DeskPi RackMate T0 to Organize my Mess

[hcschmitt]

Phase 0

2025-01-24

So this is what my compute pile had become:

I know, not pretty.

Then I saw the @geerlingguy video about mini-rack systems and knew what I had to do. I documented all the devices and their dimensions, what the power and network requirements were for each. Then I did a layout in a graphics program and figured out how to fit everything in. Everything was ordered and eventually arrived. Time to take the plunge.

Phase 1

2025-02-05

What an improvement!

From the top to the bottom:

• eero mesh node on top.
• Rackmate T0
  • A Zyxel GS1100-16 (replacing a TrendNet TEG-S80g, giving me more ports for expansion) mounted with some 3D printed rack ears from Thingiverse. (The mount points aren't quite aligned, so one of the screw isn't in yet.)
  • GeeekPi 0.5U Brush Cable Manager (This is a little too narrow to pass the cables with a tab cover.)
  • Additional RackMate 1U shelf containing:
    • Two Raspberry Pi 4Bs w/8G running 64-bit Debian
    • Raspberry Pi B w/512M running 32-bit Raspberry Pi OS
    • JetKVM attached to the Mac mini
    • (In the back) Anker Prime Charger, 200W acting as a PDU for everything powered via USB.
  • Mac mini (late 2014) running Ubuntu 24.04.1

Phase 1.1

2025-02-09

The ethernet connections have been re-cabled!

The Brush Cable Manager has been replaced by the GeekPi 0.5U 12-port Patch Panel which is cabled up with the Monoprice SlimRun Cat6A 0.5-foot and 1-foot Ethernet Patch Cables recommended by Jeff. Thanx for the tip!

Phase 1.2

2025-02-23

Switched the Mac mini from a shelf to a 3D-printed Server Rack Mount

I got @vrsn3ptoh's Parametric 10 Inch Server Rack Mount printed via CraftCloud using the dimensions of the Mac mini. It's not that much of a difference from having it on a shelf, but it let me play around with 3-D printing.

Future?

• I'd definitely like to rackify it more; looking at the @JaredC01 LabStack for ideas.
• The Brush Cable Manager needs to be replaced by the DeskPi patch panel. Completed 2/9/25

Does anyone have a suggestion for thinner 1-foot ethernet cables? These ones pull the Pis out of place. Used the Monoprice SlimRun patch cables recommended by Jeff in the comments below.

[geerlingguy]

Ha! What a glow-up of that homelab mess :)

[geerlingguy]

And regarding thinner cables, that still can handle 1/2.5/5 Gbps and even PoE+, I have settled on Monoprice for years, they are great: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-SlimRun-Cat6A-Ethernet-Patch/dp/B01BGV2TDM/

[mrp-yt]

And regarding thinner cables, that still can handle 1/2.5/5 Gbps and even PoE+, I have settled on Monoprice for years, they are great: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-SlimRun-Cat6A-Ethernet-Patch/dp/B01BGV2TDM/

Ohhhhh, i will pick some of them. thank you

[hcschmitt]

And regarding thinner cables, that still can handle 1/2.5/5 Gbps and even PoE+, I have settled on Monoprice for years, they are great: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-SlimRun-Cat6A-Ethernet-Patch/dp/B01BGV2TDM/

Ohhhhh, i will pick some of them. thank you

I ordered some two days ago and they came in today (along with the patch panel). So much better than the thick ones. I ordered a batch of 0.5-foot ones as the 1-foot ones are longer than necessary to go from the switch to the patch panel.

Thanx for the recommendation, @geerlingguy!