Reworking My Large System

[DJ Bobcat]

I think a trip to the hardware store is in order today. I've looked online at all kinds of hinges and latches for the monitor stand, back rack opening, and keyboard shelf, but I can't really get a sense of scale. Some items don't list the dimensions. I think it will be better if I just go to the store and see if I can find the parts I need. I'm not going to do any mods to the rack until I'm sure I have the parts to make it do what I want it to do.[emoji4]

I have a few more items I ordered arriving on Monday. The main one is the gooseneck microphone stand. Not sure yet exactly where I'm going to mount it, but probably along the top edge in the rear of the rack. This will be a little tricky, because it won't be removable like my Bogen gooseneck microphone I use with my small system. This one will need to fold down like the one in my controller case that I used with my old Large System. There will be plenty of options I'm sure.[emoji4]... More decisions.[emoji1]


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[DJ Bobcat]

... You know it will ..

I HATE IT when you're right!

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Tomorrow I should be able to get back to this project. The weather is NOT cooperating. Much of what I need to do to modify the slant-top rack, needs to be done out in the garage. However, with temps around 20 degrees, it's pretty unlikely I'll be doing anything outside. Several more items are scheduled for delivery tomorrow, though, so that's good.

I can probably get the bottom rack done, though. Since it requires no mods, and it doesn't really have much gear in it, finishing the bottom rack shouldn't be difficult. I've been a little hesitant about dismantling my old Large rack. I don't know why. I have nothing scheduled requiring it, and if something came up before I finish the new rack, I could just use the small system. I think I have a sentimental attachment to the old Large System. It has served me very well for more than three years.[emoji4]


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[dunlopj]

I've been a little hesitant about dismantling my old Large rack. I don't know why. I think I have a sentimental attachment to the old Large System. It has served me very well for more than three years.[emoji4]

Maybe we should hold a closing ceremony?

 

[DJ Bobcat]

... Several more items are scheduled for delivery tomorrow, though, so that's good...

Those B@ST@RDS![emoji1]... I waited all day for my deliveries. When nothing came, I went out and checked the mail. A couple of the items were in envelopes and stuffed in the mail box, but not the item I needed most; the gooseneck microphone stand. Just checked online, and they changed the expected delivery date to Feb 4-14. CR@P!... I kinda need to get that placed so I can figure out where everything else goes. Guess I'll just have to wait. So it looks like I'll go back to work on the monitor stand.[emoji4]

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Gooseneck microphone shaft came today, but the mount for it is still "on the way". We'll wait.[emoji4]

Had other issues to deal with today. My main NAS (the one I store all my documents on), cratered some time this evening. I noticed my computer had a pop-up dialog saying the connection to the NAS was lost. I checked on the NAS and found it powered off, and it wouldn't power up. I thought a failed power supply was the likely culprit, but I don't have a spare that would fit (uses a 1U server power supply). So I hooked a spare ATX power supply externally, just to test my theory, and sure enough, that was it. With the server powered up, I started a data backup. I hadn't done one in a while, so it seemed like a good idea to do it now. I ordered a new power supply, and should have it Thursday. I was planning to reconfigure this NAS soon anyway, since I'll be using my old DJ computers as new servers. It just forced me to get started a little sooner.[emoji4]


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[DJ Bobcat]

I'm not making any progress on this project. I'm suffering from paralysis by analysis.[emoji1] I wish I could blame the weather, and though it is partially to blame, I don't think I'd be much further along than I am, even if we'd had a few good weather days so I could work in the garage.[emoji1] There's still some hardware I need to buy, only I can't make up my mind exactly how I'm going to do some of the mods, so it makes it tough to decide which hardware to buy. I'll get there, but my end of February completion date is looking doubtful.

