PC Peripherals The Ubuntu LAMP server project - Part I - How to build a case

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superczar

superczar

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The story so far:

I thought of building myself a Ubuntu based LAMP server that works as a standalone (i.e. no keyboard/mouse/monitor) torrent downloader , file and ftp server...

Opted for a Celeron 420 (single core merom) , 512 MB RAM and a jetway micro ATX 945 mobo as the core parts (I know it is performance overkill for a LAMP server, but the celeron has a tdp of 35W and is fairly cheap anyway)

Now to setup the whole box, I obviously am going to need a small case...

Constraints:

- Cannot look like a PC box...the lady would kill me :cry: if she sees more messed up comps in the house so small ATX cabbies are out

- A HTPC case though better than the former option is also out for the same reason

the box needs to look unobtrusive, or better still, should look like a work of art

so I zeroed down on a couple of options

A) build a setup in a big shoebox like case, then paint/decorate :ashamed:
but am not sure how well cardboard will hold up

B) I have a dremel kit so fabricate a plywood base to mount the components and then house it in a cardboard box, then paint/decorate :ashamed:

C) Any other options that you guys can think of

The system needs to accomodate a micro atx mobo, 1-2 3.5" HDDs and a PSU

any suggesstions?
 
LAMP= Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP

to be used as:

a) dedicated low power download rig (controlled via a browser interface)

b) dedicated file server (mapped to other machines in the network as a network drive)

c) controllable via VNC to start any other intended long drawn process (e.g. multiple video encodings)
 
a) get hold of an old atx cabby.
b) remove the right and rear sides i.e., mobo tray, i/o panel and pci slots.
c) build a cabby around this using plywood or any other suitable material.
 
Antec NSK 2400/2480 (way too overkill but looks HTPCish), NSK 1300/1380, Minuet 300 ?? :ashamed:
The 2400 will go with the amp of your HTPC and shouldn't look outta place- lady asuumes something of the same breed.
The others will be lil outta place.
You can always claim it's a DIY advanced DAC or something. :P
cons- matx only.

Edit- the NSK1300 is fugly enough to look like some electronic gadget. :P
 
get a pair of wooden poofies made that compliment the sofa or some furniture or the decor and assemble inside that. :ashamed:
make sure one side has exhaust fans with grills.

alternatively a wooden unit to seat the electronics you have and house the LAMP server inside. :P

Have seen Yamaha downfiring subs that look like poofies.
Sat on one in a friend's studio and didn't know till the Shiva boomed. :P
 
Which psu you will be using.?
The cheapest and aesthetically appealing case i can think of right now is try to get hold of some old cassete deck / cd player (front loading types) of reputed brands. some upmarket ones had wooden baffles on both the sides (rose wood etc...), remove whatever is inside and install ur system. try not to get too big a size, which will defeat the purpose of this exercise.
if you can manage to get a passive heat pipe cooling solution and if you are not using any big card in the pci slot then the height should not be a problem. even otherwise if needed you can cut a suitable hole on top of the case (using ur dremel) and install a visually appealing , after market heat sink. This way you will have a visually appealing case and The Lady would not mind it since she will never know whats in the box.( A very major issue indeed(Lady Throwing out our beloved toys to make place for their's) which the kids here do not realise for now !!!!)
 
Man, get hold of a fabrication workshop. (May be u can use a good workshop where they do welding and all) You can make a metal box to your design and specification and powder coat it with some funky colors. (you can also keep this as a stand for something, say like flower vase, but a PC will be running indside :P)
 
just curious , what do you need apache/php/mysql for ?

its great for use as a webserver , but as a home server ... :S samba comes with 7.10, and a gui for it as well. should be good as a fileserver.
 
I had the same question - what is the AMP for?

For your purposes, you can use just Ubuntu plain (with Samba) or Windows home server (even that would be overkill). You don't need the whole Apache/MySql/Php thing. Even in the furture, if you do decide to put up a webpage (on an Indian BB connection? good luck!), I doubt you'd need MySql.
 
methinks he wants a webui for the whole thing so that he can use it as an ftp+ downloader and remote admin the whole thing . still think its overkill :P
 
methinks he wants a webui for the whole thing so that he can use it as an ftp+ downloader and remote admin the whole thing . still think its overkill
Click to expand...

