I think a few folks missed our house update video a few months back - the server closet is already equipped with an active exhaust setup. A small fan placed near the top will vent heat directly to atmosphere. The closet doors themselves will also be fitted with vents near the bottom for cool air to enter. Thanks so much for the extra tips/pointers in the comments! They're much appreciated. Can't wait to show you what we're doing next with all of this gear!
Make sure to keep power cables and networking apart, just an extra safety measure to prevent EMC problems. So the power bar on top off the network connections is something you should prevent. Also some UPS have USB/CAT connection to the server to automatically turn it off safely when the UPS battery is getting low.
People aren't usually aware that UPS besides giving you "security" from powerdowns also provides good way to prolong the life of your equipment because it eliminates the oscillations that we all have in our grid.
Not all of them, sadly. Not even most of them, when it comes to consumer units. Most of them have a bypass mode that functions when connected to power (which is why some devices freak out when the switchover to battery happens if it isn't fast enough). A double-conversion, or "online" UPS does not bypass, it ALWAYS runs to convert incoming AC power into DC, then DC back into AC. They're not the most common in the consumer space because of cost--they obviously need to be built a bit more robustly than units that spend most of their time in standby.
@@kumakell I had a power outage recently with my Costco special and it was seamless, suggesting at least the battery backup outlets on it are conditioned, not just a passthrough. The surge only ones may not be conditioned but I'm not running my PCs on those. I have also gamed on and overclocked both of my gaming PCs with and without the UPS. I can run higher stable overclocks on the UPS.
4:31 - if you want to see some even larger UPSs, check out some 1000 kVA or 1500 kVA lineups from manufacturers like Schneider Electric, ABB, Liebert, etc. Those are the big boys putting in serious work in the hyperscale data center sector.
Looks like a good start. Central cabling a huge win. I started my career in it because I enjoyed hardware and networking. Now I am a high level engineer working with storage, compute and network. Don't be ashamed you have to start somewhere. And if you get stuck ask for help.
Greg, you should move your patch panel down at least 1U so you have room to route the patch cables that will be going upward (from the top row of the patch panel). You could either use that 1U that you clear for a switch or something like a brush strip cable management panel
No worries about being a noob and looking stuff up. At one point we’re all a noob at everything. I look stuff up every day, oftentimes things I have done before and just forgotten.
Two very important things: 1. ALWAYS USE A UPS! It’s not just for outages, it’s also for power stability and quality, and to protect from surges as well. Every computer should have one, specially these days when it can update and brick if the power goes out at the same time. 2. When you will be putting the cable snake in the new house rack, make sure to tight it to the rack to prevent the weight from pulling the keystones or even the cables themselves. I also recommend you keep some length rolled at the back of the rack so that you got possibility for expansion.
I've done some casual testing with my gaming PC and using a UPS allows for higher stable OC settings. Don't even need a super expensive one to see a difference. The one they sell at Costco is pretty good at power conditioning. They're also pretty much mandatory for online gamers who play games where you get banned for AFK.
Greg, been watching and enjoying your videos for a good while. Watching you go through the process of learning server/cabling/ etc, is going to be entertaining. Being in the telecom industry, and working with patch panels whether electrical or optical, I'd like to make one big suggestion... LABEL EVERYTHING - where it's coming from and where it's going to... on both sides of the jumper/cable... Cable management and identification will be absolutely crucial from the start as you go through this process. And just my 2-cents worth.. the PDU at the top... the only reason I would have anything like that would be for a breaker panel to protect your UPS. Good Luck! I'll be watching...
So he's going to need a device that @shiftylisa plugs in various CAT6 ports and sends a signal to Greg at the server side and via walkie talkie she says "NE bedroom" and then Greg prints a label for the cable, rinse repeat? Or did Greg get some labeling? Yes it's super important to label so you can organize.
Greg, if you're going to be running the power bar up top, consider replacing it with one that has multiple power inputs, so you don't overload a single port on your UPS. You don't want your server rack project to be a fire hazard after all! :)
Some UPS advice that may be of use. The internal batteries (usually most of the weight) are removable because they are replaceable. I usually take them out, install the unit, then reinstall the battery. Halvs the weight and makes it a little easier. I work as an IT tech and am also on the smaller side. I install a decent amount of these UPS's and they usually weigh half as much (sometimes more) as I do so that makes it a bit easier for me personally. Also PDU's are pretty standard, but most don't have switches. Good to have them though.
If you're someone who flashes new BIOS/Firmware for your hardware I HIGHLY recommend a UPS! The last thing you want is a power outage during this process! I own 2 smaller Cyberpower 1500VA for all my PC/network hardware. Thankfully the only power outages I've had in the 12+ years I've lived here were planned outages for pole/line repair type stuff. Only 2 in that 12 years.
For those UPS rails, check the manual to see if there is a recommendation on torque level for the screws and go back across them with a torque wrench. Don't rely on just manually tightening given how much weight is riding on those rails. And UPS devices aren't just about having a battery backup. That's important, of course. But most will also condition power to your devices. The best ones are "pure sine inverter" UPS's, which I think yours is. And with the patch panels, you want to position it so it's _between_ two switches. Just look at the pictures you embedded in this video for reference. That's so if you need to pull out the switch later - e.g. one-off bad unit that's always a risk - you're not undoing a lot of other stuff to get it out of the rack. Look at a lot of pictures of server racks to get an idea of how it's typically done. Like with a PC, build your rack in a way that makes any future changes or upgrades much easier to accomplish.
Greg - I am a content creator too and understand the ups and downs especially related to negative comments - I am sensetive too, but tell myself that no comments, no one is viewing your work, that said learning new things and sharing is the best part of life - I have watched you for years and appreciate your channel - you are getting close to a million followers - my best for your new home!! Jim
I cannot wait for solid-state UPS we're starting to see the first "solid-state" power stations so I'm hopeful that in a year or two we will have much lighter UPS units or even if they are that heavy they will have more energy density. Though i imagine they will cost a pretty penny.
servers are so much fun. I have a older first gen Threadripper 12 core I use as a game server. now that TR 7000 is out I might find a great deal on a 2970WX 24core for upgrade on my strix x399. last year they were still about $500-$600. NVM just looked there still $500. some scalpers asking $1800 for one LMAO.
i think that power strip is a very smart move for a home lab situation. There might be some servers you might eventually buy that you dont want to run 24-7. there might be some used enterprise gear you get that is loud and power hungry that you only want drawing power when ever you are tinkering with it, and instead of constantly plug and unplugging and messing with cables you can just flip a switch. For mission critical stuff like security appliances and networking gear then i would plug those directly into the UPS but for everything else, i think youre going to find that power strip handy.