My NAS power supply failure didn't help either. Stuff like that always seems to happen at the most inopportune time. And of course, being OCD as I am, it makes me CRAZY when something broken is not repaired IMMEDIATELY![emoji1] I NEVER have anything in my house that is inoperable for more than a day or two. So instead of waiting on the delivery of a new replacement power supply, I took all the components out of the NAS' case, and transplanted them into another server case that had a good power supply. So my NAS was back in business in about a day. Don't know why I didn't think of that solution sooner? I guess I was just too fixated on finding a new power supply that would fit in the existing NAS server case. Since then, I started turning the old rack-mounted DJ computers into servers. I pulled the disk drives out of the old DMX/Video PC and replaced them with new drives to make a backup media server. The files are copying to it now, and should be completed later tonight.

The new power supply for the previous NAS server case came today, so next I'll finish building a brand new NAS. I already put a nice Gigabyte motherboard in it, with a quad core AMD processor and 16GB of RAM. Now I just have to install the new SSD system drive, and two 4TB data drives, and the new power supply, and then I can install software and configure it. That one should be done tomorrow, I think???[emoji848]... kinda depends on how energetic I am... and the wife will be home too (distraction).[emoji1]

 

[DJ Bobcat]

... The new power supply for the previous NAS server case came today, so next I'll finish building a brand new NAS. I already put a nice Gigabyte motherboard in it, with a quad core AMD processor and 16GB of RAM. Now I just have to install the new SSD system drive, and two 4TB data drives, and the new power supply, and then I can install software and configure it. That one should be done tomorrow, I think???[emoji848]... kinda depends on how energetic I am... and the wife will be home too (distraction).[emoji1]

... But of course... NOTHING'S EVER EASY![emoji1] Put the new power supply in, and it fit perfectly. WAY more connectors than I need, but missing one important one I gotta have... 4 Pin CPU power. It has an 8 pin, but not 4. Yes, I could splice the 4 pin connector from the old (dead) power supply in, but I don't really want to do something like that with a brand new power supply... just in case it fails and needs to be returned, which sometimes happens with these power supplies. I thought I had an adapter (8 pin to 4), but the one I had was for the reverse... genders were opposite of what I need. Found the right adapter on eBay and ordered it. No expedited shipping available, so I'll just have to wait... Tuesday.[emoji4]

So I decided to work on the second display setup on the new DMX/Video Nano PC using the Display Port to VGA adapter I just received last week. Plugged it into the Nano PC, then attached my VGA-over-CAT5 adapters to the Monitor and the Display Port adapter... connected the CAT5 cable and VOILA!!!... nothing.[emoji1] No display. Messed with the monitor settings, checked my connections... still nothing. Decided to take the CAT5 adapters out of the equation, so I plugged a VGA cable into the Display Port adapter and monitor... still nothing. I was starting to think I had a bad Display Port/VGA adapter, when suddenly I realized... the adapter was plugged into the WRONG Nano PC (and that PC was turned off). [emoji1] One Nano PC was stacked on top of the other and I somehow became confused as to which one I was connecting to... SENILITY![emoji1] Plugged the Display Port adapter into the RIGHT computer, and of course it worked perfectly. So then I put the VGA-over-CAT5 connectors back on... nothing.[emoji1] WHAT??!... Took another set from a working monitor, plugged 'em up and... (TRUMPETS SOUNDED)... IT WORKED! So it was not too hard to figure out from there that I had a bad CAT5 cable. Hooked up a new one (cable) with the VGA-over-CAT5 connectors that were not working, and everything now works fine. Shoulda been simple, but NEVER IS.[emoji1]

On to the next project... turning the old DJ/Music rack-mounted PC into a server. This one should be easy.[emoji1]

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Ya know how I'm always saying; "nothing's ever easy"??? It's because NOTHING'S EVER EASY!!![emoji23]

Today, I thought... let's get started dismantling the old Large (rack) System, by taking out the components that go in the new bottom SKB rack, and mount them in the new rack. The bottom SKB rack has rails (6U) front and rear, and requires no modifications. This should be easy, huh? NOPE!!![emoji23] I started off by moving the 3U rack drawer, which was not an issue, but when I tried to install the Eliminator ET PRO8 (light controller), it would not line up with the holes of the rails. After a few minutes of trying to figure out what I did wrong, I realized it wasn't me. The rails on the left side of the front opening were 1/4 inch higher than the ones on the right... no problem until you get to the top of the opening, then there's no room for the top component to fit. Looked at how the rails were attached, and of course, they're riveted in. Only way to fix it is to drill out the four rivets, drill new holes, and screw the rail back onto the rack. So that's what I did. Fixed the problem, but WHAT A PAIN!!!...

