy for reboots. You must be protecting us from something or Karen is a saint. The banner title should probably read Servers for Housing. Hmmm??!! :-}
Can't beat rackmount kit for clean and neat and spacesaving and the like. Nevertheless it does get warm and having mine in the study is way too noisy and dusty so go the hall cupboard I say. Ventillation OK?
Anyway - I have picked up a couple of nice compaq racks over the years from eBay. The older half-hight ones with full frame (no removable sides) and see-through front and rear doors are excellent. Just the right size for home/sme use. They also roll really well when you need access to the back.
This is somewhat after the event I know, but I saw this and thought of you.
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It may be of no use whatso ever but you may end up buying another server, and need a new mounting, or some one else may reread this entry.