One small thing to add about UPSs, they will certainly keep equipment running through shorter power outages, and you added the caveat that they won't work for a longer outage. One thing to keep in mind though, is that in the case of a longer outage they give you time. If you're running low on power in a longer outage a UPS gives you time to figure out what to power down and how, and the ability to do it gracefully. Servers really don't like their power being yanked while they're running, a UPS gives you time to bring it down gracefully and avoid data corruption and/or equipment damage.
Hey Greg, Nice build, depending on what else you are adding to the rack, if you haven't already, you might want to think about adding aircon to your cupboard where the rack will live. Or is HVAC in the US. Cheers
@@michaeldejode473 We have an active exhaust setup already in the closet that vents to atmosphere. This was discussed in a previous house video on the channel.
I think you did good on the rack. Nothing wrong with that at all. It is after all your home, not multi row computer room. I, personally would have used an apc ups.
@GregSalazar, let me first say that I am a retired IT engineer working for the military. You are doing OK with your solution so far, but there are several things that are triggering my OCD. 1. The spacing on racks requires a bit of adjusting. A Unit of spacing (U) has 3 holes that are spaced equidistant apart, then separated by a slightly smaller amount to the next U set of holes. For noobs, the manufacturer of your rack has put horizontal lines to show the separation points between each U. Your 'Server' rails are straddling Units 3 and 4, and needs to be moved down 1 hole to make the proper alignment. The rails straddling U 7 and 8 also need to be adjusted. 2. The Power Distribution Unit (PDU) should be located closer to the Uninteruptable Power Supply (UPS) so the power cables of the low powered equipment are shorter runs. I recommend placing the PDU in rack U 13. Also, since the PDU is a single 110V cable to the UPS, I recommend running the power of the 'Server' directly to the UPS so you don't trip the over current protection on a single circuit. 3. In the networking world, a server is a distinct machine that is protected from any user actions and software so that a rogue process does not effect the operations of any other processes. For example, a runaway Structured Query Language (SQL) database request should not interrupt any file or print serving functions. Your security system will use a lot of file serving functions to store the audio and video files. When running games on the server you have a very likely scenario where you will crash the server and have to reboot, taking your security system offline in the process. This is very bad. Consumer grade software is not written to the same standard as server operating systems and software. Consumer software frequently has memory leaks, residual processes in memory after application shutdown, and security holes that are discovered after they have been on the market. I highly recommend using a separate computer from the server to do user functions such as gaming, web browsing, etc. 4. Your use of Cat-6 cabling is perfectly fine. All ethernet links are limited to 100 metres. You must calculate the patch cords as part of the 100m limit. Properly terminated, Cat-6 can run at 1 Gigabit per second up to the 100m limit without a problem. As speeds increase up to the maximum 10 Gb per second, the length budget decreases to 55m over Cat-6 copper cabling. Longer distances require a different media (ie. fibre). As you are terminating your cables in the house, I recommend you beg/borrow/rent a cable tester to certify that your terminations at each end, meet the standard. I have used Fluke meters extensively for this in my career, but they are not the only brands on the market. Have fun with your new project. Learn with me. I look forward to the next episode. Al
I absolutely want to see more networking shenanigans! That rack looks pretty sweet! I'd like to get one of my own, but I simply can't justify the cost right now when my "network closet" only consists of a couple of computers, a UPS, and a 1Gb switch. I run Jellyfin on my old gaming PC with a few raid 1 volumes spread across some used enterprise grade drives. The other PC, an older Dell Optiplex I bought years back, runs OPNsense and acts as my home router. Networking is an absolute blast and learning it will give you so much more control over your computing experience.
Hey Greg, I use an APC 550 UPS, I know you said that you've never had the need for a UPS before, but I can testify that this unit has saved my work and protected my system many times!
glad to see some networking stuff. im sure you are aware but you need to think about your network configuration for security and functional reasons ofc. A diagram is a good start and really helpful. Always a pleasure to help like you do all the time.
Useing a PDU is standard. That way your not crawling on the ground behind the UPS. And normally your equpment is higher in the rack. You can get a network accesable PDU as well it will alow you to monitor each receptical on it.
My workplace (government) had patch panels for phones (VOIP) and computers. In the "old days" (10 years ago) if you wanted to switch your phone to another desk you had to literally switch the ethernet patch cable to the relevant port for the desk you were moving to. These days with modern office phone systems, you simply log into the phone on the desk and your phone number goes with you. But interesting stuff for home networking.
Hi Greg. I just want to take the opportunity to thank you for the information you've provided on your channel. I had some weird reboot issues with the PC shutting down with a BSOD and rebooting to the BIOS, turning off, powering back on and rebooting to the BIOS again. Seeing as it was not possible to bring my rig to you from Australia, I just basically followed your troubleshooting tips (after a necessary deep clean, whew!) The issue turned out to be a dying CMOS battery. Thanks to you, I'm back up and running with a smile on my face. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and an exciting New Year.
ups gives the user time to shutdown properly. Save work and shut down. They are also to protect from those very short outages that hit for a few seconds.
A big thumbs up for Stubborn and Cheap! Someone of my own mindset! BTW - I'm thinking that all the switches in your PDU are lit, because all of them are turned ON.
Remember you can get keystones that are female on both ends. This will let you run cables from the back of your server or other equipment to ports on the patch panel. Then short cables from the front of the patch panel looks better that drapping a cord over and around. So internet coming in can terminate on patch position 1 or whatever. Then your server can go to position 2. and wall plugs from 3-23, ect. Then all you need is to take each position 1-23 and run them up into a switch to connect WAN to server and all wall plugs. Also, making it look SOOO good.
My homelab rack is a 25U Startech. So far it houses a Dell PowerEdge R720XD, a home built 4U 20 bay media server, my rack mounted thread ripper workstation, a 48 port POE layer 3 managed switch, and my ISP provided access point. Soon will Come UPS's, better cable management, and a second Dell server.
Dude.. it's how you learn! I jumped through a number of those hoops a couple of years ago and had a lot of fun with it. Now I don't know how I lived without a server in my home, and I'm planning a major upgrade. Looking forward to see what you do with it, because honestly the hardware is the easy part!
ty greg for ur video. im also a newb (more than u apparently). i also have my own homelab. recently i started getting into server network racks, 10g, fiber optics (om3), dacs, sfp+ 10g pcie/transceivers, and now finally a 4u case nas. was inspired by your video, so now i'm trying to do my own diy build partly based on yours. i'm using the same silverstone 4u case like you. anyway appreciate the walkthrough, learned a lot and inspired me to try diy nas for my first every build 😊
I assume all of those wire runs are numbered at least and you have a wiring list of which cable # goes to which outlet. That comes in handy during troubleshooting. When putting on those keystone jacks if they are punchdown types make sure that the blade on the punchdown tool in on the outside of the jack. That way you are trimming off the waste wire and not cutting off the wire going into the jack.
