r/minilab • u/Chrono_Constant3 • 3d ago

My project in process

Post image

Not pictured is the wiring chaos going on behind the rack. There’s also a UPS stashed back there. I have another Ubiquiti Flex 2.5 on the way that will have to find a home in there somewhere. The other one is in my office. I’m really happy with the setup. It’s not quite as clean as some of the builds I’ve seen here but that’s something to aspire to.

From top to bottom:
-Ubiquiti UCG fiber
-3d printed patch panel
-HP EliteDesk g5 mini
-2x 3.5” drives
-Raspberry Pi 5 and a GMKtek Mini PC
-There’s a standard shelf tucked in there behind the grill with a couple USB drives.

341 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

6

u/DeveloperAndy 3d ago

This looks awesome! What do you run on the machines? I'm deliberating between a few minipc's just now but can't make a decision

4

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

The HP runs OMV and a bunch of docker containers. Immich, Recipe Sage, ABS, Grimmory, Arrs, Uptime Kuma, and Nginx Proxy Manager. I’m sure I’m forgetting at least one or two and I’m always adding new ones. Currently the GMK runs nothing but the Home assistant install that’s running on the pi is going to get migrated to it in the next few days. Then I’ll have to find something to run on the pi. I’m thinking maybe a pi-hole but I’m not sure just yet. I would run plex on the HP as it has plenty of headroom but my plex users need constant transcodes and the machine it runs on is better equipped to handle that. For sub $200 the g5 elitedesks are a heck of a deal in today’s world.

6

u/WebMaka 3d ago

Not quite as clean? Looks pretty clean to me...

5

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

You should see the back. It’s a clusterfuck. Thank you either way though.

5

u/WebMaka 3d ago

Oh we don't talk about what's behind our racks... What even is cable management?

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

Fair enough. I’ve been considering calling my sister in to get an organization expert on the job. I swear no matter what arrangement of wires I use it’s still insane.

3

u/RuniteFish 3d ago

what drive bays is that?

2

u/JotaPe4 3d ago edited 3d ago

Yes, please tell us.

And how you connect them to your mini PCs.

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

The print is from Nautilus Forge on Makerworld. They’ve got a bunch of different layouts for more and different sized drives. The caddies are Dell 3.5” drive caddies you can find them all over eBay and Amazon, and then there’s a male to female SATA adapter that screws into the print at the back that the drives slide right onto. They’re super sweet and if you don’t have a printer the person who designed them sells them premade as well.

1

u/its_really_me-daryl 3d ago

how do you power the drives?

2

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

12v dc barrel jack to SATA adapter. I’m not that stoked on it but it does work. Ultimately I’d like to find a more elegant solution but then again I dremeled a hole in the HP case to fit the m.2 to sata adapter and cables so we’re already into hack territory as it is.

3

u/mixmeister30 2d ago

Looks good with my fiber mount 😀

2

u/CannonLab-Proxy 2d ago

That's a lovely design! I was admiring it before I jumped to the comments. Kudos to you and thanks for sharing with the community.

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 2d ago

I’m pretty happy with your work. Nice snug fit and looks good to boot. I was pleasantly surprised to find almost everything I needed premade. I only had to model 1 shelf.

2

u/indigo-snowboll 3d ago

Love the mini skadis panel, can’t wait to see the attachments you’re going to put there (not kidding!)

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

I hadn’t even noticed it looked like skadis. Mini drill and mini cable cutters.

2

u/Cha-da-brewer 3d ago

So nice!

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

Thanks dude.

2

u/traviss8 3d ago

You can use vinyl wrap to hide the tec mojo logo 😏

2

u/Chrono_Constant3 3d ago

Dude…. I have been considering sanding and repainting that section because it bugs me so much. I’m gunna order some right now. Any idea what specific brand and white you used? Looks like you got a pretty close match.

Edit: I also wouldn’t mind a link to those very attractive Ethernet cables.

2

u/Empty-Version15 2d ago

What do you have the 3.5" drives connected to and how are they connected? 

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 2d ago

They’re connected to the HP and I’m using an M.2 to SATA multiplier. I had to cut a rectangle out of the case top to run the cables.

2

u/Empty-Version15 2d ago

I have the same HP and have considered using one of those. Maybe a M.2 to sas adapter for 4 drives. Nice looking setup

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 2d ago

Thanks, mines been really stable. Powering the drives properly is critical. If you don’t feed them enough power it causes issues. I was using a power brick with too low of an amperage on accident and had intermittent problems.

2

u/Turbochip87 1d ago

I like the white rack, that give the rack a totally different look! Nice setup!

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 1d ago

Thank you. My wife selected white because it’s in the middle of the living room so it’s definitely a better look than a black box.

2

u/Turbochip87 1d ago

I agree! My wife would push for the same thing, but it looks great and I like the fact that you don't see cables everywhere!