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LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

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Re: LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

#31

Post by metadat »

silicon2401 wrote: post #23

can somebody with more server/home server experience explain to me the benefit of going with a rackmount setup vs let's say, just building a second PC to use as a home server? I recently bought a house and am excited to get into home networking/home server work, but don't know anything about rack mount. Is rackmount equipment cheaper than regular consumer PC hardware?

Already discussed at length here on HN as well and especially r/homelab et. al., algolia search to the rescue:

https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...

http://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/

http://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/

http://www.reddit.com/r/HomeServer/

https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php

Good luck! Rackmount machines are their own world. Done right they last longer than desktops with the added benefit of typically being quite loud. Stay cool. B-)

Re: LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

#32

Post by jhot »

silicon2401 wrote: post #23

can somebody with more server/home server experience explain to me the benefit of going with a rackmount setup vs let's say, just building a second PC to use as a home server? I recently bought a house and am excited to get into home networking/home server work, but don't know anything about rack mount. Is rackmount equipment cheaper than regular consumer PC hardware?

I've been happily self hosting with used workstations from local businesses that I have contacts at. When they upgrade they offload old workstations for nothing. They usually have Xeons and ECC ram and make great, quiet servers. Rack mount can be really loud, especially 1u.

For networking gear, it can be nice to have a small rack, but very much not necessary.

Re: LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

#33

Post by ocdtrekkie »

silicon2401 wrote: post #23

can somebody with more server/home server experience explain to me the benefit of going with a rackmount setup vs let's say, just building a second PC to use as a home server? I recently bought a house and am excited to get into home networking/home server work, but don't know anything about rack mount. Is rackmount equipment cheaper than regular consumer PC hardware?

The only real reason to rack mount at home is organization: If you have a firewall, switch, router, a server, a NAS, and a backup battery, it's really nice and clean to enclose it all in a rack.

However, rack equipment will always cost more than non-rack equipment because rack equipment isn't targeted for consumers. An APC UPS that fits in a rack is $500, when the equivalent standalone one is $150.

Noise is another downside to rack equipment: It's designed to run in rooms with massive air conditioners, so the noise floor they're trying to stay under is "sports stadium".

Re: LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

#34

Post by haunter »

jakeinspace wrote: post #28
derekerdmann wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Is rackmount equipment cheaper than regular consumer PC hardware? Never

You can find incredibly cheap (nearly free) used servers for pickup if you’re patient. If you have cheap electricity (or better yet, provided with your lease), a 2013-era dual Xeon server is pretty compelling at $50.

Wish I can find an Xserve for that much!

Re: LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

#36

Post by wongarsu »

silicon2401 wrote: post #23

can somebody with more server/home server experience explain to me the benefit of going with a rackmount setup vs let's say, just building a second PC to use as a home server? I recently bought a house and am excited to get into home networking/home server work, but don't know anything about rack mount. Is rackmount equipment cheaper than regular consumer PC hardware?

When buying new and presented with the option, the rack mounted option will be more expensive (because professional) and louder (no space for large fans, they compensate with higher fan speeds). Rack mounts are more interesting for network hardware (because of lack of options) and second hand. Second hand rack-mounted stuff can be very cheap for the performance you get, but also energy hungry and loud.

Re: LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

#37

Post by flyinghamster »

silicon2401 wrote: post #23

can somebody with more server/home server experience explain to me the benefit of going with a rackmount setup vs let's say, just building a second PC to use as a home server? I recently bought a house and am excited to get into home networking/home server work, but don't know anything about rack mount. Is rackmount equipment cheaper than regular consumer PC hardware?

Most rackmount servers have some sort of remote management interface, which makes it a lot easier to work with them on a headless basis.

Pitfalls: Server-class hardware can take a very long time to POST, as they're intended to run 24x7, and (especially 1U and 2U boxes) tend to have extremely loud fans.

If you want a quiet server, your best bet is to build it up from a server motherboard and a 4U case, and use quiet fans like Noctua.

Re: LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)

#38

Post by daneel_w »

bborud wrote: post #13
daneel_w wrote: post #8

The melamine pads under the feet of the Lack tables become brittle with time and eventually crack under only 30-ish kg of weight, causing the table to slant. My own experience.

I wonder if it would help to fill them with some high density expanding foam? (Using some form of resin would probably be prohibitively expensive).

Maybe snap/chisel the melamine off and replace with felt pads or something.
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