Donation Drive

Post by **Themicles** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:41 pm

ambrosia wrote:What would be our goal?

Nearest goal with the greatest potential for benefit would be building a server rack with filtered air intake to try and protect the hardware from direct assault by this old house. The amount of dust this house produces in a week makes me seriously concerned for my own health, and very tired of dusting servers.

The actual dollar sign on this, I don't have at the moment. I need to make sure the custom rack solution provider that I was eying a few years back is still around and that their prices haven't changed.

Post by **Themicles** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:52 pm

ambrosia wrote:What would be our goal?

Current donation balance: $212.26 USD
$325.65 USD to build a 24RU 30" deep open rack. This will allow me to mount Poseidon, Eostre, Phoenix, and the APC UPS with room for future growth. The depth allows for longer server chassis in the future, and plenty of space for cable management.

ambrosia · Post by **ambrosia** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:57 pm

Themicles wrote:
ambrosia wrote:What would be our goal?
Current donation balance: $212.26 USD
$325.65 USD to build a 24RU 30" deep open rack. This will allow me to mount Poseidon, Eostre, Phoenix, and the APC UPS with room for future growth. The depth allows for longer server chassis in the future, and plenty of space for cable management.

*bounces* Lets see if we can raise that $120 by the end of the month!

Between now and then, Grayking and I will match each dollar that is contributed up to $60! Skip a cup of coffee for Ysgard! $1 will turn into $2! $4 into $8! $10 into $20! etc..! Basically, if you all help pay for half - the whole thing will be covered!

Post by **Themicles** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:25 pm

Donations are up to: $318.07 USD

If we go over the goal, I'll be able to start getting the sliding rails to mount the chassis so they can be pulled out for servicing rather than dismounted completely. I don't have a price on those yet since they tend to be specific to the chassis. I found one universal set, but am waiting on max weight and max weight at full extension information from the manufacturer.

Beyond the rails, there are also side and top panels to turn this into a closed rack, and even doors to make it a full cabinet. Those items I'll probably pay for myself over time if donations don't go over the goal, as they're not necessary but nice for controlling air and for aesthetics.

ambrosia · Post by **ambrosia** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:36 pm

Yay! Awesome! Thanks everybody!

...total should be at least $378 shortly.

Post by **Themicles** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:14 pm

An update on the progress from donations:

Components for an open 24RU, 30in deep server rack were ordered last week and should arrive tomorrow barring any screw ups by UPS.

400w Seasonic 80plus certified, Active PFC power supply was ordered to replace the power supply with the dying fan in Zeus.

This leaves $2.05 USD in the donation pool with a donation in the mail. When that one arrives, I'll update the total.

The next goal is a 50lbs capacity shelf for the rack to place the APC (since this one doesn't have holes for mounting directly to a rack frame). And two sets of slide rails for the servers.

That makes the total goal $129.29. (This includes shipping rates, which may vary depending on the carrier's rates at the time of order.)

Keep in mind that part of the existing money was taken out of the server rack goal to purchase a power supply for Zeus ($59.56 with shipping). Also keep in mind that the original goal did not include the slide rail prices even though I mentioned them. I had not found a suitable set of rails yet. Though the original goal did include the shelf.

Post by **Themicles** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:52 am

Current donation balance: $71.36 USD

The parts for the server rack arrived yesterday. We assembled the rack, and then moved Eostre and Poseidon into the rack. We also relocated the battery backup to a spot on top of the rack.

The rack has taken the place of a make-shift shelf that housed our mini-fridge with my computer sitting on top of the shelf, and the Xboxes perched on top of that. My computer case is empty since rebuilding Zeus with my parts, so it's stuffed in the bottom of the rack at the back. In front of that is the mini-fridge. Top of the rack is the 4u chassis housing Eostre. There's 1u of space between Eostre and the 2u chassis housing Poseidon.

Here are some pictures.

Our tortie posing on top of the mini fridge (what a mess...):

(click for larger size)

Servers mounted and running with the bottom of the 360 and APC battery backup just barely visible on top:

(click for larger size)