So is the config supposed to go from UPS to the power hub like it's a giant light switch? That make more sense now because you'd want to protect anything worth in the rack but we've all power cycled modems. I think I got it now.
Cat6/Cat6A is perfectly fine for 10Gb up to 55m or 100m for 6 and 6a respectively :) Cat7 is only ISO certified and not TIA/EIA certified and to meet the standard it would need TERA connectors, technically speaking. It offers nothing over Cat6A aside some additional shielding. Cat8.1 and 8.2 offer 25Gb and 40Gb up to only 30 meters anyway and nothing on the market exists which would do those speeds over twisted pair copper. Given how much heat copper 10Gb SFP+ modules produce compared to fiber I don't see 25Gb copper modules or gear coming out any time in the near future let alone 40Gb gear.
@@GregSalazar Yah, usually from people who think bigger number is always better, haha. If you were running these directly next to power lines then maybe but otherwise I would ignore them
you're doing such a great job , its gona look awesome on your new network closet. I use unraid & truenas myself , it'd be nice if you could look into either one of those OS's for your new server.
Great first steps into your home network. Some recommendations: Plug high power devices like your Server and your PoE Switch directly into the UPS and use PDUs (the power bar that you installed at the top) only for lower power devices except if the PDU in question is designed for that use and uses a C20 socket since they are designed for high power draw and of course check the rating of the PDU. In addition I would recommend using your patch panel for routing your CAT6 cables within your Rack since Servers, NAS systems etc. have their ports at the rear and Switches etc. are connected at the front. That makes it easy to cable manage your internal wiring and you have direct control of your network from the front of the rack.
There is a massive difference in location for if a UPC makes sense. I've only ever seen 2 power outages in my area, one when I was a kid and one when they were digging out the street with a massive excavator. Around here UPS' are a big waste of time, money and space for "ordinary" private users. They sometimes say it makes sense for power quality, which is similarly very dependent on location. Though with modern hardware (that's not bottom of the barrel) it will practically nowhere be a problem unless you have extremely sensitive science level equipment.
Looks like a great start to me! I've been wanting one of those PDUs with all the switches for a long time lol! Also, for anyone whining about cat6/cat6a... It's 2023 and 2.5Gbps LAN ports are just starting to become the norm over 1Gb. That and most ppl like myself are stuck on coax sooo 500Mbps down and 21~Mbps up is about the best I can get lol. That and cat6a is supposed to support 10Gbps so you should be fine into the foreseeable future. Anywho looking forward to seeing it all come together!
And also if you use that Power Switch you can shut down each thing first then turn off the UPS if you may have your Power off for a long period of time
Hey Greg! Love how you are taking an interest in your own “home lab” which is what we call when you essentially have your own server. I’ve been a data center technician for around 7years and have installed setups for local law enforcement to doctor offices. I like your setup and where it’s going. There were some points and I can see there’s already folks telling you about how your setup should be. I will say that it will be difficult when you move your setup because typically you want to set it up at the final demarcation point. The other thing is that you want to drill a base pad at the bottom of your open rack for stability and to guard against any water that may find its way into your office. The patch panel is at a working level; however, if you are going to use another switch (which is what I am assuming) then you want it in between the two switches so that your cable management is clean and unnoticeable. You will need a cable management raceway also on the sides and one in between the runs of patch cables you will use (typically 5ft to 7ft, because you may update later). Your server should be at least waist high only because you will need to manage it later. The added PSU is fine, but should be underneath but above the server. Also don’t forget to crimp your cat6 in the A format. I’m loving your setup and thank you for the UniFi shout out because I am looking to do the same for my house after now having drywall and hardwood floors added. I don’t like cloud based security cams and having a CCTV network that you are the ONLY one that controls it is great. I would recommend another camera management system to control your cameras and be able to remotely monitor them from wherever you are at. I use to know the perfect app, but haven’t dabbled into that for a while now. If you have questions I am very excited in helping 😊
OH And You should Remove the Battery pack first then mount the UPS as its half as heavy then. They are hot swappable BTW so if servicing is needed you just pull the battaeries everything should stay up.
Wouldn't you want to separate the two heat sources from one another on the rack? Reduce the heat soak. Maybe add fans between them to help cool the space between? Ot is this an issue at all?
When you said power outage I immediately thought, "oh yeah, we got a storm coming our way don't we". Hope all is well for you all down there the stormy weekend.
I am an engineer in data center. server rack should be placed in a dedicated room or basement because device on rack will generate a lot of heat and noise. also, installing and uninstalling servers should be a 2 person job for safety. good luck.
We have active cooling built into the closet - including an exhaust fan and vent to atmosphere. For these small server applications, you can certainly do things on your own. This isn't enterprise stuff Lol.
If no one has mentioned Rack Studs yet, I will. They are awesome to use and are friendlier to the fingers than the rack nuts and screws. Highly recommend.
Setting up and running a server is super easy, but it takes a bit of time to accumulate all of the information about best practices for your particular use case, which os/hypervisor to use etc. Once you start though, there is no stopping, it becomes an addiction.
Instead of a power switch component, you may want to search for something that's specifically a power indicator component. Since you won't be switching them on and off from there as you said, indicators seem to be what you're looking for. As a side note, they may also incorporate the ability to switch them off but prioritising the indication of power is what you want to focus on.
i love the rack your building trust me this is just the start, i decided to do mine during covid and i just set it up as a media plex server at first, now im tempted to do a few videos on what i have learnt in a way, the mistakes ive made using zfs truenas an exellent os.
I still haven't picked up a UPS and I really should. Ive got a rack of about 7 different computers in my homelab and have basically just being playing the "fingers crossed" game every time the power goes out.
You know Greg with something Like TrueNas Scale. You can run several containers for whatever you need zuch as Jellyfin, Frigate, Netdata, or even full VMs for Home Assistant or any other docker container that Scale doesnt have an app for yet. New office looks amazing as well!
the term "server" to some people is rack built systems but a server is whatever you make it. people run servers for all use types personal cloud storage, game servers even a home plex is still a server. dude your doing good i just wouldnt personally run that switch box on top as it could cause some issues with power draw from the ups.
Looking good so far. I know enough about networking stuff to be dangerous, and like you, I learn as I go. I have actually worked around networking off an on, but it was never really my primary job. Just a few suggestions: Move the power hub down at least half way and you shouldn't need to get longer power cords. The server should be plugged directly into the UPS and you should be able to use software and a USB cable to turn off the server based on the runtime your configure for power outages.
Love Server Videos & I started building mine several years ago & i got a 27u rack that i thought would take me 5 years to fill up & let me tell ya I was Way Off less than a year .lol. i have a bit different set up With 2 APC 2200va ups with NMC a 1u server /firewall 3-4 servers 10gb & 1gb network gear, patch panel & a switch panel console viewer and more ..just be prepared is all i am saying ..lol. good Luck & Just have Fun with it !
