Cooling your home IT Server Lab the right way

[@jrkbkk]

Wow, I learned so much in this 15min video. It is a real primer and huge insight of how to deal with warm air. You confirmed some assumptions, but also revealed things I overlooked. I wish I could steal you away to my Bangkok condo to give me some hands-on pointers. At least you’ve given me a new lease on my network room to try and alleviate the always present worry of warm air. Thanks a million for taking the time to share your experience.

[@leadiususa7394]

Glad to help out! Keep enjoying this stuff! God bless

[@ramonparada]

Great video. There are a lot of videos about big datacenters and not many about 1-2 rack installations. I'm about to buy a cabinet and I thought that the ideal would be one with a solid back door (instead of perforated) so I can get all the hot air from the top and send it to another room in winter for warming purposes and outside the building in summer.

[@leadiususa7394]

Right way to think...Just make sure you mix fresh air in to keep the fumes from the systems down to a low smell. Yep. IT gear has a smell to them...

[@leadiususa7394]

BTW, I am doing a refresh of that video this week. Heads up and look for it

[@Sbellins1109]

I have my servers (for now 2) in a clodet made by insulation. I then have a pipe coming from outside to the front top of the cabinet. Then i have a separate pipe in the back top for exaust. I've separated the front and the back of the cabinet almost perfectly. This way i have 2 heat zones for cheap and my server are really cool , the intake air is around 1-10°C in winter (maybe less during night). For now humidity is not a problem

[@WondrousSky]

super helpful, saved me tons of money and time

[@leadiususa7394]

Great!

[@glenns7252]

I just bought the same portable a/c do you have any suggestions for mounting the hoses to the wall?

[@leadiususa7394]

If it is for your IT lab or server lab then yes. My lab was in my third garage so I went thru the wall with two cut outs and two dryer vent front covers that I got at Lowes, to fit my exhaust and exchange air hoses to to the inside and the outside was capped off with screening and that worked great for me. But remember to read your manual about he heat pump mode when heating the room. Make sure you remove the exchange return to inside only for the heat pump will not work with air colder then 45 degrees I think. (Also cap off your inside mount so the cold air doesn't get in your room. Make sure you check that. Me? I have detach my return and recycle the room air for now to recycle the heat in the room. for it been on and off for the past month with winter and there are time I just run the fan mode only. But yearly you have to connect and disconnect the reconnect the exchange return as needed when you need to use it in heat mode. That is if you got a AC/Heater version that is. If it is just AC only then just run your pipes to the an outside wall or window and be done with it.

[@glenns7252]

@@leadiususa7394 my shop is my IT Lab, modeling off of yours, its about the same size as yours, and i did get the heater version like yours. Did you use the window mount that came with it on the inside. I will check lowes, i looked at home Depot today and didn't find a lot of 5" or 6" options except a reducer from 5" to 4", hopefully lowes will have more options

[@leadiususa7394]

@@glenns7252 I cute thru my wall two Dryer vent size holes and then mount the dryer vents from the outside and connected up the hoses to the inside part and I also screw the hoses in place so they would not fall off. Small 1/2 inch or so screws but a wide head to keep the hoses on. Play wit hit some maybe you will come up with something better then my solution.

[@premsecurity]

Hey, can you explain a little better, in the winter how do you close the exhaust? What do do when the portable AC unit only has single Exhaust unit?

[@leadiususa7394]

Sure, well when the temp gets below 45 degrees, I remove the return side and let it just use the room air. I close off the exit pipe to the outside and run it that way. Another way is to run the unit in fan mode only and balance the heat of the servers to keep the room warm enough. I have done that as well when it just didn't want to mess with my exhuast and intake pipes. Hope this helps some.

[@andreavergani7414]

You are legend. Subbed. And keep follow your vids. Pls keep doing it. Ciao

[@leadiususa7394]

Thanks!

[@nsmcclerren]

I would like to get your thoughts on this. The only real place I have to build is my shop. It gets really hot in there. I don't the the temp but, I will say this standing in the sun with a breeze is better than standing in my shop. I plan on building a enclosed (sealed to the best of my ability) using 2x6. I will be using foam board on the outside to insulate the rack. I also have a roof mounted ac unit for an rv, that I plan to mount the the top. I will do my best force most of the air down the front and some down the right side. The hot air will be out the back and some from the left side. All my switches pull from the right and out the left. With how my house and shop setup, I plan on pulling air from under my house to the ac unit, then out through the roof. I may one day plan to duct the system to my house for winter time usage. I'm paying to run the servers, I might as well use them to heat my house lol. I don't see any issues put I'm by far a pro. Just a guy doing to learning to become a pro. Oh I did some math and the AC unit is over sized.....for what I have now. I'm in the thinking stage but I went with 20 sqft for the enclosure and 3kw for how much equipment I have (not a real number closer to 1.8kw, 3kw is the max my power supplies will do). So I should need around 10k btu, the unite is 13k btu.

