TeraByte File Server Project

TeraByte File Server Project - Disk Brick

Index
Case
Disk Brick
Power
Cooling
Motherboard
Memory
Disk Controller
Drive Cables
Disk Drives

The project described in this web page was started in May, 2001. The product information in this web page (components to use) is current as of January, 2002. The information in this web page provides the knowledge, and ideas necessary to build a functional TeraByte file server. For more information on current file server offerings, please look here.

Disk Brick

One thing which made this project feasible was the availability of a disk bay cooler/bracket, which allowed three 3.5" low-profile (1" high) disks to be mounted in two 5.25" half-height bays. The cooler part is really nice. It's an 80MM fan, and it's very quiet. This bracket can be used with either SCSI or IDE disks. Due to it's shape and weight, I call this a "disk brick".
The space between the drives is quite small, but enough to allow some air to flow through. Most of the air from the fan will go through the vent holes, between the fan and the disks. If the disks get hot, I suggest that you tape up the vent holes behind the fan.
I used two Y cables to allow each disk brick to have a single power connector. These Y cables were attached to the brackets with wire ties. This simplifies maintenance.
The ability of this disk brick to properly cool the disks was tested. The 5400RPM drives that were used in this project stayed within 20 degrees F of the inlet air temperature. This is quite acceptable, and actually turns out to be cooler than most drives in a PC.

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© 2004 - Ashford Computer Consulting Service

		One thing which made this project feasible was the availability of a disk bay cooler/bracket, which allowed three 3.5" low-profile (1" high) disks to be mounted in two 5.25" half-height bays. The cooler part is really nice. It's an 80MM fan, and it's very quiet. This bracket can be used with either SCSI or IDE disks. Due to it's shape and weight, I call this a "disk brick".
		The space between the drives is quite small, but enough to allow some air to flow through. Most of the air from the fan will go through the vent holes, between the fan and the disks. If the disks get hot, I suggest that you tape up the vent holes behind the fan.
		I used two Y cables to allow each disk brick to have a single power connector. These Y cables were attached to the brackets with wire ties. This simplifies maintenance. The ability of this disk brick to properly cool the disks was tested. The 5400RPM drives that were used in this project stayed within 20 degrees F of the inlet air temperature. This is quite acceptable, and actually turns out to be cooler than most drives in a PC.