Hi Folks,

 

I see a lot of chatter on the board about this Norco 4220 case, and of course, since we never seem to be satisfied with what we have, I'm starting the research into a larger server  . I'm Currently using the 590 case, and have it populated with 10 drives... only space for 2 more!! So, down the road, when those slots are full as well, I'm going to be 'forced' to upgrade  ...

 

The question: How are people 'implementing' their Norco 4220 rackmount cases? Does everyone who have one of these monster cases have a rack in their basement/office, or are they just laying the case flat on the ground/on a shelf somewhere?

 

I love the idea of 20 hot-swappable drives, but I just can't see myself buying a rack for my place... Unless a super-mini rack exists....

 

Thanks for any feedback you 4220ers (or anyone else for that matter!) may have!

You can get half height 24u racks.

 

Also I have seen shots of people using these :-

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002MAPRYK/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001U14MO8&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=02MS4AJ35YM90FK3YFJ9

 

which are pretty tidy if expensive.

It is too deep to sit in a conventional shelf.

 

I have set large rackmount cases like that on tables, concrete blocks, file cabinets, and safes..... no problems as long as whatever you set it on is studry and can handle the weight.  It will be heavy, particularly after populating it with a bunch of drives.

 

I don't recommend the floor ore within 24 inches of the floor, as it will have much more dust intake.

I made my own rack out of wood and I bought the rails.

I did the same thing.  Used MDO Plywood (MDO is faced with a coating of resin paper and takes veneer glues and paints perfectly). I left the back open, so the basic carcass is two sides a top and a bottom. Mounted 4 large casters to the bottom plate. And made the unit 48" high (the width of a plywood sheet) and 30" deep.  I required one sheet of MDO and a 4x4 (half sheet) of regular plywood which I used for the bottom.  MDO is  generally a special order whereas regular 3/4" plywood can be had in 4x4 ,  and 4x8  sheets quite easily.

 

I put mounting rails on the front only and mounted angle irons (could have used 1x3 wood) as supports where necessary.  The only real heavy unit in the rack is the unRaid server so it is supported by side angle irons which it just slides on. There is a picture of it in the pimping your rig thread. I could have built it to take sliders but that would have upped the cost of everything. Don't think it cost me $200 all told

Some good ideas! Thanks guys!

 

I'm not too sure if I would go the build-your-own route, as my carpentry skills may not be up to the task... . Perhaps a 4u table top rack of some sort would be the best compromise... Haven't found anything yet, but I'll keep looking

 

Following the link to the Startech one, I noticed there seems to exist some wall-mountable racks. Not sure I would trust an unRaid box to one of those. My 10 drive 590 already weighs a ton. I can't imagine a wall-mounted rack would really be able to support the weight...

 

Has anyone used a wall-mounted rack with unRaid?

I don't know if they even make a wall mount unit big enough, the 4220 is DEEP.  Check craigslist and bay, you can find them cheap

It comes with little rubber feet btw... so I guess they think not EVERYONE is going to be using a rack.

 

 

It comes with little rubber feet btw... so I guess they think not EVERYONE is going to be using a rack.

 

 

 

Yeah, but the adhesive is crap.  The first time I moved my 4220, all the rubber feet just sort of fell off.

Rubber feet ehh... That's actually encouraging! Sounds like the manufacturer is ok with the case lying on its side... Even if the feet *do* fall off easily

Oh, well I put the feet on the bottom.  Maybe they were intended for the side, I didn't think of that...

 

Yeah, I see no problem with running the 4220 on its side, though.

To be honest, I meant 'bottom' when I said 'side' .... But since you bring it up, side might make it more space-friendly...

Don't put it on its side, then all the data will fall off the harddrives.... 

Not if you use a magnet to hold it all in place. Sheesh! Everyone knows that!