Your UPS is less to keep your systems running and more to give you an opportunity to gracefully shut down the equipment that's plugged into it. Most UPSes give you about 5 to 15/20 minutes to shutdown everything in a way that won't damage your configurations and hardware.
Yeah UPS's are never light, even the small ones - last large one I had received from a friend offloading data center gear made my (at the time) truck's suspension squat lol. Can't wait to see all the Ubiquiti goodies up and running as well.
Hi Greg, and Happy Holidays. So, Christmas came early. I can't imagine what the wife and kids get for their gifts. All gamers should have a UPS. You never know when you will be winning a game, and the house power goes offline. That's going to be a lot of wall outlet power draw. I installed, yes, I'm a DIYer, a dedicated 20-amp wall outlet in my gamer room. Resetting a tripped circuit breaker is no fun, but it will be a real test of your UPS.
The power hub only has one input and many outputs. I would only plug your cameras and low power stuff into it. Not the server. Standard outlets are only rated for 15 A.
Might want to consider moving your cables runs going to the closet in the new server closet up higher so it’s easier to get to patch panel and also won’t interfere with other systems.
power tap is great for shortening power cable lengths and troubleshooting/future upgrades. I'd have it mid rack, depending on total amount you intend to populate. And since you are putting the Rack in an enclosed area, I think it's even more important. Just make it just a bar and not protected like the ups manual says.
I am surprised you never used a UPS before this. I lived in an apartment building when I had one of the earliest Pentium processors. The computer shutting down on its own. I found out that electricity in apartment buildings tends to be unstable etc. So I bought a UPS and the computer ran smoothly after that.
Ok, Lets start with the basics, if you didn't know, this is by far the best way to learn so good on you. My first rack was a 4 post open air 27U that was a lot cheaper on ebay (I think I paid about $100USD) but that was pre-tarrifs and it was a good start for me. I suggest casters or wheels, it's easier to pull the rack forward and go behind, then snake yourself through. Next Cat 6 is good enough fore 10GbE for up to 55meters (180ft), which is plenty. Cat 7 is a pain and was pretty much replaced by 6A. Cat 8.. what are we made of money? If you're running unshielded Cat 6, I'd suggest moving that PDU. EMI is a thing and crosstalk can effect signal. Down the back of my rack (now the 36U) I try to go power down one side, ethernet on the over to avoid those kind of issues. Outside of all this, you're off the a good start. Oh one more thing, bandages, lots of bandages, trust me...
You should use rack studs instead of the cage nuts. They are far easier to work with and plenty strong. You should also always use a UPS for any equipment that you care about, not just for power backup, but line interactive UPSs also clean the power coming in, they will switch to battery if the voltage drops too low or gets too high which helps prevent PSU failures and helps keep good power to the components on the other side of the PSU. UPSs also will typically have much better, more advanced surge suppression than anything thing else.
I have a similar 25U unit and it's fine for my little setup, my floor is wood so wheels made installation easier but since you have carpet not so much. 12/15U wasn't enough (3 4U servers, 2U UPS, 1U switch and 2U patch panel) and I didn't feel like spending $300-$400 on something better when I don't really mess with the rack much so yeah. Much easier to install the UPS without batteries and rack cable managers (think there are some you can get for $30-$40) to route cables help with the cable clutter, velcro straps work in a pinch if you don't have lot of cables but you will want to secure the ethernet cables some kind of way so they don't pull against the keystones and it's always a good idea to secure power cables so they don't get yanked by mistake. Only thing I'd do different in your setup is mount the PDU at the middle/bottom at the rear but if that setup works for you not a big deal. Also does that closet get any airflow? Still waiting to see what you end up running on the server!
Anything you want, just have to keep drive/network hardware speeds in mind based on what you're doing. For example, you probably wouldn't want to make a network hard drive where you install your video games, and use directly when you play them. However, you can make a cache of games so that when you uninstall a game from your gaming pc, you can reinstall it from your own network storage instead of re downloading it from the internet. When he's talking about putting a gpu in his server and gaming with it, he means the gpu will be passed through to a virtual machine, and he will be gaming directly off the server. The possibilities are endless though, lookup homelab videos. Its an awesome sub hobby in the pc space!
Absolutely love your videos as a whole, as mentioned several times on previous videos. But I'm in the same boat as you, have the past year gotten my interested into networking and servers as well, to try and perhaps clean up and get a better networking in ones house. This is really interesting to see your journey into it all and learning along the way. Keep up the awesome work Greg! :)
Some people get so pedantic about the term server. I don't care if it's a Pi serving files to a couple of computers in your home that you toss in a closet... it's a server. Also... I want to clarify that a UPS will NOT save you from a lightning strike. I don't think that's what you meant when you mentioned lightning, but I could see how someone might get confused and think that's what you meant. I've seen a lot of people get confused about that.
In some jurisdictions it is actually not legal to terminate ends for CCTV or network cabling without a low voltage license. You should probably check into this before televising yourself breaking the law. Can cause permitting issues.
I think a few folks missed our house update video a few months back - the server closet is already equipped with an active exhaust setup. A small fan placed near the top will vent heat directly to atmosphere. The closet doors themselves will also be fitted with vents near the bottom for cool air to enter. Thanks so much for the extra tips/pointers in the comments! They're much appreciated. Can't wait to show you what we're doing next with all of this gear!
Did u go Cat 6a?
@@BuzzTecNow that's a valid question because Greg only said Cat6 and not identifying which version.
Make sure to keep power cables and networking apart, just an extra safety measure to prevent EMC problems. So the power bar on top off the network connections is something you should prevent.
Also some UPS have USB/CAT connection to the server to automatically turn it off safely when the UPS battery is getting low.
That was the 1st thing that came to my mind as well 😂
People aren't usually aware that UPS besides giving you "security" from powerdowns also provides good way to prolong the life of your equipment because it eliminates the oscillations that we all have in our grid.
Not all of them, sadly. Not even most of them, when it comes to consumer units. Most of them have a bypass mode that functions when connected to power (which is why some devices freak out when the switchover to battery happens if it isn't fast enough). A double-conversion, or "online" UPS does not bypass, it ALWAYS runs to convert incoming AC power into DC, then DC back into AC. They're not the most common in the consumer space because of cost--they obviously need to be built a bit more robustly than units that spend most of their time in standby.
@@kumakell I had a power outage recently with my Costco special and it was seamless, suggesting at least the battery backup outlets on it are conditioned, not just a passthrough. The surge only ones may not be conditioned but I'm not running my PCs on those. I have also gamed on and overclocked both of my gaming PCs with and without the UPS. I can run higher stable overclocks on the UPS.
4:31 - if you want to see some even larger UPSs, check out some 1000 kVA or 1500 kVA lineups from manufacturers like Schneider Electric, ABB, Liebert, etc. Those are the big boys putting in serious work in the hyperscale data center sector.
