Bear with me as this project will span some time.
So I've been playing around with servers in my free time(which isn't much) and finally decided it's high time to get my house wired up properly. It's also helpful now that I actually own a house that I can modify to my liking.
So here's the current mockup of what I'm heading towards.
On the left side, the two 2x4s are spaced just over 21" apart, this is close to what I need but just a bit too much. I'm going to have to install a spacer to reach the proper 19" width of my rack. On the right side is just enough space between the studs to install slide out shelves to hold up to 2 ATX tower cases. Until I start acquiring actual server boxes, this will be my server platform.
The Plan:
- Wire the house with CAT 6 cable to enable connectivity growth for present and future applications.
- Build stationary rack and tower case shelves using existing framework of staircase to basement.
- Purchase a quad or dual NIC to finish PFSense build and get it configured/installed.
- Purchase patch panel and switch to fit in new rack.
- Set Wireless router to AP mode, check old router for same functionality.
- Move file/backup server to sliding shelf.
- Move PFSense build to second sliding shelf
- Run coax cable from cable box to modem in basement
- Purchase remaining Node Zero equipment.
- Install NZ equipment.
- Install XMBC on old laptop to co locate with living room TV as server/media center.
Materials:
Have
- File/Backup server in Full Tower ATX case
- PFSense build(minus NIC) in mATX eMachines case
- Sliding Shelves Hardware and wood for shelves
- Netgear AC Wireless Router
- TP-LINK 5 port switch
- Netgear Wireless Extender
- Old ASUS laptop to use as media server
- Surge protection power strip
Need(list will continue to grow as planning continues)
- 16+ port gigabit switch
- Rack rails
- 2x4s to finish rack structure
- 4+ device KVM(USB)
- Slide out rack tray: Keyboard/mouse
- 1000' CAT 6 solid copper cable
- CAT 6 wall plates and jacks
- CAT 6 patch cables .5 to 3 feet length
- 16+ port patch panel
- UPS Power Distribution
Well, that's all the time I have right now. Stay tuned for updates as I get this planned out more detailed.
So I've been playing around with servers in my free time(which isn't much) and finally decided it's high time to get my house wired up properly. It's also helpful now that I actually own a house that I can modify to my liking.
So here's the current mockup of what I'm heading towards.
On the left side, the two 2x4s are spaced just over 21" apart, this is close to what I need but just a bit too much. I'm going to have to install a spacer to reach the proper 19" width of my rack. On the right side is just enough space between the studs to install slide out shelves to hold up to 2 ATX tower cases. Until I start acquiring actual server boxes, this will be my server platform.
The Plan:
- Wire the house with CAT 6 cable to enable connectivity growth for present and future applications.
- Build stationary rack and tower case shelves using existing framework of staircase to basement.
- Purchase a quad or dual NIC to finish PFSense build and get it configured/installed.
- Purchase patch panel and switch to fit in new rack.
- Set Wireless router to AP mode, check old router for same functionality.
- Move file/backup server to sliding shelf.
- Move PFSense build to second sliding shelf
- Run coax cable from cable box to modem in basement
- Purchase remaining Node Zero equipment.
- Install NZ equipment.
- Install XMBC on old laptop to co locate with living room TV as server/media center.
Materials:
Have
- File/Backup server in Full Tower ATX case
- PFSense build(minus NIC) in mATX eMachines case
- Sliding Shelves Hardware and wood for shelves
- Netgear AC Wireless Router
- TP-LINK 5 port switch
- Netgear Wireless Extender
- Old ASUS laptop to use as media server
- Surge protection power strip
Need(list will continue to grow as planning continues)
- 16+ port gigabit switch
- Rack rails
- 2x4s to finish rack structure
- 4+ device KVM(USB)
- Slide out rack tray: Keyboard/mouse
- 1000' CAT 6 solid copper cable
- CAT 6 wall plates and jacks
- CAT 6 patch cables .5 to 3 feet length
- 16+ port patch panel
- UPS Power Distribution
Well, that's all the time I have right now. Stay tuned for updates as I get this planned out more detailed.