Very Computer

I've got a slew of machines that I'd like to consolidate down to just a few
rackmount cases.

Any of you guys have any recommendations for rackmount cases that support
dual mobo?  I need 3U or larger because these systems are running PIIIs.

Thanks!

Repost since I never saw the original show up on my nntp server...

I've got a slew of machines that I'd like to consolidate down to just a few
rackmount cases.

Any of you guys have any recommendations for rackmount cases that support
dual mobo?  I need 3U or larger because these systems are running PIIIs.

Thanks!

Lots 'o luck. I've never seen anything like it in new machines, let
alone as a refit for existing mobos. IMO you haven't thought this out.

I suggest you but a 19" rack and shelves. Some low tower cases can sit
horizontal on a shelf.  Racks are also available in 22 inch width,
which may allow you to put your existing boxes on shelves.

--

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

I've got Compaq 1U cases containing dual PIII mobo. I've never found the
mobo to be the determining factor on rackmount case size, but the number
of peripherals/expansion boards I wanted to fit.

Here's an example (google search ATX 1U case) first link with pictures:
http://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/1U/812/SC812i-400.cfm

It can take up to a 12"x13" extended ATX mobo and has 400 watt PS. Why do
you think you need a 3U or larger?

CB

Quote:> I've got a slew of machines that I'd like to consolidate down to just a
few
> rackmount cases.

> Any of you guys have any recommendations for rackmount cases that support
> dual mobo?  I need 3U or larger because these systems are running PIIIs.

  Why would P3's need a 3U chassis?   P3 CPUs produce VERY little heat
compared to P4/Athlon/Opteron/Xeon chips.  I'd stick each motherboard in a
1U chassis.  Back in the day, I'd stick a Tyan Tiger 200T motherboard in a
1U BoomRack chassis with a pair of 1.13-1.4 GHz chips and these heat sinks:

http://www.xpcgear.com/vanp3soccopc.html

steve

Quote:> I've got Compaq 1U cases containing dual PIII mobo. I've never found the
> mobo to be the determining factor on rackmount case size, but the number
> of peripherals/expansion boards I wanted to fit.

I'm not talking about a dual-cpu motherboard.  I'm talking about two
motherboards.  I've already got severa dual-cpu systems in 2U rackmount
cases without a problem.

Quote:> Why do
> you think you need a 3U or larger?

These PIII's are the slot style and when plugged into the MB it makes it
3.25" tall.  I could go with a 2U, but then the expansion slots are usually
turned sideways and you only get 3, probably not enough to split between two
MB.  So I figured I'd need at least a 3U, probably going to end up with a 4U
solution.

The idea here is instead of buying two 2U cases at $85 (which is about the
best price I've found), maybe I could buy a single case that would hold both
motherboards for $125 - $150.

I don't know about dual mobo cases, but there are multi-mobo cases
available here:

http://www.atxblade.com/

Have you thought this through? Even if you found a way to cram to two
boards into one case where would you put the second power supply?. Also
the cooling probably isn't going to work.

BTW how fast are your PIIIs? An Opteron is 3 to 4 times faster than 1GHz
PIII. If you are looking to save space the right thing to do is to replace
your dual PIIIs with 1U dual Opterons. Each dual Opteron will replace at
least three of your old machines.

Before I begin to respond to this one let me say that for all you guys that
haven't seen this sort of thing, don't waste our time writing me telling me
you haven't seen it, that I don't know what I'm talking about, etc...  They
exist, just because your limited exposure to the real world hasn't impressed
this concept on you doesn't mean it's not real.

I was hoping there were some guys on here who had done this sort of thing
and could point me to the cost-effective way to get this accomplished.  I
guess those guys just don't hang out here.

Quote:> Have you thought this through?

Yes, I've even seen it before.  Here's one, but more expensive than what I
want to pay:

http://www.amtrade.com/ipc/4u_mirror_server_industrial_case.htm

Quote:> Even if you found a way to cram to two
> boards into one case where would you put the second power supply?.

A lot of rackmount cases today come with slot for redundant PS.  So instead
of using it for redundant, you use it for the second board.

These cases are usually speciall-built.  It's not like you just take any
rackmount case and try to squeeze two MB into it, they come made ready for
two.

Quote:> Also
> the cooling probably isn't going to work.