Looks like a good start. Central cabling a huge win. I started my career in it because I enjoyed hardware and networking. Now I am a high level engineer working with storage, compute and network. Don't be ashamed you have to start somewhere. And if you get stuck ask for help.
Greg, you should move your patch panel down at least 1U so you have room to route the patch cables that will be going upward (from the top row of the patch panel). You could either use that 1U that you clear for a switch or something like a brush strip cable management panel
I will check it out, respectfully.
No worries about being a noob and looking stuff up. At one point we’re all a noob at everything. I look stuff up every day, oftentimes things I have done before and just forgotten.
Two very important things:
1. ALWAYS USE A UPS! It’s not just for outages, it’s also for power stability and quality, and to protect from surges as well. Every computer should have one, specially these days when it can update and brick if the power goes out at the same time.
2. When you will be putting the cable snake in the new house rack, make sure to tight it to the rack to prevent the weight from pulling the keystones or even the cables themselves. I also recommend you keep some length rolled at the back of the rack so that you got possibility for expansion.
and also use a UPS with any other sensitive electronics like your home theater equipment. brown-outs can wreak a lot of havoc on these devices.
I've done some casual testing with my gaming PC and using a UPS allows for higher stable OC settings. Don't even need a super expensive one to see a difference. The one they sell at Costco is pretty good at power conditioning. They're also pretty much mandatory for online gamers who play games where you get banned for AFK.
Greg, been watching and enjoying your videos for a good while. Watching you go through the process of learning server/cabling/ etc, is going to be entertaining. Being in the telecom industry, and working with patch panels whether electrical or optical, I'd like to make one big suggestion... LABEL EVERYTHING - where it's coming from and where it's going to... on both sides of the jumper/cable... Cable management and identification will be absolutely crucial from the start as you go through this process. And just my 2-cents worth.. the PDU at the top... the only reason I would have anything like that would be for a breaker panel to protect your UPS. Good Luck! I'll be watching...
So he's going to need a device that @shiftylisa plugs in various CAT6 ports and sends a signal to Greg at the server side and via walkie talkie she says "NE bedroom" and then Greg prints a label for the cable, rinse repeat? Or did Greg get some labeling? Yes it's super important to label so you can organize.
The Brother Label Maker makes an excellent tape for electric wire labeling. It's the P-touchTZe label tape.
Greg, if you're going to be running the power bar up top, consider replacing it with one that has multiple power inputs, so you don't overload a single port on your UPS. You don't want your server rack project to be a fire hazard after all! :)
Some UPS advice that may be of use. The internal batteries (usually most of the weight) are removable because they are replaceable. I usually take them out, install the unit, then reinstall the battery. Halvs the weight and makes it a little easier. I work as an IT tech and am also on the smaller side. I install a decent amount of these UPS's and they usually weigh half as much (sometimes more) as I do so that makes it a bit easier for me personally.
Also PDU's are pretty standard, but most don't have switches. Good to have them though.
I agree! Much easier to power cycle stuff without having to try and get around to the back.
If you're someone who flashes new BIOS/Firmware for your hardware I HIGHLY recommend a UPS! The last thing you want is a power outage during this process! I own 2 smaller Cyberpower 1500VA for all my PC/network hardware. Thankfully the only power outages I've had in the 12+ years I've lived here were planned outages for pole/line repair type stuff. Only 2 in that 12 years.
Gods, that's nice rack!
It's fun to watch someone enter a new phase/area of their journey and as a bonus I get to learn new stuff too.
Love seeing progress on the new house and everything that comes with it! Excited to see how it all turns out
For those UPS rails, check the manual to see if there is a recommendation on torque level for the screws and go back across them with a torque wrench. Don't rely on just manually tightening given how much weight is riding on those rails.
And UPS devices aren't just about having a battery backup. That's important, of course. But most will also condition power to your devices. The best ones are "pure sine inverter" UPS's, which I think yours is.
And with the patch panels, you want to position it so it's _between_ two switches. Just look at the pictures you embedded in this video for reference. That's so if you need to pull out the switch later - e.g. one-off bad unit that's always a risk - you're not undoing a lot of other stuff to get it out of the rack. Look at a lot of pictures of server racks to get an idea of how it's typically done. Like with a PC, build your rack in a way that makes any future changes or upgrades much easier to accomplish.
Greg - I am a content creator too and understand the ups and downs especially related to negative comments - I am sensetive too, but tell myself that no comments, no one is viewing your work, that said learning new things and sharing is the best part of life - I have watched you for years and appreciate your channel - you are getting close to a million followers - my best for your new home!! Jim
Same here I’m completely new to server and network and so it it cool that I get you get someone new like you getting into this stuff.
love server stuff looking forward to watching more content about it
I appreciate it!
You have come a long way my friend. From the dorm on a dresser to a server rack. Keep 'er goin!
Dont forget the upgrade the ethernet. So proud of our boy!
I cannot wait for solid-state UPS we're starting to see the first "solid-state" power stations so I'm hopeful that in a year or two we will have much lighter UPS units or even if they are that heavy they will have more energy density. Though i imagine they will cost a pretty penny.
servers are so much fun. I have a older first gen Threadripper 12 core I use as a game server.
now that TR 7000 is out I might find a great deal on a 2970WX 24core for upgrade on my strix x399.
last year they were still about $500-$600. NVM just looked there still $500. some scalpers asking $1800 for one LMAO.
i think that power strip is a very smart move for a home lab situation. There might be some servers you might eventually buy that you dont want to run 24-7. there might be some used enterprise gear you get that is loud and power hungry that you only want drawing power when ever you are tinkering with it, and instead of constantly plug and unplugging and messing with cables you can just flip a switch. For mission critical stuff like security appliances and networking gear then i would plug those directly into the UPS but for everything else, i think youre going to find that power strip handy.
One small thing to add about UPSs, they will certainly keep equipment running through shorter power outages, and you added the caveat that they won't work for a longer outage. One thing to keep in mind though, is that in the case of a longer outage they give you time. If you're running low on power in a longer outage a UPS gives you time to figure out what to power down and how, and the ability to do it gracefully. Servers really don't like their power being yanked while they're running, a UPS gives you time to bring it down gracefully and avoid data corruption and/or equipment damage.
Hey Greg, Nice build, depending on what else you are adding to the rack, if you haven't already, you might want to think about adding aircon to your cupboard where the rack will live. Or is HVAC in the US. Cheers
I was thinking the same thing, especially since it looks like a very small room which will heat up quickly.
@@michaeldejode473 We have an active exhaust setup already in the closet that vents to atmosphere. This was discussed in a previous house video on the channel.
