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⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
0:00 Home Lab Rack Build
2:01 Reusable Cable Management
3:18 Special Label Zip Ties
3:47 Modular Patch Panel & Keystones
7:33 Rack Studs VS Cage Nuts
10:55 Server Rails
12:15 Open Frame Server Racks
14:33 Rack Mounted Power Distribution
16:28 Rack Shelves
18:22 Patch Cables
22:22 Rack Skateboard
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Love the comment, "the cloud is still racked somewhere"!!!
lots of people does not understand that unfortunately... Lots of people thinks that data is really in the cloud (physically)... just stupid right...
@@me_doing_or_making_things4776 Those same folk seem to think that paying someone to do all that cloud shit for you makes it cheaper too. While this is sometimes true, some workloads just make way more sense on prem, or in your own private cloud.
The Cloud is just someone else's computer
@@me_doing_or_making_things4776 tj
Every time someone says "the cloud" around me, I always say that just means someone else's server. Thanks for the video, its nice to get the opinion of someone that does it so much.
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To avoid scuffing, you can stick on thin adhesive felt sheets cut to size on those shelves and slide the server in and out w/o issue... The felt helps with sliding heavier servers in and out
That's a good idea thanks!
Enjoyed the video, but as a long time IT guy, I have to recommend torquing the bolts in your rack properly, and using at least 4 screws to mount a piece of hardware or shelf near the top, middle, and bottom of the rack. Your rack absolutely should not sway like that. These StarTech racks are solid as a rock when set up properly.
I think it would also help to use 4 screws/nuts on the equipment instead of only two bottom ones on each piece of hardware. Make the rack more stiff.
As someone who works in a data center I can say Velcro is your best friend.
The modular keystones are highly recommended in a home lab (non-punch-down) because if you are truly ‘homelabbing’, you are changing things around and those make it very easy to rearrange cables in the back of the patch panel as needed.
Exactly the same home lab rack setup I have minus the rack studs. Already had the rack and was inspired by the rack in the studio sometime last year and mirrored most of the parts, absolutely love it! Even suggested and incorporated the patch panel at work after demonstrating how I use it.
I love Rack Studs!! Discovered them about 3 years ago and will never go back. I've never tried to test them limits, but would be happy to see you do it.
Would love to see you test how much weight rack studs can hold!
Sounds like a fun video, guess I will have to make it. ;)
Me too 🤣
yehh do it
The Rack stud website has 2 different types and the sheer force is about 45 lbs per peg. Rack Studs extremely discourages their product use when transporting rack mounted items just a heads up.
I too would love to see the "real" shear point on the studs. I have some equipment that the traditional studs are OVERKILL but it is heavier than switches and such!
I swear, whenever I need an in depth video on a IT topic, I find it here! Thanks a lot Tom!
Those rack studs are awesome, we have used them on literally thousands of racks and had no issues. They updated them to fit more racks.
Great video as always inspired me get my home lab back up and running after having to move it and got some good ideas from the video!
Thank you for showcasing how easy it is to keep racks organized. Every time I would walk into a client data center, I would cringe at everything from the "spaghetti curtains" to the pile of loose gear stacked on top of the racked servers. The MDF sheet is a spiff idea, especially if you don't have fans in the top of your cab.
One tip for mounting gear in a rack. Put a couple of screws in the rails just below where the bottom edge of the equipment will be. You can then rest the equipment on those screws, while driving in the first screws for the equipment. You'd be surprised how many people don't know this trick and I've seen two people trying to work together, one holding the equipment and the other driving in the screws. BTW, I have worked with some equipment (old mini computers and disk/tape drives), where mounting is a three person job, because it's so heavy. Two to hold the equipment and one to drive in the screws. Also re zip ties, I have seen some where they were so tight they damaged the cable. So, if you use them, they shouldn't be any more than snug, if that. Stick with velcro when possible.
I am really excited about this. I have been trying to research the best equiptment for rackmounting all my equiptment. Thanks so much! It was good to have a little bit of insight on this.
IT guy here (over 20 years)... seen many data centers. I really like CableMatters wall mount patch panels. Their equipment has a PCB mounted punch down and ground straps as stress relief. Their RJ45 ports all come with dust covers too.
The adjustable rack shelf rails ❤❤. Didn't even know these were a thing. I'm new to home servers so there is that. Anywho, as soon as your video ended, click the links and bought a set. Thank you Lawrence 👍👍👍
nice video. I just installed an Aruba Instant On wifi system in my home. I used 2 AP22s, 1 AP17 outdoor AP for my woodshop, and the Aruba 8 Port POE switch. I need to learned pulling cable and terminations for work so that was the perfect way to do it. And yes, I agree, the slim cables are outstanding. We use them for our new installs exclusively now.
