Smaller case for diskless workstations?
comfortable
Sugarland, TX
I'm looking to purchase a case that doesn't occupy too much space. I have several diskless systems that I'd like to deploy as part of a Linux cluster.
This is just a hobby of mine, so I'm not really familiar with the proper enclosures that you'd normally use.
I'm switching living quarters in a few months, so instead of one big enclosure, it'd be nice if they were separate.
Any ideas?
This is just a hobby of mine, so I'm not really familiar with the proper enclosures that you'd normally use.
I'm switching living quarters in a few months, so instead of one big enclosure, it'd be nice if they were separate.
Any ideas?
0
Comments
Small Form Factor cases from FIC (the Condor's case, for example) or other mfrs would be perfect for a diskless workstation, or possibly a DESKTOP case if price is a heavy consideration, as desktop cases can be stacked also, on a desk or table. Consider speed of station, putting a full-sized PSU in a SFF case might be difficult, but they DO fit in desktop cases.
Make some decision as to price and what form factor of case you want to go with, desktop cheapest, a used U1 or U2 would be next bracket up, and SFF premium and new U1 or U2 cases would be highest in price per unit once you include RACK costs for the blades.
TALL Blade racks need to be screwed and anchored into a concrete or reinforced wood, plywood, and beam undergirded floor (they can be 6' high or higher, hold up to 47 U1 blades per rack), short ones (circa 3-4 foot high) could be mounted on 3\4" plywood reinforced with a 2x2 frame and cross-member support under plywood for base. Two 1\2" sheets thick of plywood would be very good base top component. Think of a blade rack for computers as compared to a complete stereo rack component set in stereo cabinet or rack for audio, versus standalone desktop or SFF cases for computers as against mismatched, non-stacking audio components setup placed where space is available.
Yep. And ram + PSUs.
Well designed desktop cases use a bottom-front-to-top-back air flow normally. Plus, they often can be modded or have a bottom fan hole set. Given diskless, one can use a front 5-1/4" bay fan assembly to push more air through case, and a high-flow back fan of 80 mm or 92 mm swize if you mod the fan mount area at back of case to allow for a bigger fan in back.
My mom's desktop case is in a desk\credensa in a closet. I put an 80 mm Panaflo front and back, the thing is not even warm on the metal. It grabs air from a vent in the bottom front of front plate. Without heat from DVD, HDs, and very high-end video card, a desktop case is about 70% open air. Were this not a diskless workstaion, I would say forget desktop, but GIVEN that it is a diskless, it should run cool even witha 5-high stack. To get the airflowe between bottom of case on top of each case and top of the next lower case in stack, simply put in extra feet or tall feet to allow airflow. The stack neeeds to be not in a credensa, it needs to be in open air.
Then the warm air plus spacing sucks air between cases as well as the input fan sucking air into cases. because back is where warm air is, and bottom front vent in front panel is where input air for each case comes in, you do not get a backflow with wamr air being sucked into bottom front of case unless case stack is covered on top. Thus, desktops CAN be stacked, just like blades can.
Blades can be stacked 47U high or higher, and they also suck air in from front and exhaust air from back. THOSE very tall stacks need air suction at back top of stack to keep warm-hot air pressure negative or not positive bahind stack, because if that positive warm\hot air behind stack happens, THEN you get backpressure against the back exhaust fans on blades and the blades end up possibly going into a positive pressure state inside and then they get accumulated temp rise damage over long-term or mid-term.
No no no, I meant the specs of the CPU, video card, what motherboard, etc.