You can spend $15,000 on a proper, multi-processor, high-powered rig, and just as much on a long-capacity UPS, server rack, and network / power hardware. Or, you can do what I did, and build your own, cheap server rack from a combination of consumer-grade hardware, an enthusiast PC rig, and an array of odds and
To house this variety of unusualk hardware, I needed to build an appropriate "rack". As I had some wood laying around from a deck repair project, I opted to use it - it's been off-gassing for months now, was likely clean, and was the perfect size for my uses.
I opted to go for a three-tier design - the top will be a platform for my 3D printer, an indispensable tool - below, a regular printer, also something I use often in papercrafts and bookbinding, as well as samizdat. finally, the bottom tier will house my actual servers - a Windows workstation, and a Linux NAS. To the side, I will mount my network switches, access point, and wi-fi bridge. As for the design, I made one up on the spot - going off the rough sizes of each component, and a similar design for a desk that I'd made in 2020, I made it from simple 2x2 pieces. As you can see, my wood shop consists of a stool, a stack of 2x4 cut-offs, screwed together, which I made as a jackstand, but doubles as a sawing table / sawhorse / workbench, and my tools - in this case, a nice and cheap Ryobi circular saw - an excellent tool. I'm not a proponent of tool brand console wars, as my Skil corded drill has never let me down, and neither have my Walmart-branded battery drill / impact driver combo tools. Sizing is quite simple - personally, I use my nail to leave two indents, at the bottom and top of the cut, and then complete it with a marking knife, using another, short piece of scrap as my makring knife. Some even saw based on their last piece, but I like to make a line with said piece. Very handy. Everything is screwed together - I like pre-drilling screw-holes ,as I find that leads to far, far less splitting, especially at the ends. I could have used pocket holes, as I have the jig, but frankly, I found this approach would've doubled the time it took. Now, the time has come to actually use it - I brought the entire thing up to my apartment, and for a few days, pondered whether or not to install it (temporarily) next to my desk, or save up enough to buy the ethernet and USB-over-ethernet adapters I need to make it a permanent installation in my closet (which I have yet to empty out anyways.) After some more thought, (and gentle pressue from my dear wife about this massive obstruction in the middle of the bedroom - we live in a very small house, two-room.), I decided to set up the temporary rack, and go from there. Bringing my 3D printer was a bit of a process. Moving the thing is a bit of a hassle, as I'm not very fond of re-calibrating and re-measuring every single axis each time I pick it up. They always get misaligned. Nonetheless, my switch is the next thing - it will be screwed to the side of the rack, to make room for the two consumer-grade-hardware improvised-servers that will be the centerpieces of the setup. one is currently sitting idle, but I'm hoping to change that soon - it will host a rudimentary intranet, an IRC chat, an e-mail host, and a web-host for a second copy of this very website. Tune in next time to see me make a duct tape wallet.Here's how you can add an image:
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