0:12 "but mom, I want to use the cloud!" mom: "we have the cloud at home" home: racked server & switches on 2x4 wooden posts
Excellent content as always. We’ll thought out organized and presented. Thank you Tom and Lawrence systems
Those zip tie labels are awesome. I've been doing networking for personally or professionally for twenty something years and never knew they existed. Just bought a hundred of them.
The Start-Tech racks are great - I have the 42u version in my home lab and it was pretty easy to put together. Managed to put the verticals on upside down because I assumed that the round holes on the sides were top-most but it was easy to swap the top and bottom assemblies and the ability to change the depth is useful if building in a space limited area and has to be moved to final destination. I need to get something to hide the side of the rack. With you on the RJ45 front and rear modular jacks - all of mine are this type; I hate messing with wires - my lab, my choice. I really wonder how marketing people can get away with selling "Cat 6" RJ45 couplers for such a high premium. Great video again, Tom. During the time that I've been playing with the home lab and learning a little more about networking, your video's have always been my font of knowledge. I've learned so much about Pfsense and general networking from you and can't thank you enough. Your style of explaining things is exemplary and very much down to earth and practical.
Great video Tom! It's interesting to see the setups that others use.
The ending was very wholesome, i just recently found your channel and its great!
Thanks
I’m just getting started looking into a Homelab setup and really liked how you explained everything here. Starting off with a NAS setup to replace an old Synology, but will likely expand further.
I had no idea about modular patch panel and keystones. Moving into a house soon and was wondering about patch panel, definitely going that route knowing this now. Thanks sir.
Good video Tom, I would like to see a video describing all the equipment needed for a home server rack
You get what you need? There is no defined list for this.
- a rack - a modem - a router/firewall - a switch - a patch panel - a server Everything else is optional
Great timing on this video I've been setting up a 6u home network rack all week the house. I Dropped the power strip on day 4 in fav for a ups and I highly recommend rj45 dust caps 👍🏾. Keep on making awesome videos.
Thorough video, as always! I didn't know about the double-ended rj-45 keystones! Definitely a great idea, and I'm with you on punching down cables. Like you, my time is better spent doing more important things than cable-monkey tasks!
The rj-45 keystone couplers are really nice.
This is my favorite technology channel.
I found this video a month after I finished building my rack. Wish I had found it earlier. Nice vid
The best channel ever... no doubt! Thank you for all your videos
Awesome video. Love seeing racks and hardware.
Those studs are super sweet I ordered the purple ones! Should be here tomorrow!
Another trick you can do is put in a shelf upside down and then put a heavy rack mount item on top of the underside of the shelf. It gives it a bit more support and allows you to easily add and remove when putting in the screws on the heavy item. For instance a UPS. This is especially helpful if you do not have side supports built in to your rack. You can also do this as a temporary helper/helping hands in removing a heavy item. After removing the heavy item, then remove the shelf.
I bought rack studs because your weight test. Pretty neat!
I've worked in IT for 20 years, managing data centres and large offices, I have a large home lab.... and TIL a patch panels are frikkin awesome!
You've never seen a patch panel before, even after 20 years working in IT data centers and large offices?
Hey Tom I noticed whenever you switched scenes while talking your audio doubled during the camera transition. Not sure if you're using OBS to record these, but just in case you are you can avoid that by using a single audio source, and copying the 'reference' between your different scenes (rather than creating a new audio source in every scene for the mic). Hope that helps - and thanks for the awesome videos!
I recently retired from law enforcement and looking to start my next career in the IT world. I stumbled across your video and liked it so much that you got another subscriber out of it. I can’t wait to see what other videos you have available. Thank you
Awesome, having a law enforcement background could offer some great perspective especially if you start doing cyber security work. Best of luck :)
@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS Even physical penetration would be awesome. I heard of a business hired by bank to get inside and see where he can go without being found out. He sat cross the road has cafe to observer the comings nd goings, but noted that nearly everyone would use the staff entrance with swipe card lock. Anyway, he came back the next day with a large box, walked up to that door and pretended that it was too heavy to comfortably put down and found that someone let him in. Dropping the box at large interior bin, grabbed clip not. His was led to the main vault with someone just suming that he wss with the securiry company. When he got to the vault, he pull out his cell phone and called the vice president to give a quick report, "have a guess whrre I am?" "I wasn't challenged as to who I was or who am I seeing." There is no harm in asking if someone needs hand finding something or someone, especially if you have never seen them before, or has wandered back and forth several times without purpose, or even if you haven't seen them before but know everyone by face who work on the floor that you are on.
Rack studs are amazing. I use Em a lot at work.
I really like the idea of a modular patch panel makes it so much easier as I am new to the server game for at home labs and media server
Never knew they made an HDMI Keystone. Learned something new! Awesome.