Ejjhactly...

If there are any better (and easier) options, do let me know

I am going to get cracking on this thing tomorrow

@Greeny...Funny link indeed :D

A very major issue indeed(Lady Throwing out our beloved toys to make place for their's) which the kids here do not realise for now !!!!)
Click to expand...

:rofl:

They'll know...give the some time :rofl:
 
Strip the side panels and front panel of any old atx cabby, get hold of a carpenter and get the thing covered by plywood and make it look like a bookshelf speaker..complete with the speaker diaphragm in the front..:lol:

And only problem tht i see happening here is tht the lady may ask you as to why those speakers dont play no moosik??? :lol:
 
Try building a Pico, Nano ITX setup if its just for downloading. Some 17x17cm, low power, passive cooled goodiness :P I want to build one once I build my new machine. Check out - Mini-Box.com
 
superczar said:
the box needs to look unobtrusive, or better still, should look like a work of art
Click to expand...

superczar said:
The system needs to accomodate a micro atx mobo, 1-2 3.5" HDDs and a PSU
Click to expand...

superczar said:
any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Umm, none?

Your needs are kind of contradictory.

I would go with the suggestion of going smaller than micro-ATX, try mini-ITX (weren't we discussing a new Intel board on another thread?) and a PicoPSU which can run off a wallwart, and a single laptop disk. If you can survive with this (as I have no idea what a LAMP is), you can actually dump it into a shoebox. Cardboard will do fine, just line the inside with a lot of Alfoil or your EMI will literally go through the roof. And double layer it for better strength in the walls.

MicroATX is 10 inches each side. Difficult to hide, plus if you're looking at using the regular 3.5" harddisks and an ATX supply, it's like hiding a second car in the garage. If you don't mind deception, you can mount it all on an open board, and claim it's the innards of one of your current machines! :D
 
I would go with the suggestion of going smaller than micro-ATX, try mini-ITX (weren't we discussing a new Intel board on another thread?) and a PicoPSU which can run off a wallwart, and a single laptop disk. If you can survive with this (as I have no idea what a LAMP is), you can actually dump it into a shoebox. Cardboard will do fine, just line the inside with a lot of Alfoil or your EMI will literally go through the roof. And double layer it for better strength in the walls.

MicroATX is 10 inches each side. Difficult to hide, plus if you're looking at using the regular 3.5" harddisks and an ATX supply, it's like hiding a second car in the garage. If you don't mind deception, you can mount it all on an open board, and claim it's the innards of one of your current machines!
Click to expand...

I have a mini-itx with a 2.5" in my carputer so I know this would have easily made the best choice... (http://www.techenclave.com/forums/pimp-my-ride-91167.html?highlight=carputer)

having said that, none of the mini ITX available locally had a SATA port and that is a fatal flaw for a system meant to (also) work as a file server which essentially left micro atx as the only available option...

Currently trying to layout the components on a piece of plywood (micro atx mobo...a stripped down PSU and a 3.5" HDD with buffer space for another HDD)

The plywood should provide decent structural integrity after which I am hoping to slide the strip in a suitable cardboard box...

since this system is going to be thrown in a corner so EMI intereference isnt a big concern
 
sangram said:
Umm, none?
...if you're looking at using the regular 3.5" harddisks and an ATX supply, it's like hiding a second car in the garage.
Click to expand...

The first suggestion for 2.5" HDDs...I was wondering why noone had brought it up yet.

@superczar: Why not 7.2k rpms laptop HDDs? Will cut down size/heat/power-consumption drastically...
 
^^ It's a dedicated download/file server guys..using 2.5" ers is impractical for large storage requirements...e.g:

1TB with 3.5" -> 6K X 2 = 12K

1TB with 2.5" HDDs = 6.5K X 4 = 26K

:P
 
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