server cabinet cooling

Ish · 6 Apr 2009 at 08:12

Hi

We have THIS server cabinet and in it we have our server, Sonicwall, NAS drive, 2 routers, print server & a small UPS.

It gets pretty warm in there and it's not even summer yet.

What's the easiest way of keeping it cool inside the cabinet?

Thanks

teaboy5 · 6 Apr 2009 at 08:33

Is it inside a server room?

If it is, get some AC installed.

If not, if there any pre made holes in the top for you to install some fans?

howler · 6 Apr 2009 at 08:33

Not sure how much free space you have in there but you can get 1U fans, should be enough I would have thought

Ish · 6 Apr 2009 at 08:54

teaboy5 said:
Is it inside a server room?

If it is, get some AC installed.

If not, if there any pre made holes in the top for you to install some fans?

It's not in a server room, it's in an office

howler said:
Not sure how much free space you have in there but you can get 1U fans, should be enough I would have thought

There is space in there but the cabinet only has a 20x30cm rectangle cut out at the top & bottom and both of these have some cables going through them.

howler · 6 Apr 2009 at 09:00

can you get one of these in?

Ish · 6 Apr 2009 at 09:17

YES!

It looks perfect.

For the size of our cabinet should I go for the 2 fan or 3 fan version?

howler · 6 Apr 2009 at 09:22

If it is in an office space then a two fan job might be better, its a juggling act between noise and cooling really

mrbios · 6 Apr 2009 at 09:25

howler said:
If it is in an office space then a two fan job might be better, its a juggling act between noise and cooling really

If it's in an office space i'd be tempted to change out the fans for some quiet ones, should still push enough air

.one. · 7 Apr 2009 at 01:43

I have a set of 1U fans and they are very loud so... may be a little thought here.

ps. But saying that mine are a little old.

neil_g · 7 Apr 2009 at 08:46

bin the glass door for a vented one if possible most server intakes are on the front. more air in = cooler = less noise from fans.

fonzee · 7 Apr 2009 at 10:01

howler said:
can you get one of these in?

can't see that being very effective with the way the airflow will be directly flowing into the unit above it, losing most of its effect surely?

sure its still getting air moving around the cab, but still.

howler · 7 Apr 2009 at 10:06

the hot air will be rising up the sides mostly, the fans will circulate the air allowing it to cool, doesn't have to be ice cold

bigredshark · 7 Apr 2009 at 10:43

neil_g said:
bin the glass door for a vented one if possible most server intakes are on the front. more air in = cooler = less noise from fans.

Sod all use if you're not exhausting the hot air somehow. Circulating hot air won't help. Not stuffing all the kit into a small unventilated cabinet in an office would be a better move...

neil_g · 7 Apr 2009 at 10:58

bigredshark said:
Sod all use if you're not exhausting the hot air somehow. Circulating hot air won't help. Not stuffing all the kit into a small unventilated cabinet in an office would be a better move...

true. he doesnt say where the cab is situated tho (wall mount/freestanding) and whether the back is open..

Ish · 7 Apr 2009 at 15:13

The cab is wall mounted and has an opening at the top and bottom

Rob7865 · 7 Apr 2009 at 15:27

What you have there is a Patch Panel cab and not really a Server Cab. Either remove some of the equipment or get a bigger cab with a Vented Front / Rear....

As already pointed out by BigRed, shoving all your kit into a small metal cube is not a good idea!

Just my 2 pence

Rob

howler · 7 Apr 2009 at 15:31

Just read your original post properly, missed the fact you have a server in there!

That must be a very snug cab, get a proper cabinet or a server room

Origin · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:08

Rob7865 said:
What you have there is a Patch Panel cab and not really a Server Cab. Either remove some of the equipment or get a bigger cab with a Vented Front / Rear....

As already pointed out by BigRed, shoving all your kit into a small metal cube is not a good idea!

Just my 2 pence

Rob

This. That is NOT a server rack. Get yourselves a proper server rack that is meant to do the right job. You can get little 14U ones, probably even smaller. But you are slowly killing your server(s) in that thing.

Ish · 9 Apr 2009 at 12:56

We have ordered a proper fan cooled server cabinet

Thanks for the advice.