As part of my big upgrade and overhaul of my servers I have purchased a nice shiny new 12U 19″ rack cabinet and 2x 4U template server cases.
This is quite a mammoth project and will take me some time to do properly. As you can see from the picture, I have completed step one, and although slightly blurred, you can make out the network switch, my trusty D-Link router and the UPS powering everything. To the left in the battered Novatech case is Tampa, humming away quietly serving up my blog and several other websites.
Also in the cabinet are the two new 4U server cases, although it may be hard to see as they are black, and the cab is black also… but they are there, and very blank – i.e. boxes that fit on a 19″ with a few ventilation holes… so I have a bit of manual cutting/drilling/DIY bits to do to make holes to mount the ATX motherboards, Power supplies, Hotswap bays etc.
Over the next couple of weeks I shall be building up the new server system, and my rough plan goes like this:
- Move UPS-connected equipment (router, switch, UPS) into cabinet with Tampa linked up from outside the cab
- Hand modify the template cases: drill holes for LEDs and power switch, cut out sections for power supply and fans etc.
- Install Oblivion into first new server case
- Get Oblivion running
- Complete software processing – get existing websites fully source-controlled and working on Oblivion
- Power down Tampa for the first time in months (!), disassemble and re-assemble in second new server case.
- Format Tampa, install Ubuntu server, complete software
- Add tape backup facility