Glad you having fun, keep on learning :) - HomeLabbers learn every day :)
I think you did good on the rack. Nothing wrong with that at all. It is after all your home, not multi row computer room. I, personally would have used an apc ups.
@GregSalazar, let me first say that I am a retired IT engineer working for the military. You are doing OK with your solution so far, but there are several things that are triggering my OCD.
1. The spacing on racks requires a bit of adjusting. A Unit of spacing (U) has 3 holes that are spaced equidistant apart, then separated by a slightly smaller amount to the next U set of holes. For noobs, the manufacturer of your rack has put horizontal lines to show the separation points between each U. Your 'Server' rails are straddling Units 3 and 4, and needs to be moved down 1 hole to make the proper alignment. The rails straddling U 7 and 8 also need to be adjusted.
2. The Power Distribution Unit (PDU) should be located closer to the Uninteruptable Power Supply (UPS) so the power cables of the low powered equipment are shorter runs. I recommend placing the PDU in rack U 13. Also, since the PDU is a single 110V cable to the UPS, I recommend running the power of the 'Server' directly to the UPS so you don't trip the over current protection on a single circuit.
3. In the networking world, a server is a distinct machine that is protected from any user actions and software so that a rogue process does not effect the operations of any other processes. For example, a runaway Structured Query Language (SQL) database request should not interrupt any file or print serving functions. Your security system will use a lot of file serving functions to store the audio and video files. When running games on the server you have a very likely scenario where you will crash the server and have to reboot, taking your security system offline in the process. This is very bad. Consumer grade software is not written to the same standard as server operating systems and software. Consumer software frequently has memory leaks, residual processes in memory after application shutdown, and security holes that are discovered after they have been on the market. I highly recommend using a separate computer from the server to do user functions such as gaming, web browsing, etc.
4. Your use of Cat-6 cabling is perfectly fine. All ethernet links are limited to 100 metres. You must calculate the patch cords as part of the 100m limit. Properly terminated, Cat-6 can run at 1 Gigabit per second up to the 100m limit without a problem. As speeds increase up to the maximum 10 Gb per second, the length budget decreases to 55m over Cat-6 copper cabling. Longer distances require a different media (ie. fibre). As you are terminating your cables in the house, I recommend you beg/borrow/rent a cable tester to certify that your terminations at each end, meet the standard. I have used Fluke meters extensively for this in my career, but they are not the only brands on the market.
Have fun with your new project. Learn with me. I look forward to the next episode.
Al
I absolutely want to see more networking shenanigans! That rack looks pretty sweet!
I'd like to get one of my own, but I simply can't justify the cost right now when my "network closet" only consists of a couple of computers, a UPS, and a 1Gb switch. I run Jellyfin on my old gaming PC with a few raid 1 volumes spread across some used enterprise grade drives. The other PC, an older Dell Optiplex I bought years back, runs OPNsense and acts as my home router.
Networking is an absolute blast and learning it will give you so much more control over your computing experience.
to 1 million subs Greg, thanks for all the efforts for this community cheers
Hey Greg, I use an APC 550 UPS, I know you said that you've never had the need for a UPS before, but I can testify that this unit has saved my work and protected my system many times!
glad to see some networking stuff. im sure you are aware but you need to think about your network configuration for security and functional reasons ofc. A diagram is a good start and really helpful. Always a pleasure to help like you do all the time.
Useing a PDU is standard. That way your not crawling on the ground behind the UPS. And normally your equpment is higher in the rack. You can get a network accesable PDU as well it will alow you to monitor each receptical on it.
My workplace (government) had patch panels for phones (VOIP) and computers. In the "old days" (10 years ago) if you wanted to switch your phone to another desk you had to literally switch the ethernet patch cable to the relevant port for the desk you were moving to. These days with modern office phone systems, you simply log into the phone on the desk and your phone number goes with you. But interesting stuff for home networking.
Greg as a MCSE with more than 20 years experience you did a very nice job.
Hi Greg. I just want to take the opportunity to thank you for the information you've provided on your channel. I had some weird reboot issues with the PC shutting down with a BSOD and rebooting to the BIOS, turning off, powering back on and rebooting to the BIOS again. Seeing as it was not possible to bring my rig to you from Australia, I just basically followed your troubleshooting tips (after a necessary deep clean, whew!) The issue turned out to be a dying CMOS battery. Thanks to you, I'm back up and running with a smile on my face. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and an exciting New Year.
ups gives the user time to shutdown properly. Save work and shut down. They are also to protect from those very short outages that hit for a few seconds.
A big thumbs up for Stubborn and Cheap! Someone of my own mindset! BTW - I'm thinking that all the switches in your PDU are lit, because all of them are turned ON.
Lead acid batteries are still the default battery of choice in entry UPS. Lithium-Ion battery equipped UPS are a thing but they cost quite a bit more.
Looks like a Good Setup & Glad to see the New House coming along as well!
Remember you can get keystones that are female on both ends. This will let you run cables from the back of your server or other equipment to ports on the patch panel. Then short cables from the front of the patch panel looks better that drapping a cord over and around. So internet coming in can terminate on patch position 1 or whatever. Then your server can go to position 2. and wall plugs from 3-23, ect. Then all you need is to take each position 1-23 and run them up into a switch to connect WAN to server and all wall plugs. Also, making it look SOOO good.
hang in there you are on track
My homelab rack is a 25U Startech. So far it houses a Dell PowerEdge R720XD, a home built 4U 20 bay media server, my rack mounted thread ripper workstation, a 48 port POE layer 3 managed switch, and my ISP provided access point. Soon will Come UPS's, better cable management, and a second Dell server.
Dude.. it's how you learn! I jumped through a number of those hoops a couple of years ago and had a lot of fun with it. Now I don't know how I lived without a server in my home, and I'm planning a major upgrade. Looking forward to see what you do with it, because honestly the hardware is the easy part!
ty greg for ur video. im also a newb (more than u apparently). i also have my own homelab. recently i started getting into server network racks, 10g, fiber optics (om3), dacs, sfp+ 10g pcie/transceivers, and now finally a 4u case nas.
was inspired by your video, so now i'm trying to do my own diy build partly based on yours. i'm using the same silverstone 4u case like you.
anyway appreciate the walkthrough, learned a lot and inspired me to try diy nas for my first every build 😊
I assume all of those wire runs are numbered at least and you have a wiring list of which cable # goes to which outlet. That comes in handy during troubleshooting. When putting on those keystone jacks if they are punchdown types make sure that the blade on the punchdown tool in on the outside of the jack. That way you are trimming off the waste wire and not cutting off the wire going into the jack.
As someone who's currently tinkering around with his first server build, the video series have been great!
The power hub will be great for your switch and modem at a minimum. Easy to restart them in the event of a network issue.
So is the config supposed to go from UPS to the power hub like it's a giant light switch? That make more sense now because you'd want to protect anything worth in the rack but we've all power cycled modems. I think I got it now.
