to rack mount or not to rack mount

[kkapp]

What are the advantages / disadvantages of bulding a rack mount server vs a desktop case server?

 

[DavidL]

The easy answer is if you are going to use a standard equipment rack, then a rack mount server will "plug in" nicely. Of course you can use a shelf in the rack and put the desktop case on it, but that takes up much more rack spaces and gnerally is more expensive in rack accys. Also, never looks as clean.

If you have a lot of equipment, then a rack tidys things up and certainly gives a polished look to things.

 

[IVB]

The big levers are:

1) Is it in a visible location where appearances are important?

2) Will you have easy access to the back of the rack?

If the answer to either is no, you should consider a regular case. If the answer to both is yes, you shouldn't even consider a rackmount case.

 

[sic0048]

The big levers are:

1) Is it in a visible location where appearances are important?

2) Will you have easy access to the back of the rack?

If the answer to either is no, you should consider a regular case. If the answer to both is yes, you shouldn't even consider a rackmount case.

You don't think a rack mount case can look good? Or rather that a desktop version on a shelf is going to look better than a rack mount case?

 

[DavidL]

A "Rack" mount has a lot of meanings...2 post / 4 post...built in / standalone etc.

The ultimate in clean, pro look is a built in 4 post. Always better looking than a desktop case.

Now, a 2 post standalone rack sitting in the living room wouldn't match most decor or gain much WAF. I suspect this might be what IVB was commenting to.

 

[IVB]

apologies, i may have been unclear. A rackmount case will always look better than a desktop case. But, if you say "no, it's in a hidden location where appearances are unimportant", you should consider a desktop case as it'll be cheaper and have better airflow and room for cable management.

 

[beelzerob]

In my opinion, it boils down to if you're already using a rack. If you've got a rack already, and it has stuff in it already, then why not get a case so that instead of taking up more room somewhere laying on a desktop, it'll be taking up NO room by taking up only vertical space. And in general, probably all of the equipment you'd want to connect to the PC is in the rack too.

I had a media PC case (Silverstone LC17) that wasn't rackmounted, so I bought a rackmount case for my cqc server. It's a very basic case, but looks great in my opinion. Black, very sturdy, and with some clever aspects (like the PSU unit is reversible). In fact, I liked how it fit and looked so much I bought the rack ears for my LC17 too so it could also be mounted. It's just nice to have so much equipment taking up so little space.

*shrug*

I guess I also gave you two options...buy a beautiful desktop case (like the LC17 is) and get the detachable rack ears for it...then you have the best of BOTH choices.

 

[WayneW]

A rackmount case will always look better than a desktop case.

I disagree. A nice rack full of computers is pretty and sexy. An ugly rack with only 1 or 2 computers in it is ugly.

Some racks are meant for show, some are not, so part of it depends upon the rack, side panels, doors, etc. Some short ones are almost furniture grade.

 

[kkapp]

so basically it is just appearances mostly or just personal preference? there is no "mechanical" so to say reason for one verses the other.. price, cooling, etc?

 

[DavidL]

A rack can be more organized, fit more equipment in a given space, Is most always more expensive, has no real bearing on cooling (unless rack cooling solution is incorporated), some are lockable for security and to keep prying hands out of the equipment.

 

[WayneW]

so basically it is just appearances mostly or just personal preference? there is no "mechanical" so to say reason for one verses the other.. price, cooling, etc?

all machines "should" be designed with proper cooling. But, IMHO, 1U servers are too noisy due to the small screaming fans they must use. 2U is better, but still somewhat noisy. 4U is nice... nice big (slower) fans, more places for cards & disks. Just depends upon what you want/need.

 

[Helheim]

I use a rack as it's more organized and can fit more in the same space. If you use sliding rack rails it's easy to put things in and out as well.

Pics

 

[beelzerob]

Pfft...only sissies use sliding rack rails. If you're a real man, then you'll balance your expensive and heavy matrix switcher on one knee while trying to slide in the rack screws...and then leave it hanging by that single screw while you get another one in. No problems.

 

[IVB]

Pfft...only sissies use sliding rack rails. If you're a real man, then you'll balance your expensive and heavy matrix switcher on one knee while trying to slide in the rack screws...and then leave it hanging by that single screw while you get another one in. No problems.

But a real real man will buy a 21" inch rack "because it's bigger", then use 2x4's for the equpment that's only 17" wide, and hence have to use 3 inch long screws to do that which you're saying.

 

[DavidL]

High end Rack:

http://www.cepro.com/images/slideshow/SoundRoom.jpg

http://www.cepro.com/images/slideshow/HomeLogic2.jpg

wish I had that kind of time...

EDIT:

And money