How I built my own "MONSTER" Rack Server. - [Main Site]

Final Thoughts


Looking back I learned several things. On this page I'll share with the world so that others can benefit from my experiences:
  • Buy the outer plexiglass after the frame is built and sized. Working in reverse order, while possible, complicates each inner step
  • 19" racks are 19" on the inside. Mine is 17" on the inside between the wood parts. This kept me from using anything 19" mountable
  • A two step drill bit will fracture these plastic shelves. Use a dull bit - as it will heat its way through.
  • Small motherboards are much easier to fit space wise into a shelf.
  • When working on lower shelves, finish them before going to the next higher one. I neglected to attached the bottom shelf CD player until the end. Which meant I had to pull the shelf to work on it. Just extra work that wasn't necessary.
  • Wiring is important and should not be over looked: 5 PCs have 8 wires each -> 40 wires from the PCs to the quick connect, 40 wires from the connect to the LEDs, Switches on the front panel.
  • Switches on PCs are open circuits until the button is pressed, then its a closed circuit until the switch button is released.
  • LEDs with a cross over voltage of 2 volts will work in your PC

In all, this was a fun experience - which met most of my original goals.
Would I do it again? Yes -- but I would do things a bit differently. :D
AD