There's not much to install in this bottom rack; just the Eliminator ET PRO8, drawer, and 1U blank panel on the front; power strip, rack door, and patch panel on the back. Not even much on the patch panel. With that done, I can focus on the Slant-Top Rack. I'm sure this one isn't gonna be easy.

UPDATE: Waited all day for my 1U, 8 inch deep rackmount shelf (to be delivered). Hadn't come when we left for dinner at 5:30PM, and wasn't delivered before we got home. Checked outside a few minutes ago, and there it was. Opened it up and tried it out in the rack. I think this shelf is going to work perfectly. Much better than the 6 inch deep shelf I originally bought to mount the Nano computers on. Looks like we're making progress now.[emoji4]

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Made a LOT of progress today. You'd never know it by the disaster in my office, but today was a good day. I figured out that I don't need to modify the back of the slant-top rack. I can put rails in there without making any modifications to the rack itself. I was trying to figure out how to get the rails installed, but still be able to put the rear cover on afterward. Today I solved that problem.[emoji4]

I also got everything out of my old DJ rack and have it all fitted in the new racks. I'll have to take it all back out of the slant-top rack so I can make the mods to the slant-top rack. I think the difficulty of the front mods on the slant-top rack are not going to be as difficult as I once thought. I have the cuts lined out, and they're pretty straight-forward.

I've even started moving servers into the old DJ rack. Still have several more items (KVM, Network Switch, UPS's, and a few more servers) to move from my home server rack to the old DJ Rack.

Maybe the technical problems with ODJT helped a little bit, by removing a distraction.[emoji4] Made more progress today than I have in weeks.

I'll post some progress pictures tomorrow if I can.[emoji4]

 

[dunlopj]

Maybe the technical problems with ODJT helped a little bit, by removing a distraction.

Yeah...that's right....blame it on us...

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Making pretty good progress. Since this is kind of a three-pronged project (new split Large System, repurpose old DJ rack for home servers, remove and dispose of old 24U home server rack and downsize servers), it's sometimes hard to see progress on any particular sub project. Today I can see progress. The old 24U server rack is empty and out in the garage awaiting pickup. I offered it to one of my former employees, and he was thrilled to get it. He's picking it up this afternoon. I threw in a keyboard and keyboard drawer, and 3U storage drawer, along with a supply of rack screws and nuts.

Was able to squeeze the three primary home servers into the old DJ rack, and I'm in the process of wiring it up. I'll be replacing those three servers soon with smaller ones, but I'll be happy to have them all back up and running in the smaller rack soon, and back in their permanent location. Downsizing and replacing the old servers will be accomplished last... after the DJ rack is complete.

Once I wrap up the initial home server rack rewiring task, I can focus on the mods to the DJ rack. I still think it's looking good for an end of February completion.


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[steve149]

Haven't touched my rebuild. I've been helping my daughter and her husband with "to do" lists at the new house .. wiring, flooring, etc. Another trip on Monday should get them most of the way for now.

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Not much progress to report, but I thought I'd post a couple of pics of the current status.

The old DJ rack now contains my 3 primary servers (Media Server, Backup Server, and NAS). I moved it to my Exercise Room/Art Studio, which is where the old server rack used to sit. This one is a much better size...



... Then I have all the gear mounted in the new DJ rack so I can see how everything is going to fit, and where I need to make modifications...



The weather is delaying progress. This has pretty much been a lost week and isn't going to get better soon. Looks like I'll have to make a lot of progress next week. At least moving the old DJ rack out of my office provides a little more space for working on this new DJ rack. One of the items I ordered won't be here on time, and it's a pretty important item... the access panel that goes above the controller. I think I'm going to mount the microphone and light on the access panel, just like I did with my small system. So finishing in February is pretty unlikely. Hopefully we'll just be a week late. Not a big deal... my deadline was just an arbitrary date... something to shoot for.

