2UBG3: Beige G3 2U-Rackmount Build Obsession Revived!

[Trash80toG4]

Retrieving a 9 year old project from the pile-o-procrastion on the top shelf of the rack doesn't constitute the necro nonsense

Resurgence in obsessive/compulsive leanings here could be mania inducing, gotta watch that. This was brought on by tangential happenings in this year's Marchintosh project.

2UBG3 - Beige G3 2U Rackmount build - Prototyping a Homebuilt Box

OK, here we go! I finally decided which one of the several crazy notions to prep for a lasercut layout: PSU in the pic is a stand in for the tiny little 1U unit scheduled for a Saturday delivery. 5.25" peripherals bay becomes available once I bolt all the new and pictured components in...

68kmla.org

Old pics, I've got a far better 3 Card Riser than I had at the time. 1U PSU will be mounted sideways behind the logic board.

This one's from when I had it set up in a nook of the HackHutch.

Just pulled the trigger on the best 2U case I've ever run across at a reasonable price!
2U Server Chassis -Rosewill - $80

Of course it'll be torn apart and mounted backwards, pulling air thru the full length filters of the 2U Netra T2000 bezel that arrived today. Gotta get that 1U power supply to mount sideways for airflow overtop. Case arrives in three days . . .

2UBG3 case will slide in atop the 4U PEx/Netrat 1125 sans mounting ears. 6U of bridge machine goodness . . . at some point . . .


How many watts were the DT & MiniTower power supplies? Haven't got either handy ATM.

 

[Trash80toG4]

Made some progress on layout, trimmed plexi plate to fit atop the bottom cover plate of the 4U Netrat 1125 for visualization until the 2U Case arrives. It's fans will be at the back, pulling air in from the filtered 2U Netra T2000 front panel.

Board is set back from the front for cable management and 5.25" multifunction bay that houses laptop DVD. Cable races on left and right sides. Top will be hinged plexi for access to both sides. DVD and PSU are standins for fitment tests.

500w 1U PSU on the way, that's probably enough power.


It'll all fit, waiting time for parts now.

 

[bakkus]

I love your mad 3D puzzles. That's all

 

[Trash80toG4]

Thanks much! Noggin' works in 3D. I can use all the encouragement/suggestion posts I can get in my topics.
If you like this one, take a look at the old MLA thread for more pics of this minimum footprint 3U version.

This was the first implementation of the trap door concept. It's only 9" deep and a tad less than 11.75" wide.
Going full rackmount footprint with bit of Plexiglas origami, lopping 1U off the top splays things out nicely:

- moves PSU to somewhere sideways at the rear of the case
- makes room for floor mounted HDD just like the desktop donor
- moves personality card to right, mounted on the trap door via cable based PCI risers
- frees up cubic on the left for 5.25" multi-function bay
- movie sound card to the right
- provides cubic on the right to service PCI bay (will drill 3 holes on that side of the case for screwdriver access)
- large desktop grommet under multi-function bay will run cables to the outside world
- allows unplugging cables to slide unit off its 4U Sun Server shelf for service

Beautiful 2U Sun Server faceplate has:
- - hinges
- - clips
- - nice green rubber finger holds for flipping it down
- - power button with LED light pipe
- - recessed silver button for reset(?)
- - six more light pipes for LED playtime

Thankfully I have the time do my taxes before 2U case arrives.