This gave me a few ideas, I'm new to the home lab stuff, but since I'm working on my CCNA, decided to give it a try. I was lucky enough to get some cisco switches from work and those studs might come in handy, because after trying to mount them by yourself those things get heavy after a while.
This is exactly what I have set up, including the same 25U StarTech rack! All my A/V equipment is set up on shelves, an A/V power filter, 4U ESXI server, 2U server, 16 port switch, Rackmount UPS for computers and a shallow shelf for cable modem, HomeAutomation hubs and Nvidia Sheild. Plus I added a drawer to store cables. I used similar rails, a Keystone patch panel that has Cat6, USB and HDMI in it. Only I did use Cagenuts for everything and don't have a pc of wood on the top, it would be a junk collector!
Thanks for taking the time to spread your knowledge, I learned so much from your channel!
My pleasure!
I agree with you 100% those rj-45 pass-throughs are so conviant.
especially when you do one for a console cable
This week, I purchased six (6) MASSIVE custom 44U mixed use Server Racks. Im in way over my head, but I figure that I can begin to build out a sizeable mixed use lab operation..Im excited for the future!
Great video, thanks. The threaded plastic inserts look useful. Saves all that fiddly reaching round the back!
Thanks for the demo and info, have a great day
I like the keystone patch panel and shelves for non rack gear
rackstus waight test !!! great idea!!! i'd like to see this!!
I have that exact same ADJ PC-100A for my desk rack. It's a 6U network rack that's extendable. On the bottom is the power switch for my AMP, DAC, Studio monitors / Speakers, and Misc power. I also have 2 rack shelves. One shelf holds my AMP & DAC. The last shelf is a glorified organizational shelf. Would 100% recommend the PC-100A. It allows me to leave my studio monitors on all the time and control their power with the PC-100A as the power switch on the speakers are literally buried behind my desk.
On my two-post rack, I put a full double-width shelf on the bottom and use it to hold UPS units. I also have a second double-width shelf in the middle that holds NAS units front and back facing. It's also long enough to hold a server in a two-post rack. Just make sure you anchor the two-post racks to the concrete floor with concrete anchors, so it doesn't accidentally tip.
I don't think i'm OCD, but i'm rethinking that because I LOVED this video !!! Great detail and not rambling, it was to the point but still very detailed.
I just ordered a bunch of the reusable cable ties! Thanks for the tip!
Glad I could help!
I like to use D-Ring wire runs to keep wires from the front of the rack. I run all cables to one side of the rack so I can swing out the equipment if I need to replace any piece of equipment. It goes so much faster to swing out the old equipment and just hang it with a zip tie and install the new equipment into the rack. Then I can just move all the wiring back to the new equipment without having to wire manage again.
I love those clear/purple ultrathink patch panel cables. Remind me of oldschool Gameboy. Also love how they have a light at the port. Don't know why they made these so difficult to find.
Love the modular patch panels
Thank you for posting this video 🎉. You have a new subscriber. Keep up the great 👍 work.
This was a much needed essential basics video. Thanks.
How am I just finding this channel?!
Very helpful review! With new knowledge my home lab will become more comfortable)
Currently 2022 this was a great video for someone like me starting to see the benefits of a home server rack for the organization & cable management alone. Yep got a rats nest to tame between entertainment, network, & gaming components
finally! thank God! somebody who uses Velcro instead of the zip ties for their cable management!
Hi Tom! If you'd install all four screws to each piece of equipment it'll add rigidity to the rack and prevent it from swaying. Also, I'd to see a video on the weight limit with the studs. I have to swap equipment in my pro audio rack occasionally (depending on the type and size of the event). If I swap the rails to server rails, it could save me time in the future with studs.
Exactly what I thought watching it. That would drive me nuts..
Still exploring the channel so excuse me if I just haven't found it yet, but a whole home lab series would be a load of fun to watch.
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Star tech makes a nice 1u shelf/rack for those, I have it in my top U and it gives nice deep spot to put a DS or small battery backups, and its adjustable to meet the rack depth. So its not like the shelves in the video.
2:50 I like the simpler roll of Velcro that you can cut at any size and reuse :D
The USB keystone extentions are awesome, in my last job position I had a desktop underneath a uline workbench, I would have to get down on my knees to plug in a removal thumb drive if I had to do a quick transfer. The Workbenches had outlet provisions, so I bought outlet to keystone adapters and two USB 3 extensions so I plugged in the extensions into the front panel of my desktop and then I had USB ports on the front of the legs that I could easily access without neededing to get on my knees.
