Is there anything like a set of recommendations for server rack mounting positions? Maybe by weight? What are your recommendations?
Personally, I am looking to build a rack for my office (so nothing like enterprise full height racks). I am planning for 3x 4U servers. One is a storage server with lots of disks, one is a common style desktop build (nothing fancy), and one is a water cooled AIO 14900K build. I am also looking forward to having a shelf to store all my small stuff (router, RAPI), a UPS system, and a network switch.
My idea was (from bottom to top) UPS, storage server, desktop PC, AIO 14900K system, shelf. Is this a good idea? Would you mount the water-cooled system on top of the others without getting nightmares?
I would mount the network switch on the back so I can also use it as a “patch panel”.
if you are not going to bolt the rack down to the floor, you should always load the rack from the bottom, and put the most dense servers on the bottom to reduce the risk of tipping. you never want a rack to be top heavy, and especially if it is not secured.
an AIO does not actually have that much fluid in it, but if it causes you stress, you can lay a plastic sheet between that computer and the one below it assuming you do not block any airflow.
Weight is a good point. I should bold it, especially since I live in an earthquake zone, but I cannot really with my current office situation. Thanks for the info!
Are hard drives (SSD, HDD) more or less water resistant? I would assume that if my AIO dripped a few drops, my mainboard and CPU would be at risk, not the disks. Any thoughts?
The distance of the UPS from the rest to avoid data loss due to fire is not much of a concern? What do you think?
so there is always the possibility that the failure of a motherboard or power supply could kill attached components. but for storage as long as they do not get directly wet, they are more likely to survive.
any failure that causes the UPS to catch fire in a manner that safety measures within the device/circuit to kick in will likely take out anything above it in the rack. regardless of whether it is in direct contact or if there is dead air space in between.
Regarding watercooling, I’d invest in an AquaComputer Leakshield, it detects leaks when they happen and even prevents water spilling from small openings by adjusting the loop’s internal pressure.
Pricy but it actully works and the stuff a leak destroys can be much more expensive.
Then get a 3/4 ing thick sheet of plywood, have them cut it in half at the store so you have 2 4ft by 4ft sheets, glue them together with wood glue (in the paint section of the store), then bolt the rack to that. in 5 years you don’t want to loose the wrong combination of disks from your storage array that just fell 6 feet when the rack tipped over.
Servers that go in xU cases are usually LOUD. make sure that the room you put this in is not regularly occupied by humans. If it is occupied by humans, make sure you put the gear in an acoustically isolated enclosure(+350 to +1600 pre covid).
It is OK to have gear on shelves, the shelves have to be below any hardware that costs more than $100. It is too easy to put a soda on a shelf then bump it.
The room with the computers needs cooling, and possibly it’s own air conditioner.
the noise factor is something to consider. but only prefab machines are loud; they are expected to pull through drive cages, or operate in a datacenter.
If you are rolling them yourself. building a server, even with equivalent parts-- has no reason to be loud with adequate cooling. my buddy and I eliminated prefab servers from our stack purely for the noise reduction.
You also get much wider choice in what configs you get when you build from scratch rather than shopping for used servers in the auction pile.
as for the air conditioning, that is also a valid point. but your standard window unit (assuming this is an at home operation and the room has a window) is capable of exceeding any amount of cooling required by a standard 120v15A circuit, and depending on the exact rating of the window unit, even a 120v20A circuit.
the silverstone rm41-506 4U is another decent option. has 5.25" bays that silverstone has hot swap drive cages for if you do need additional storage capacity.
Thanks for your reply! My situation is a bit different as I would explicitly rack mount my office PCs. So in my case the stuff is for the office and also does not have industrial fans on it. Cooling could be an issue, but I am trying to be as power efficient as possible and am considering installing an AC in my room. So cooling is my biggest concern, but I don’t see how I can do much about it.