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Looks like everything I've ordered has been delivered. There are still some pieces I'm having trouble deciding on, which will have to be ordered once I've made those decisions. Also, a trip to the hardware store is a necessity! Several little hinges and screws and such are still needed, as well as some filler and other light construction bits. Not today though. I don't shop on the weekend... too many DIYers out there.[emoji1] One of the benefits of being retired is; I can shop while most people are at work... no crowds and short check-out lines. Not as good as shopping online, but the second best option IMHO.[emoji1]

Spent a lot of time lately on one of the other aspects of this project... server downsizing. Was having trouble getting all the files copied from the old NAS to the new one. I was using a Windows 10 PC to do the copying, and was having problems with "Path too long" errors. Even though I have the OS set correctly, it still doesn't like paths more than 260 characters, even though I'm sure I used Windows to create those paths to start with.[emoji1] And since I'm not a "command line" guy anymore (can't remember all the syntax anymore[emoji1]), I had to find a different OS to use to copy files. I was gonna use a Linux virtual machine, but I think Windows 10 updates have somehow trashed my VM network adapters, because none of them can connect to the network. I spent WAY too much time trying to fix that (without success). Ultimately, reinstalling VMWare is probably the solution. Rather than go through all that right now, I used my iMac, and it did the trick.[emoji4] Not as easy as Windows File Explorer, but I'll put up with a little added difficulty in order to make sure everything on my old servers get transferred to the new ones.


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[DJ Bobcat]

Progress... Finally decided on how to mount my monitors. I narrowed it down to two options, and then to the one I'm working on today. I had a fold-down VESA monitor stand that attached to a small PC case I bought. Since I don't use it (and never would have), it was just sitting in my parts bin waiting to be used for SOME purpose... like this project. The base is too big and needs to be modified. That's what I worked on today. Got the metal base cut down, and then I'll cut the plastic cover to match. It should fit nicely on the back portion of the rack, and still allow the access panel to open.

Spent a lot of time getting my downsized servers going. Copying data to them using my main workstation wasn't working, but those issues are resolved.[emoji4] I'm really liking my office computer setup, now that I got my virtual computers working again. I was having trouble with the virtual network adapters, which failed to access the network. Eventually I gave up trying to fix them and used my iMac to do what I usually do on a Linux virtual machine. I've never really been a MAC guy, but I'm finding it comes in handy for doing certain tasks that Windows 10 PC does not do well. However, I had some time yesterday and decided to reinstall VMWare on my Windows 10 workstation. My version of VMWare was a little out of date anyway, so I upgraded to the latest version and it fixed the problem. I don't upgrade things that are working and stable, so I skipped several versions. I think something in a Windows 10 (automatic) update is what messed up the virtual network adapters to start with. I also had a weird permissions problem after a recent update as well, and it took a little sleuthing to figure it out and correct it. Now the computer is stable once again. My OCD will not tolerate a computer with stuff that isn't working perfectly.[emoji1]


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[steve149]

I think you should whip up a mini, collapsible screen and 2 nano/pico projectors (front or rear project, your preference). Save a lot of weight.

Sort of like this without the touch ...

 

[DJ Bobcat]

I think you should whip up a mini, collapsible screen and 2 nano/pico projectors (front or rear project, your preference). Save a lot of weight.

Sort of like this without the touch ...

View attachment 33751

That IS cool, but might not be necessary very soon. They're making LED screens that you can ROLL UP. I don't know how long before they'll be readily available, but I bet not too long.[emoji4]


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[steve149]

That IS cool, but might not be necessary very soon. They're making LED screens that you can ROLL UP. I don't know how long before they'll be readily available, but I bet not too long.[emoji4]


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Well, start planning for them ... Rework session 17 ...

 

[DJ Bobcat]

That IS cool, but might not be necessary very soon. They're making LED screens that you can ROLL UP. I don't know how long before they'll be readily available, but I bet not too long.[emoji4]


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Well, start planning for them ... Rework session 17 ...

I'm sure they'll be OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive at first, then the prices will start slowly decreasing... just like every new video gadget. Five years after they're released, I'll buy one.[emoji1]


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