Congrats for the video! Kudos for doing and very explanatory! Forgive me the silly question but I always had a doubt when doing patch cables using Cat6, I wanted to do those small cables (like 3 inches) but I wanted to know if I remove that plastic divider between the pairs if I will have any kind of interference or loss. Thank You! And keep up with the videos!
keystones are GENIUS tbh...i wasn't even gonna do anything at all, just a 1u brush thing. Keystones have like keystone for coax, hdmi, cat6...and best of all: Fiber LC keystones!
I'm not a punch down fan either, I use rj45 pass through keystones. It minimizes the types of cable connections I need to make and adds flexibility to the setup. I'd also love to see some stress testing of the RackStuds. Thanks.
Thanks for manking tech videos about so much various stuff Lawrance, As a new tech, im really glad i can refer to your stuff wheneer i get into some sort of trouble. Fact is, when i get the job & ask if i could do anny homework in preparation for it ( very first IT job as i use to be a telecom guy) they told me to go trough your chanel as we share some opinion on stuff :D
Thanks Tom. Love your videos. Will you please share some details on what looks to be a raspberry pi case mounted in your rack?
5:25 I had never thought of putting a Raspberry Pi in a rack. It's way smarter than it sounds, thanks for the tip!
Thanks for another great video!
You should totally do a rack studs torture test. I'm looking into buying some and I'd like to see just how much it can handle.
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Great build, Tom!
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thanks for this great video.
Quick story: I was in a newly built data center, and we were doing a final test of a simulated fire. A new intern joined us that day and was not fully briefed. Simulation begins. Evacuation proceeds. The last person out is the intern. Intern had been trained to follow evac procedure and hit the master cut-off switch on the way out. The last step was to hit the shutdown button (Big Blue Mushroom button) located just beside the exit door. He meant to pretend to hit it, but he slipped on the step down from the raised floor. and his hand landed on the switch resulting in a full power-down of the entire data center floor on short notice. We now have a locked cover on the switch and the fire warden with the key is the last person out and is responsible for unlocking the cover activating the switch.
I have that rack and I love it. Can’t recommend it enough
Great video Tom! You have inspired me to clean up the mess that is the home network in my house. The terminal for all of the cat5 and coaxial cables in the basement is a nightmare. I think a rack and patch panel is the way to organize. I like the power strip option. I went into your affiliate store, but did not see the Cyber Powers power strip. Are you going to make that one available?
Yeah, I'm in for the test.
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Always great videos and appreciate you sharing things with us all. Question concerning your equipment. Do you track all the changes that are made, in the configurations and why they were made?
I agree with your question and woukd also like to know; Does Mr Lawrence track his equipment changes? If he does then, does he also track and log the reason why equipment was changed? (So that's if it was removed, swapped for the same, upgraded the existing hardware in some way (CPU, RAM, etc.), replaced with a different model, replaced with the same model (No difference in hardware or software), or replaced with a different piece of hardware.) Lastly, Does Tom keep track of all of his equipment, cables, USB devices, Networking Hubs, Routers, WiFi AP's, Networking Switches, PC Systems, Laptops, Individual System components, etc.? I personally don't currently track changes but it is something I have been meaning to implement, and I have been acquiring the various items required to keep a well documented record of all of my hardware and equipment, currently I am just trying to find suitable software that I can use for a database for everything, something that can tie into a custom defined "Item Identification" naming scheme that can make processing of all of the information much more seamless than just doing it manually by hand typing and modifying database entries.
Leaving a comment for you to do that video about the rackstuds weight test
I got a 48 port 1U (!) patch panel. Man that was a nightmare tp\o punch down too. Super condensed and small tangs.
Great video, thank you Tom!
hey Tom, love the video. Could you do a video on Server racks like how big a rack to get for a home user, power user and so on?
I had a two post rack for my home theatre gear for many years. The cats figured out they could jump up to the back of one of the shelves, then up to a window ledge. From the years of jumping, my 12lb cat bent the shelf. It tore the metal at the mounting ears.
Monoprice slim run cables, are great. Poe with non shielded cables I only do short distance (patch runs) otherwise I get the shielded/grounded ones for poe.
watched some videos of yours in 1.75x and the speed of your talkback for me to understand them are A+ :) great vids (not suggesting you talk slow or fast, just my random comment that can be ignored)
if you attach all your equipment with 4 screws in front just like your server shelf it will give your rack more stability. especially when it is on wheels and can be moved around.
Good point. "The cloud is just a rack moved somewhere else"
Thanks for you great job!
Great information! Love it!
rofl the end was amazing, love your channel.
Thanks!
Great video. Got the Star Tech rack as well. Mine is rock solid, does not sway at all. Perhaps you need to tighten all the bolts in yours?
that clip at the end got me to sub XD
The rack gets probably more stable when you use four screws instead of two to mount the switches etc.