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How to prettify an homelab into a rack? (self.selfhosted)

submitted 1 year ago by abeltramo to c/selfhosted

13 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've turned a couple of old desktop computers into my homelab. They are currently "stacked" on top of each other with a Raspy, router and switch on top and a UPS on the side.

To my eye this looks "pretty enough" but it doesn't score high on the Wife Approval Rating and I would really like to turn it into a "pretty" little rack. Hence, the question: how to do it? Which parts should I get?
I'm mainly having a hard time finding some kind of "rack case" so that I can insert my desktop HW into it; should I buy a server and strip it out?

Just a few more info:

My homelab is extremely silent (since it sits close to my desk) and I would very much like to keep it this way. I absolutely don't want server fans screaming at me all the time.
It would be cool to have a "NAS like" enclosure for the NAS drives that currently sit inside a normal desktop case.
I'm UK based, I know in the US might be easier to get all this stuff, but any tip or help is highly appreciated anyway.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It will never meet the WAR. Just put it in a closet somewhere where the wife can't see it.

[–] abeltramo 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would like to give it a go anyway even if it'll end up not meeting the WAR! I quite like the idea of having it all in an enclosed and tied up space..

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

To satisfy the WAR condition, you also may want to consider an outer shell. Like a side table or something "furniture" adjacent. Cut and drop in a couple well-placed vents (and/or silent fans) and hide it; which is what she wants.