Cat6/Cat6A is perfectly fine for 10Gb up to 55m or 100m for 6 and 6a respectively :)
Cat7 is only ISO certified and not TIA/EIA certified and to meet the standard it would need TERA connectors, technically speaking. It offers nothing over Cat6A aside some additional shielding.
Cat8.1 and 8.2 offer 25Gb and 40Gb up to only 30 meters anyway and nothing on the market exists which would do those speeds over twisted pair copper. Given how much heat copper 10Gb SFP+ modules produce compared to fiber I don't see 25Gb copper modules or gear coming out any time in the near future let alone 40Gb gear.
Thanks for the clarification. Seems like any time I mention Cat6/a, someone screams at me for not using Cat 7 Lol.
@@GregSalazar Yah, usually from people who think bigger number is always better, haha.
If you were running these directly next to power lines then maybe but otherwise I would ignore them
you're doing such a great job ,
its gona look awesome on your new network closet.
I use unraid & truenas myself ,
it'd be nice if you could look into either one of those OS's for your new server.
Great first steps into your home network. Some recommendations: Plug high power devices like your Server and your PoE Switch directly into the UPS and use PDUs (the power bar that you installed at the top) only for lower power devices except if the PDU in question is designed for that use and uses a C20 socket since they are designed for high power draw and of course check the rating of the PDU. In addition I would recommend using your patch panel for routing your CAT6 cables within your Rack since Servers, NAS systems etc. have their ports at the rear and Switches etc. are connected at the front. That makes it easy to cable manage your internal wiring and you have direct control of your network from the front of the rack.
There is a massive difference in location for if a UPC makes sense. I've only ever seen 2 power outages in my area, one when I was a kid and one when they were digging out the street with a massive excavator. Around here UPS' are a big waste of time, money and space for "ordinary" private users. They sometimes say it makes sense for power quality, which is similarly very dependent on location. Though with modern hardware (that's not bottom of the barrel) it will practically nowhere be a problem unless you have extremely sensitive science level equipment.
Regarding the 5.25" drive bays, you can slide in some ICYDOCK hot-swap 2.5" bays in those and have mass SSD storage. Keep that in mind for the future.
Looks like a great start to me! I've been wanting one of those PDUs with all the switches for a long time lol! Also, for anyone whining about cat6/cat6a... It's 2023 and 2.5Gbps LAN ports are just starting to become the norm over 1Gb. That and most ppl like myself are stuck on coax sooo 500Mbps down and 21~Mbps up is about the best I can get lol. That and cat6a is supposed to support 10Gbps so you should be fine into the foreseeable future. Anywho looking forward to seeing it all come together!
And also if you use that Power Switch you can shut down each thing first then turn off the UPS if you may have your Power off for a long period of time
You should have put wheels on your server case.
Hey Greg! Love how you are taking an interest in your own “home lab” which is what we call when you essentially have your own server. I’ve been a data center technician for around 7years and have installed setups for local law enforcement to doctor offices. I like your setup and where it’s going. There were some points and I can see there’s already folks telling you about how your setup should be. I will say that it will be difficult when you move your setup because typically you want to set it up at the final demarcation point. The other thing is that you want to drill a base pad at the bottom of your open rack for stability and to guard against any water that may find its way into your office. The patch panel is at a working level; however, if you are going to use another switch (which is what I am assuming) then you want it in between the two switches so that your cable management is clean and unnoticeable. You will need a cable management raceway also on the sides and one in between the runs of patch cables you will use (typically 5ft to 7ft, because you may update later). Your server should be at least waist high only because you will need to manage it later. The added PSU is fine, but should be underneath but above the server. Also don’t forget to crimp your cat6 in the A format. I’m loving your setup and thank you for the UniFi shout out because I am looking to do the same for my house after now having drywall and hardwood floors added. I don’t like cloud based security cams and having a CCTV network that you are the ONLY one that controls it is great. I would recommend another camera management system to control your cameras and be able to remotely monitor them from wherever you are at. I use to know the perfect app, but haven’t dabbled into that for a while now. If you have questions I am very excited in helping 😊
You may want to place the PDU in the middle of the rack this way everything only has to go half the distance to connect to power.
Thank you for sharing. Nice to watch this journey.
OH And You should Remove the Battery pack first then mount the UPS as its half as heavy then. They are hot swappable BTW so if servicing is needed you just pull the battaeries everything should stay up.
Loved learning more about servers! Great content
Wouldn't you want to separate the two heat sources from one another on the rack? Reduce the heat soak. Maybe add fans between them to help cool the space between?
Ot is this an issue at all?
When you said power outage I immediately thought, "oh yeah, we got a storm coming our way don't we". Hope all is well for you all down there the stormy weekend.
A sinewave ups is recommended even for any remotely important equipment - especially in a lightning prone or poor electrical quality area.
I am an engineer in data center. server rack should be placed in a dedicated room or basement because device on rack will generate a lot of heat and noise. also, installing and uninstalling servers should be a 2 person job for safety. good luck.
We have active cooling built into the closet - including an exhaust fan and vent to atmosphere. For these small server applications, you can certainly do things on your own. This isn't enterprise stuff Lol.
Now, Enterprise gear has two major downsides: It's noisy and power hungry. both will be eliminated with consumer hardware.
I am also DC guy. I think u have done ok with installing. Nothing serious/hazardous.
If no one has mentioned Rack Studs yet, I will. They are awesome to use and are friendlier to the fingers than the rack nuts and screws. Highly recommend.
Setting up and running a server is super easy, but it takes a bit of time to accumulate all of the information about best practices for your particular use case, which os/hypervisor to use etc.
Once you start though, there is no stopping, it becomes an addiction.
Instead of a power switch component, you may want to search for something that's specifically a power indicator component. Since you won't be switching them on and off from there as you said, indicators seem to be what you're looking for. As a side note, they may also incorporate the ability to switch them off but prioritising the indication of power is what you want to focus on.
i love the rack your building trust me this is just the start, i decided to do mine during covid and i just set it up as a media plex server at first, now im tempted to do a few videos on what i have learnt in a way, the mistakes ive made using zfs truenas an exellent os.
I still haven't picked up a UPS and I really should. Ive got a rack of about 7 different computers in my homelab and have basically just being playing the "fingers crossed" game every time the power goes out.
Server UPS is the mullet of the server space. Business upfront. Party in the back.
You know Greg with something Like TrueNas Scale. You can run several containers for whatever you need zuch as Jellyfin, Frigate, Netdata, or even full VMs for Home Assistant or any other docker container that Scale doesnt have an app for yet. New office looks amazing as well!
the term "server" to some people is rack built systems but a server is whatever you make it. people run servers for all use types personal cloud storage, game servers even a home plex is still a server. dude your doing good i just wouldnt personally run that switch box on top as it could cause some issues with power draw from the ups.
