Dust

platypus · 23 Sep 2009 at 15:59

Simple topic I guess, but quite a relevant one in my case!

I want to put my servers in the loft. But, it's very dusty. Now I'm getting a cabinet with a door on, but I can't see that that will make a huge amount of difference, given where the fans will draw the air in from.

I'm sure a lot of people/some people/any(?) have computers in their loft; short of a loft conversion (believe me, thats been touted by the other half) how do you protect them from dust?

z0mbi3 · 23 Sep 2009 at 16:00

Passive cooling and/or air filters?

Little_Crow · 23 Sep 2009 at 16:04

I'm pretty sure you can buy dustproof cabinets, which are probably worth investigating.
Your next issue will be the heat, lofts can get pretty toasty, especially in Summer.

derkaderka · 23 Sep 2009 at 16:07

Lofts are fine from sept/oct onwards , but in mid summer the temps will
be extracting the urine hot , the ambient maybe 30deg C or more , then
factor in the heat generated from the equipment.

platypus · 23 Sep 2009 at 16:07

Aye, sadly they're the only place I can put them. Under orders and all that. Bugger.

So..how to protect from dust and cool servers well. It's not a massive server rack, just a couple of servers, switches and a ups.

Hmm, thinking about it under the stairs is a possibility, but then the rack would have to be silent, which I doubt it could be.

Coldzero · 23 Sep 2009 at 16:14

Garage maybe?

platypus · 23 Sep 2009 at 16:18

No garage

.

Burnsy2023 · 23 Sep 2009 at 17:59

You do realise that if you put machines in the loft they vibrations can be VERY loud at night, due to the void space.

platypus · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:08

No I hadn't realised that.

Ian_F · 24 Sep 2009 at 23:40

How about using ducting. Connect one end to the case and the other end to grills installed in the soffits?

Along the same lines as a bathroom extractor fan setup.

Ian_F · 24 Sep 2009 at 23:43

Another option would be to install it in a wardrobe or other cupboard.

You mention noise being an issue. What sort of server is this?

Burnsy2023 · 25 Sep 2009 at 09:50

Ian_F said:
You mention noise being an issue. What sort of server is this?

I've had switches in the loft which were almost unbearably loud. I now have them in a cabinet under the stairs.

Ian_F · 25 Sep 2009 at 15:13

Burnsy2023 said:
I've had switches in the loft which were almost unbearably loud.

Wow, that's surprising, isn't it. :eek:

Now you mention it, I remember a while back seeing a picture of some guy's setup where he had all his equipment on a platform which was suspended from the rafters using bungee chords. I'm guessing now that he was trying to solve the same problem as you found.

Burnsy2023 · 25 Sep 2009 at 15:19

Ian_F said:
Wow, that's surprising, isn't it.

Now you mention it, I remember a while back seeing a picture of some guy's setup where he had all his equipment on a platform which was suspended from the rafters using bungee chords. I'm guessing now that he was trying to solve the same problem as you found.

Bear in mind, I was in the room directly below and I am a bit of a light sleeper, but still.

daz · 25 Sep 2009 at 15:24

DC/laptop power supply... fanless chipset... passive cooling on the CPU will be a very good way forward in a dusty environment. Then just have a large 120mm fan blowing across the motherboard.

platypus · 25 Sep 2009 at 15:47

Might have a word and persuade her to let me put them under the stairs. Easier to network up too!

Lanz · 25 Sep 2009 at 16:04

I have my router and server in the airing cupboard underneath the boiler. It gets a little hot, but it's tucked away and quiet.