[rescue] Deciding how to place machines in a rack...

[Earl Baugh]

Thanks for all the advise.  I've begun by placing the E420R at the bottom of
the rack (though having to stoop over or kneel and lift the thing to get it
in the rack seems to be only a small advantage for the o'back...ugh..)

I'll space each machine 1U apart, but I have a question regarding that.

Will putting in "face plates" (like this :
http://cgi.ebay.com/Set-of-1U-2u-3U-Face-Plate-for-Rackmount-Cabinet_W0QQitemZ170076194535QQcmdZViewItem)
actually improve air flow?   In this new mostly enclosed system, I'm
trying to do whatever I can to make sure I get good cooling.   I've looked
at some of the additional fan shelves you can get, but haven't decided if I
want to add that expense yet.  If anything, I'd probably want to get some
sort of fan assembly for the back door and then put it on and turn it on to
move the largest volume of air thru the thing...

Just FYI the rack is going up in my office.  Standard house HVAC is all.
Ceiling fan in the room as well (it's also got a very high vaulted ceiling,
so plenty of hot air moves up there...when I went up on a ladder I could
tell the difference...  t sits underneath an air intake for the HVAC.  So in
winter it supplies warmer air to the heater, and in summer it makes the AC
work a bit more...)

It's on carpet (yeah, I know not the most optimal...esp for rolling).  I
added casters to it to allow it to move (as best as one can on carpet... the
existing set up I have has casters as well and does move enough for me to
get around it when I need to.. and saves space since I don't have to have it
out until I need to)   I

Dust on the floor hasn't been any more of a problem than the dust in the air
(we have two pet rabbits, so I have to regularly clean all sorts of
filters...being closer to the floor isn't going to make that any worse of a
problem than it is now...)

I'll keep in mind the idea of placing a fan in the back to blow air into the
rack.... I've got a small fan on the SS10's right now to add some additional
cooling, but with the new top fans I think I'll be able to remove that...

I'm also going to be working on a "desk with 2-two post racks as the legs"
to re-use the existing parts from the old 2-2 post racks being used as a
4-post rack.  I have some "small" printers that will fit on shelves and let
me utilize more of the vertical space in the room (though the printers won't
be at 7 feet.....8-) )  I'll try to take some pictures when I get this all
done...

Thanks for all the advise!

Earl