Need some crack rack advice

[JimMc]

I got my stuff from Jatwell (thanks, Josh!) and will start assembling my "executive" (read that as "mini&quot crack rack over the Christmas holidays. Here are my thoughts and questions:

The rack will be located on a built-in wall unit/desk thing so space and height are a factor (about 24"W X 24"D X 22"H). I'll use 1X2's for the frame and 1/4" pegboard for the shelves with those adjustable shelf brackets. I'll mount the motherboards using those plastic spacers for pegboard so heat can radiate up through the rack).

Originally I had planned on borrowing the monitor, keyboard & mouse from the real computer next to it, but a KVM is probably a more trouble free way to go. I'm looking at this LINKSYS 4 PORT KVM switch. Any comments on it?? Much effect on picture quality? This is my back up PC and it only has a Gateway 15" monitor, so the display quality ain't that great in the first place. Edit: It's $78 at buydotcom.

Is there an elegant solution for power and reset switches? Radio Shack or somebody sell something that will work?

Is Klinux definately the way to go? Floppy drives are cheaper than hard drives, but how much can you buffer on it compared to a small HD with an OS installed just in case the network/cable modem goes down?

Long term, can you run the power supply with the cooling fan disconnected to cut down on noise? I'll be starting with a BP6 so there will already be 2 CPU fans running, it may start sounding like a TWA hanger in the den.

On the PS, I suppose you can't just splice in a second ATX connector (with extensions so it'll reach) from a dead PS and power 2 MB's?

Tks in advance...

 

[GeoffS]

Another solution to the KVM is a software solution call VNC.. do a search in this forum and you will find it.

Klinux is awesome! Pop in a floppy... configure the network settings, configure the dnet client, and away you go. True, a power failure would be a bad thing, so you could set the buffers relatively low so that such a loss wouldn't be a disaster. Keep your pproxy loaded up with enough work for your herd, and dole out small servings to each Klinux box.

For splitting the ATX power connector, there was a thread about that also, I just don't have it handy.

 

[JimMc]

Found the PS thread Power Supply, sounds like running 2 MB's is OK, three is getting dicey.

VNC looks interesting as well as being free. I'll do some reading.

 

[JimMc]

Hmmm, found this thread Crack Rack Help on VNC, unless I misinterpreted, looks like a pain-in-the-a$$ to run on Klinux nodes. Perhaps it's a fair statement that KVM is a better solution for Klinux, VNC is you're running an OS off a hard drive?

 

[JWMiddleton]

Hi JimMc!

I don't know where you are from in TX, but if you are within driving distance of DFW I have a few suggestions:

There is a computer show on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. 1st Sat has a lot of new & used stuff. Last month I saw a box full of LX boards for $5 each. I passed with the idea of picking up a few on my return. Someone else bought the whole box (more than 20 boards.) Check 1st Sat.

Another place you might try is in Arlington. It is a store full of used computers in an old grocery store. The address is as follows:

Electronic Discount Sales Inc
908 E Pioneer Pkwy
Arlington, TX 76010-6405
Phone: (817)548-1992

Good luck!

 

[JimMc]

Kingwood, Houston suburb. As I'm only going to run three (maybe 4) motherboards on the rack, I figure I need the most bang for the buck. First MB is a BP6 with 2 550's, the rest will be BX/Celeries at 950.

 

[Russ]

<< Any comments on it?? Much effect on picture quality? >>



Pic quality is unimportant, but, because it is a digital switch there will be virtually no signal degradation.



<< Is there an elegant solution for power and reset switches? Radio Shack or somebody sell something that will work? >>



Any two pin connector will work. I just used whatever was laying around, stripped one end and touch them together. It ain't elegant, but it works fine.



<< Is Klinux definately the way to go? >>



Absolutely. No other approach should even be considered.



<< Long term, can you run the power supply with the cooling fan disconnected to cut down on noise? >>



Yes. In an open air situation, this will be no problem at all. I've run them for years without incident.



<< On the PS, I suppose you can't just splice in a second ATX connector (with extensions so it'll reach) from a dead PS and power 2 MB's? >>



This, I haven't tried, but I think it is feasible.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Viztech]

Jim-

Best to use Klinux and keep buffers very low on the Klinux clients, but with plenty on your on-site Pproxy.

You don't really need a KVM switch (but it would sure be nice) as you can hot plug/unplug your keyboard and video.

One word of advice- be very careful when you do the Klinux configuration to avoid errors such as project priority, packet and buffer size, etc. I set the packet size to 33, but flush every completed packet to gaurd against loss.

viz

 

[networkman]

I have one of those EXACT same LinkSys KVMs that I'm using between a standard PC and a Compaq ProLiant 3000 server - works perfectly in all respects; I should note that I'm not using a &quot;wheel mouse&quot; on it though, so I've not tested for that.

 

[cory]

i did not put any video cards in my cluster
and they mount the root filesystem over the network
and just have a bootrom image on a floppy.
(i run seti on my cluster)
so that i can do complete maint with scripts on the
main server that copy config files to all the root
filesystems for each node.

also i used x10 so that i could power on/off each node
from a shell on the main linux server so i dont even have reset
switches.

i have 8 boards in my cluster right now most running pent 3
at above 800mhz and it does create a lot of heat.
the ps fans spin depending on the heat so
they dont make much noise. i am running very good heat sinks
on the cpus cause they are clocked to 133mhz to 150 mhz bus
and the cpu fans make tons of noise.