Posted: 7/4/2026 4:21:57 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Klee][Edited]
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I have two 4U server cases and a couple of network switches so I also ordered a couple of cheap rack shelf's for them. I could have gone cheaper but this one seems solid plus the wheels are a nice feature. Big enough for a little expansion without going crazy.  I have been using just a shelf for years with the switches and modem scattered about, and its time to start consolidating everything. Will also upgrade all my network cables to cat6a also. |
| I've got a 15U that's wall mounted in the basement, with a Unifi UDM Pro, Unifi NAS Pro, NVR for cameras and a 24 port switch, and other various and sundry stuff. Prior to that, I had a full 42U rack in the middle of the utility room. My wife was not a fan of it. The smaller rack, up on the wall, is much cleaner. |
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| I have a 7 foot tall rack on wheels for the home theater, but for anything network related, I would wall mount it up high. Having the ability to move it is fine for HDMI, speaker, and line level cables, but you really want a stationary rack for data. The cables are prone to being damaged so better to set them up high and secure. If you do end up with wheels and moving it, you want to use a tether to keep the cables up and away and prevent any tight bends. |
Here, I'll pre-emptively save your thumbs  http://rackstuds.com/ |
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Attached File Minisforum MS-01 running Plex on Ubuntu on top. APC power delivery unit Patch panel Unifi 24 Port Pro Switch with POE, running the access points Unifi UDM Pro Max with a drive for my one Unifi camera (so far) Old Hikvision NVR for 7 cameras. Slowly phasing this out. Unifi NAS Pro with six 24TB drives The top empty space also has a couple of Pi-holes and a 5 port, 10 Gb Mikrotik switch until I upgrade the 24 port switch with one with more SFP+ ports. Google fiber ONT (5Gb up/down) to the right. It's certainly not clean enough for some of the cable management autists out there. But it serves Plex all over the country for my family and lets me VPN back to my home/Pihole on all my devices when out and about, so I'm happy with it. Agree with the comment that a rack on wheels has the potential for trouble. Secure it. |
In the beginning, the universe was created. This made a lot of people very angry, and has been widely regarded as a bad move. -Douglas Adams
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Originally Posted By Klee: I have been using just a shelf for years with the switches and modem scattered about, and its time to start consolidating everything. Used a 24"x24" wire shelving rack for years, and finally broke down and upgraded this past fall. 
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Issues that remain unaddressed or unresolved never make for a better relationship.
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The caster wheels I can remove once everything it situated. I have a piece of cabinet grade 1/2" birch plywood to put on the top as the shelf for my T-Mobile 5g wi-fi internet modem, my OpenWrt router will be next to it and also my pi-hole and a monitor and keyboard if there is enough room. Also planning to move my AI build into a spare 4U server case I have. |
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My high-availability setup. Dual routers with VRRP fail-over, dual switches, UPS with fail-over back to mains. Not shown is another NAS located in my separate shop building. To date I've had one router failure (lightning strike), one switch failure (power supply failure), a UPS failure (main board failure), and a NAS failure (well known QNAP design flaw). In every case things just kept on truckin' while my phone blew up with warnings from my network monitoring software (CheckMk). Attached File |
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum."
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I ordered another rack yesterday. My needs are probably slightly different than yours though: APC AR3355B2 |
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I's assembled, was easier than I was expecting. That thing is solid!  Only the basics so far, a new in the box 10/100 switch that I have had for years to use with my vintage pc's at the top, and my NAS at the bottom. The 4U case above that is empty for now. Need to move my 1 gb switch to the shelf below the other switch then start on collectiong 10 gb network cards and a switch or two plus get a roll of 6a cable. Also need to but the baltic birtch plywood to size, since its a open rack I am not worried about making a shelf for the top of it. Plus mount my PDU and dig out the power cables for it. |