I love the videos thanks for sharing I'm a noob with all that so I appreciate you walking us through everything you did
Looking good so far. I know enough about networking stuff to be dangerous, and like you, I learn as I go. I have actually worked around networking off an on, but it was never really my primary job.
Just a few suggestions:
Move the power hub down at least half way and you shouldn't need to get longer power cords.
The server should be plugged directly into the UPS and you should be able to use software and a USB cable to turn off the server based on the runtime your configure for power outages.
Make sure to add power normal room will only have 1500w need more for a game/ office.
Love Server Videos & I started building mine several years ago & i got a 27u rack that i thought would take me 5 years to fill up & let me tell ya I was Way Off less than a year .lol. i have a bit different set up With 2 APC 2200va ups with NMC a 1u server /firewall 3-4 servers 10gb & 1gb network gear, patch panel & a switch panel console viewer and more ..just be prepared is all i am saying ..lol. good Luck & Just have Fun with it !
Your UPS is less to keep your systems running and more to give you an opportunity to gracefully shut down the equipment that's plugged into it. Most UPSes give you about 5 to 15/20 minutes to shutdown everything in a way that won't damage your configurations and hardware.
Yeah UPS's are never light, even the small ones - last large one I had received from a friend offloading data center gear made my (at the time) truck's suspension squat lol. Can't wait to see all the Ubiquiti goodies up and running as well.
Hi Greg, and Happy Holidays. So, Christmas came early. I can't imagine what the wife and kids get for their gifts. All gamers should have a UPS. You never know when you will be winning a game, and the house power goes offline. That's going to be a lot of wall outlet power draw. I installed, yes, I'm a DIYer, a dedicated 20-amp wall outlet in my gamer room. Resetting a tripped circuit breaker is no fun, but it will be a real test of your UPS.
I'm really enjoying learning with you in this series. Can't wait to see what's coming next.
Is there a concern about having the server and UPS on top of carpet and any potential static it may create/discharge?
I would get some industrial strength coasters on the bottom for that purpose and make it easier to move around.
The power hub only has one input and many outputs. I would only plug your cameras and low power stuff into it. Not the server. Standard outlets are only rated for 15 A.
now i finished my computer system servicing course, gaing more knowledge with you greg
I think CAT6 is good for 2.5G maybe even 5G full duplex. I've got CAT6E in my house, and I've tested 10G and it works.
Might want to consider moving your cables runs going to the closet in the new server closet up higher so it’s easier to get to patch panel and also won’t interfere with other systems.
power tap is great for shortening power cable lengths and troubleshooting/future upgrades. I'd have it mid rack, depending on total amount you intend to populate. And since you are putting the Rack in an enclosed area, I think it's even more important. Just make it just a bar and not protected like the ups manual says.
Thanks for the tips!
I am surprised you never used a UPS before this. I lived in an apartment building when I had one of the earliest Pentium processors. The computer shutting down on its own. I found out that electricity in apartment buildings tends to be unstable etc. So I bought a UPS and the computer ran smoothly after that.
Ok, Lets start with the basics, if you didn't know, this is by far the best way to learn so good on you. My first rack was a 4 post open air 27U that was a lot cheaper on ebay (I think I paid about $100USD) but that was pre-tarrifs and it was a good start for me. I suggest casters or wheels, it's easier to pull the rack forward and go behind, then snake yourself through.
Next Cat 6 is good enough fore 10GbE for up to 55meters (180ft), which is plenty. Cat 7 is a pain and was pretty much replaced by 6A. Cat 8.. what are we made of money?
If you're running unshielded Cat 6, I'd suggest moving that PDU. EMI is a thing and crosstalk can effect signal. Down the back of my rack (now the 36U) I try to go power down one side, ethernet on the over to avoid those kind of issues.
Outside of all this, you're off the a good start. Oh one more thing, bandages, lots of bandages, trust me...
I've worked in data centers and stuff. I'mma just say you are much braver than I am when it comes to routing individual cables.
You should use rack studs instead of the cage nuts. They are far easier to work with and plenty strong.
You should also always use a UPS for any equipment that you care about, not just for power backup, but line interactive UPSs also clean the power coming in, they will switch to battery if the voltage drops too low or gets too high which helps prevent PSU failures and helps keep good power to the components on the other side of the PSU. UPSs also will typically have much better, more advanced surge suppression than anything thing else.
I have a similar 25U unit and it's fine for my little setup, my floor is wood so wheels made installation easier but since you have carpet not so much. 12/15U wasn't enough (3 4U servers, 2U UPS, 1U switch and 2U patch panel) and I didn't feel like spending $300-$400 on something better when I don't really mess with the rack much so yeah.
Much easier to install the UPS without batteries and rack cable managers (think there are some you can get for $30-$40) to route cables help with the cable clutter, velcro straps work in a pinch if you don't have lot of cables but you will want to secure the ethernet cables some kind of way so they don't pull against the keystones and it's always a good idea to secure power cables so they don't get yanked by mistake.
Only thing I'd do different in your setup is mount the PDU at the middle/bottom at the rear but if that setup works for you not a big deal. Also does that closet get any airflow? Still waiting to see what you end up running on the server!
These videos remind me of my first pc build. I also had fun learning new things.
What do you typically save to a server? Would you be able to do games and such or would it be more like Documents and Footage?
Anything you want, just have to keep drive/network hardware speeds in mind based on what you're doing. For example, you probably wouldn't want to make a network hard drive where you install your video games, and use directly when you play them. However, you can make a cache of games so that when you uninstall a game from your gaming pc, you can reinstall it from your own network storage instead of re downloading it from the internet. When he's talking about putting a gpu in his server and gaming with it, he means the gpu will be passed through to a virtual machine, and he will be gaming directly off the server. The possibilities are endless though, lookup homelab videos. Its an awesome sub hobby in the pc space!
I always get the Starteck 25U rack, it comes with wheels.
Absolutely love your videos as a whole, as mentioned several times on previous videos. But I'm in the same boat as you, have the past year gotten my interested into networking and servers as well, to try and perhaps clean up and get a better networking in ones house. This is really interesting to see your journey into it all and learning along the way. Keep up the awesome work Greg! :)
Glad you like them!
Some people get so pedantic about the term server. I don't care if it's a Pi serving files to a couple of computers in your home that you toss in a closet... it's a server. Also... I want to clarify that a UPS will NOT save you from a lightning strike. I don't think that's what you meant when you mentioned lightning, but I could see how someone might get confused and think that's what you meant. I've seen a lot of people get confused about that.
Happy to follow the server saga
In some jurisdictions it is actually not legal to terminate ends for CCTV or network cabling without a low voltage license. You should probably check into this before televising yourself breaking the law. Can cause permitting issues.
Nicely done! You're off to a great start!