As shown in the link above, cooling isn't an issue.

Quote:> BTW how fast are your PIIIs? An Opteron is 3 to 4 times faster than 1GHz
> PIII. If you are looking to save space the right thing to do is to replace
> your dual PIIIs with 1U dual Opterons. Each dual Opteron will replace at
> least three of your old machines.

First, the PIII is more than fast enough for my needs.  That's the whole
idea of going with Linux, you don't need the latest and greatest rocket ship
to run a decent server.

Second, let's compare cost.  Let's say I can't find a dual MB case cheaper
than $150, then I go with the 2U cases I've already found for $85.  For two
systems all I'm paying out is $170.  I've already got all the rest of the
hardware.  So for two systems I'm out $170.

How much will a dual 1U Opteron cost?  You think I can pick it up for less
than $170?  I doubt it.  I've already got one dual opteron w/ 4G RAM running
and don't think I'll need to spend that much money for this project,
especially considering I've already got the hardware minus the cases.

And what I'm looking for is full machines at low cost.  These PIIIs are more
than enough to do what I need them to do, wasting a lot of money on the
latest and greatest won't actually bring me any benefit, all that horsepower
tied down to just one machine.

When you answered my first response to your OP, I decided to shut up
because in your response, unlike the original posting, you clearly
communicated your requirements:

   1. under $170
   2. needs to support 2 mother boards / PIII slot 1.

I don't know anywhere where you can find a 4U enclosure designed for a
mirror-motherboard setup that will cost you less than 2 standard 2U
enclosures.

If you don't want to get responses from people who don't know where to
find them, quit asking.  I've seen this sort of thing they are designed
for industrial control applications where redundant hot swap motherboard
is required.

Quote:

> I was hoping there were some guys on here who had done this sort of
> thing and could point me to the cost-effective way to get this
> accomplished.  I guess those guys just don't hang out here.

I shut up when I saw you had already found a solution for $170.  A
redundant motherboard case is going to cost a lot more than that.  There
are good reasons.  Some of the questions that appear to have annoyed you
communicate why they are more expensive.  Some one has to engineer how to
supply power and get rid of the heat.

Quote:

> Yes, I've even seen it before.  Here's one, but more expensive than what
> I want to pay:

> http://www.amtrade.com/ipc/4u_mirror_server_industrial_case.htm

My experience is what you've discovered.  To my knowledge, they only exist
in the industrial controller market place. In that marketplace you can
find someone to design an enclosure for just about anything, for a price.
When the alternative is to shut down a production line and idle $$
millions of capital and labor, a couple of hundred bucks is chump change.

Quote:>> Even if you found a way to

cram to two boards into one case where would

Quote:>> you put the second power supply?.

> A lot of rackmount cases today come with slot for redundant PS.  So
> instead of using it for redundant, you use it for the second board.

You don't want to just slap two motherboards into an enclosure with two
power supplies.  You want to get something engineered to suck the heat of
two motherboards out of the box.

Quote:> These cases are usually speciall-built.  It's not like you just take any
> rackmount case and try to squeeze two MB into it, they come made ready
> for two.

The standard 4U boxes with redundant power supplies are perhaps marginally
cheaper than 2 2U boxes with one PS.  Why would you expect a special-built
box to be any cheaper?

When I see special built, I see engineering costs that have to be
spread out over low volume = expensive.

Quote:

>> BTW how fast are your PIIIs? An Opteron is 3 to 4 times faster than
>> 1GHz PIII. If you are looking to save space the right thing to do is to
>> replace your dual PIIIs with 1U dual Opterons. Each dual Opteron will
>> replace at least three of your old machines.

Whoever gave you this advice was obviously on their own agenda.  It
doesn't meet your most important requirement: under $170.  If I were you I
would stop shopping and start ordering the 2U boxes.

CB

If you want the cheapest solution find a better rack rather than repackage
your machines. Costco sells a heavy duty wire rack that can hold 20 tower
cases (four shelves * five towers). It costs less than one of your kludge
cases and the floor space it takes will be about the same. It also is on
wheels so you can move the whole assembly around which is a nice plus.

You could consolidate all of your servers into a blade style chassis.
Rackmount.com is selling a DIY ATX blade chassis
http://www.racksource.com/Rackmt/ATXBladeS100.htm