DIY Server Rack?

[mcraftax]

Hi LTT Community!

I was wondering what you all thought on DIY Server Rack. I did a search and no one has said this before, correctly if I am wrong, sorry.

To save buying an expensive Server Rack would I been a good idea to build one out of some strong wood, paint it and either make holes in that for the servers or to get some rails?

Thanks

Max

[1823alex]

It's been done many times before. I bought 2 Ikea Lack tables for like $10 and did this: http://imgur.com/R9vvrTN&oVsQmNb&kezQMGF&aL0eNGl#0 and how I mounted them; https://imgur.com/wCapgY5,MxKmg0m,A484fIP#0 The Reddit post I made: https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/3hiy3b/my_new_homelab_setup_lackrack_inside/

[sybreeder]

+1 I also use ikea rack The best part is that you can stack them however you want. 

[tt2468]

LackRack FTW! You can even get a larger LackRack for 4 post servers.

[TheCamba]

Hit up Craigslist.  That, of if you know anyone in an IT field of work with any sort of business may have racks they are trying to offload.  Several companies I have worked for have been moving half of their servers to virtual and just been giving racks away.  I have one waiting for me when I move to my new house.

[Guest]

+1 on the Ikea lack rack concept. keep in mind you need to stack heaviest to lightest.

[Smite]

Building it how you want it is the largest benefit here as you can customize it to height. Second hand racks are easy to come by because they are dated and most people are done with them. As I tell my Tech's "I don't care where but make this go away" 

Best benefit to a half rack that is built is legit casters. Its all up to you tho. 19" is 19" 

[lonestar31]

On 2/2/2016 at 0:30 PM, 1823alex said:

It's been done many times before. I bought 2 Ikea Lack tables for like $10 and did this: http://imgur.com/R9vvrTN&oVsQmNb&kezQMGF&aL0eNGl#0 and how I mounted them; https://imgur.com/wCapgY5,MxKmg0m,A484fIP#0 The Reddit post I made: https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/3hiy3b/my_new_homelab_setup_lackrack_inside/

A quick question if you don't mind sir? I am looking to expand my home digital capabilities and a rack setup like this one is one of the possible options. While stacking them as you show obviously works for function, how are they for cooling? It appears most rack equipment have front intakes and rear exhausts, however I am curios if stacking too many together like this wouldn't cause a problem? Any kernels of wisdom you would humbly bestow upon us would be very appreciated. 

[1823alex]

1 hour ago, lonestar31 said:

A quick question if you don't mind sir? I am looking to expand my home digital capabilities and a rack setup like this one is one of the possible options. While stacking them as you show obviously works for function, how are they for cooling? It appears most rack equipment have front intakes and rear exhausts, however I am curios if stacking too many together like this wouldn't cause a problem? Any kernels of wisdom you would humbly bestow upon us would be very appreciated. 

Never had an issue with cooling even when I let it get really warm in here. Rackmount equipment like servers are designed to be space efficient so the intakes are on the front and the exhaust are on the back.

[brandishwar]

Except the LACK tables are made of particle board. I tried to use one and I couldn't get the screws secured for what I was mounting. And I wasn't trying to mount servers, but a switch and surge suppressor. Not exactly heavy hardware. Instead, I bought rack rails and made a rack using the IDEA RAST nightstand. If you have some power tools, or you're willing to rent some, then you can buy the rails online and buy some wood panels or boards and build the cabinet yourself to whatever height you need for a fraction of the pre-fab cabinets. I did that and will soon be making another cabinet using laminated pine boards from Home Depot.

[1823alex]

17 hours ago, Windspeed36 said:

+1 on the Ikea lack rack concept. keep in mind you need to stack heaviest to lightest.

I actually have my heaviest stuff in the middle, with light on top and bottom lol. Haven't had any issues yet though.

[F4S4K4N]

6 hours ago, brandishwar said:

Except the LACK tables are made of particle board. I tried to use one and I couldn't get the screws secured for what I was mounting. And I wasn't trying to mount servers, but a switch and surge suppressor. Not exactly heavy hardware. Instead, I bought rack rails and made a rack using the IDEA RAST nightstand. If you have some power tools, or you're willing to rent some, then you can buy the rails online and buy some wood panels or boards and build the cabinet yourself to whatever height you need for a fraction of the pre-fab cabinets. I did that and will soon be making another cabinet using laminated pine boards from Home Depot.

 

The LackRack isn't so bad if you used bolts and nuts going through the entire leg. I really only use it because it looks a lot nicer than a real rack in the living room

 

Craigslist generally has really nice racks for next to nothing, and StarTech sells cheap small racks as well.

[Scheer]

I cut a cheap two post rack in half to make a 4 post that fit under my stairs, it is set on a rolling box to use as random storage.

 

The bottoms are just attached by pieces of angle, and the two are joined by a length of 3/8" all-thread.

[TheCamba]

Nicely done.

[Bgordy2013]

On 2/2/2016 at 1:55 PM, sybreeder said:

+1 I also use ikea rack The best part is that you can stack them however you want. 

How is the weight on it? I am planning on picking up a 2U server and I am concerned about the LackRack being able to support something so heavy. How much weight have you got on yours total?

[F4S4K4N]

51 minutes ago, Bgordy2013 said:

How is the weight on it? I am planning on picking up a 2U server and I am concerned about the LackRack being able to support something so heavy. How much weight have you got on yours total?

I have a 6U Sun M4000 in mine and it easily weights 200lbs with the extra cards and such i have in it. I used small deck bolts / nuts with mine, but it holds great.

[JJOATz]

@mcraftax Below are some links to some DIY racks. If I recall correctly Ikea's light-weight stuff is like honeycomb cardboard inside, so if you're going to go that route maybe reinforce the the front using angle iron or galvanized metal strips. You could use an adhesive (e.g. Liquid Nails) to adhere the metal strips to the Ikea furniture and something like J.B. Weld to attach nuts over the holes in the metal strip to have a good solid mount.

 

One quick bit, depending on what your budget is, you may be able to pick up a used rack fairly cheap. I see 42U racks on Craigslist for $100-$200 all the time, it is common to see $100-$125.

 

I missed out on a nice deal years ago for a rack that was about 50 inches tall, which was fully enclosed with a dark smoked glass front door for $50. Something which is manageable and able to be moved.

 

Wood Rack with Angle Iron Rails

http://thehomeserverblog.com/home-servers/diy-19-server-rack-for-home-servers-and-or-esxi-vmware-lab/

 

The Ikea Rack

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-$70-IKEA-Mini-Server-Rack/

 

Angle Iron Rack

http://blog.deadlycomputer.com/2006/09/17/458/

 

All Wood Rack

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-25-16U-Server-Rack/

 

Image Results From Google - May give you an idea of what you want to build.

https://www.google.com/search?q=DIY+server+rack&num=20&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyrOONut_KAhVPxGMKHaU4Af4Q_AUICCgC&biw=1024&bih=637

[Stevelarson]

The server racks usually cost you much and it is really wise to give an attempt to make one by yourself. I have read experiences of many people who had succeeded to create server racks by themselves at a cheaper cost. So why not we try this out? I used to get server racks from https://www.martinenclosures.com/  regularly as they always come up with the best price in the market. Still, there is no harm in trying out by ourselves....