Reddit reviews StarTech.com 12U AV Rack Cabinet - Network Rack with Glass Door - 19 inch Computer Cabinet for Server Room or Office (RK1236BKF),Black
We found 13 Reddit comments about StarTech.com 12U AV Rack Cabinet - Network Rack with Glass Door - 19 inch Computer Cabinet for Server Room or Office (RK1236BKF),Black. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
KEEP EQUIPMENT COOL AND SECURE: This AV rack cabinet locks tight while abundant venting promotes passive cooling to keep your server room equipment at an optimal temperatureMAXIMIZE MOBILITY: With heavy-duty casters included, this easy to transport and quick-assemble 12U network rack is ready to move when you areCONVENIENT ACCESSIBILITY: With its dark glass door, this audio video cabinet allows you to view your equipment even while locked.Side Panel Construction:AluminumSTANDARD COMPATIBILITY: This 19” computer rack cabinet is compatible with standardized rack-mountable equipment such as servers and KVM switches, and has an adjustable mounting depth of up to 29”RELIABLE AFTER-PURCHASE SUPPORT: StarTech.com offers a lifetime warranty along with lifetime support for this floor standing cabinet
Ok... so that’s way out of the budget.
Has anyone used something like this? StarTech 12U Enclosed Rack
As u/wtallis said, it's a 12U rack from StarTech.
EDIT: just a comment on it if you're considering it. The build quality is pretty inconsistent and a considerable amount of the different holes for the hinges don't line up quite right. I ended up having to correct the holes with my drill.
Hmm, if some dude really want to steal your heavy, obsolete servers... that would be something. Doubt the cabinet lock would stop him. I’ve seen a handful of server mounted vertically, they all flow so much air it’s not going to be an issue. Of course, if your garage is 110F in the summer, that will be the issue.
If you feel like investing, maybe this:
StarTech.com 12U AV Rack Cabinet - Network Rack with Glass Door - 19 inch Floor Standing Audio Visual Computer Cabinet (RK1236BKF) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZLV5HA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fc.5CbFZ1XRDC
Something like this might work, but is outside your budget: https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-Portable-Server-Rack-Cabinet/dp/B006ZLV5HA/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=startech%2Brack&qid=1564133984&s=computers&sr=1-7&th=1
I'm not sure if you're going about this the most efficient way though. Racks take up quite a bit of floor space. That's okay if you can stack stuff very high, but as it stands you will only put one 2u chassis in it, and a rackmount UPS (full-depth, or shorter?), and maybe your PC.
Rack cases for your PC won't be all that quiet by the way, at least not if you get a 2U model. The biggest fan you can fit in 2u is ~80mm, that's not brilliant compared to the 120 or 140mm fans we're used to in desktop or even small form factor builds. Finding an 80mm rad may also be more difficult, the standard sizes are shifting to 120 or 140mm as far as I can tell.
I wonder if you could mount the UPS somewhere out of the way (under desk?), and DIY a smaller mounting solution for the pi's which you could then put on top of your tower PC. More accessible, too.
Something like this, perhaps: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1936196
This one is almost exactly 30" tall
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZLV5HA/
I don't know of any tops that fit on top of that rack. Normally open frame racks aren't meant to have any top whatsoever so not many people make them AFAIK. If you want an "open frame" rack with a top, you're best off buying an enclosed rack and removing the side panels and doors. The closed rack equivalent I'd recommend from startech is RK1236BKF
With your needs, I'd take a look at this StarTech 12U. It's enclosed and has options for "wood" panels or metal that wouldn't look too out of place in a living room or bedroom. The wood trim options are spendy, but the glass door 12U comes in at about $400. Still not cheap, but better than most options out there. The open version of this rack is about $200.
Funny enough now that I'm doing a quick search to compare more, I'm finding okay ones below $300 for US. The prices seem to be overall similar. When I was looking I would often find what I wanted but at $400 up to $900+ (StarTech, Tripplite, etc) and easily found UK ones for below £250 ($335.42ish?). I was mainly looking at short depth but above 8U and only seemed to find good options abroad, like this:
UK (really like it): https://www.amazon.co.uk/19-Inch-Server-Rack-Cabinet/dp/B005TI4JDM
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/19Power-Standing-Server-Cabinet-Tempered/dp/B010MFB5C4
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mount-Server-Cabinet-Tempered-Glass/dp/B01MYXKLX5
US: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-RK1236BKF-Knock-Down-Cabinet-Casters/dp/B006ZLV5HA
US: https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Enclosure-Cabinet-SR24UB/dp/B0043WF9E8
I also love these 10" rack cabinets, which would work great for NUC style cases or custom whiteboxs with mini-ITX but I can't find them anywhere in the US: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inch-Network-Cabinet-Tempered-Glass/dp/B0106RQP9G/ref=pd_sbs_147_4
Why so big if you're just doing 2 switches and 2 patch panels? The patch panels are going to be 2U each and the switches will typically only be 1U. Most PDUs are typically 1U. Even a large storage server isn't usually more than 4U.
You could go with something like this: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-RK1236BKF-Knock-Down-Cabinet-Casters/dp/B006ZLV5HA/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&qid=1503507320&sr=8-26
Mounting a 32.5 inch rack on a wall, especially with hinges would require some serious hardware to keep it on the wall. Put a tape measure to the wall at 33 inches where you plan to put this rack, then rock it like a hinged door.
For one third of the price, you could get something without sides. Many people opt for floor racks on casters for these types of setups:
https://www.amazon.com/12U-4-Post-Open-Rack/dp/B0037ECAJA/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1501683124&sr=1-18&keywords=startech+rack
or with sides:
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-RK1236BKF-Knock-Down-Cabinet-Casters/dp/B006ZLV5HA/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1501683350&sr=1-8&keywords=12u+rack
Maybe this Startech 12U cabinet.
Shelving? Just find whatever floats your boat and can hold the weight.
Rack? https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Rack-Enclosure-Server-Cabinet/dp/B006ZLV5HA?th=1
No experience with that one, but Startech makes pretty good racks for the price range.
Storage? Dell storage. I've only read that it's pretty open when it comes to DAS. I ran a whitebox freenas (iscsi) for an r710 (starting from ground up with the r710 again).
StarTech 12U https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZLV5HA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kwMYCb1NWGX4Z