[@leadiususa7394]

Yea, this is a great start. Yes, do your math first and recheck it. Learn the BTU of your servers and IT gear in the rack. (Each server has it BTU output listed at it's manufacture site.) Then yes, route the cold air to the front of the servers and use thin 1/4 inch plastic foam (You cna get this at Staples.) to fill in the front areas so the cool air only goes thru the front of the servers mostly. Also if you have 1/2/4U filler panels helps a lot as well to fill the empty spaces of the racks. Lat is the server placement design, make sure you start with just one server or hottest rack mount (Like a 24 disk array) at the bottom of the rack. (that is the lowest and coolest place in the rack. then test the heat levels and then power up the next server and so on.. Learn your air flow and cooling power in stages and you are good. Lastly the return hot air from the servers, You may find the air is still cool enough to recycle to cool air again. That is your call by try it so your AC unit doesn't have to work so hard. As for the heat exchange pump that to the outside during the summer and into your home HVAC system in the winter.. Should be good. Take your time learning your setup and have fun!

[@nsmcclerren]

I didn't think about looking up the btu. I figured going off the psu would have been my best bet. Since I have your attention. Would you say that most if not all equipment that has dual psu distributes the load evenly. I know my r720xd does that's to idrac but, I have a 60 disk expander that I can't figure out how to really use it and don't have a way to test it. Sorry to ask so much, I just love this rabbit hole I find myself in lol.

[@leadiususa7394]

@@nsmcclerren Yes, your disk and CPU's create heat as well so go with the spec's that your manufacture provides and you will have real numbers. As of the PSU load balance yes and no. I run my Dell 720XD on one PSU. (I am not worried about the servers for my disk groups are redundant so I can get away with that. I haven't lost anything yet!) So you can run on a single PSU but it is costly in power outlet balancing and over all power usage for each PSU has a local cost to run. About 10% when in dual PSU mode. So it your choice. Now for disk arrays? you can run on one PSU but not recommended. The issue is that one PSU is not fully ratted to run for long as a single power source. Best to run both going forward. It relates to the high power draw caused by the many disk pulling power. That is why the 720XD is so great. This is not a issue with the 26 pay chassis. That is why I love that server chassis so much. Enjoy your rabbit hole! lol /:> Reach out to me if you need anything else...

[@anthonystrohmayer9191]

Don't let Gordon Ramsay see your nightmare wire situation

[@leadiususa7394]

Very true. I use to have it nice a clean but some people want special help like with (You know) disk arrays so a good IT server CD lab is a bit messy but a well used LAB. I rebuilt it four time over 12 years...

[@kevinhowe3042]

Hey Brad. I have a question for you. I have 4 server racks that I’m dropping cool air above, them about 18” from the front of the each rack. Would it be advantageous to add a fan or 2 in the back, at the bottom, and hard pipe them to the outside?

[@leadiususa7394]

Well if you can, you want to recycle warm air to cool air in a close loop system so your cooling bill in not crazy. (Don't blow the warm air out of the room to the outside air for you are blow your cool air out as well.) So keep it close loop if possible route the cool air only to the front of the server racks (use flex pipe to help with this.) in a controlled way, then have your AC warn air return duck reach for the ceiling and use one or two blower fans in the back of the racks to help move the back of rack warm air up to the ceiling so the return air duck can cool that air back down. You save money this way. Also double check your cooling air BTU AC coverage and make sure your BTU output is slightly higher then the sq. feet of your room. I say about 25% greater so your AC unit doesn't have to work so hard to keep things cool. Hope this help some... Enjoy!

[@jj-icejoe6642]

Nice lab

[@leadiususa7394]

Thanks

[@anthonystrohmayer9191]

I need a datacenter on a 10$ an hour Mc Donald's income

[@leadiususa7394]

Yea, I have to save my pennies up to. I do all this on my own funds. It keeps me clean from the promotes and vendors so my reviews are good for everyone. Some of my peps send me fund thru paypal.. but that is it. This is what makes it fun to do and help other. But your will get your DC up and running I bet. Learning this allow you to move up in the IT world.

[@JMinerrr]

Hi I've spent over $9k on cooling and I'm still having issues. Can you please give me some advise. I have a few things such as carpet and wood working against me that I can bot change. I bought a Goodman 5.0 ton air handler for a 12x12 room with 52 GPU's running. My AC installer seems to know nothing about cooling servers. My first thing to do its get my rack of the wall. Any other suggestions you have for me. I have a KZbin channel with a video of my cooling and rack setup. My unit has failed 3 times already! I believe it may be short cycling but it can't seem to keep the room cool. Please help me out. I've spent almost 10k and still can't keep the room cool. I do frustrated I don't know what to do. I can't even keep the room cool when it's 60f and below outside. I don't have any exhaust fans because my AC installer said the air handler would work fine. He had my buy a 2.5 ton unit that I'm trying to sell that is still sitting in my garage then buy a 5.0 ton because that would not be strong enough. This guy knows nothing about cooling a server room and has had me waiting my money. PLEASE take a look at my set up and help me. My You Tube channel is JMinerrr. I've got over 100k worth of equipment and the room is in the bottom floor of my home so the heat radiates through the house which is another issue as well. I don't want to have to overcompensate on my home AC and my electricity bill is already high enough. I really need some advise and help

[@leadiususa7394]

WOW man! 52 GPU's in a 12 ft by 12 ft room? Not going to happen and yes I bet you have real cooling issues. Well, about the only thing you can do is to restrict the GPU completely. Box them up and pull air in and out and forget your AC unit. This is way to hot for such a setup. I only do 12 GPU's and it work well but still I have a limit to support. You have to add up your BTU output from your GPU's and then work with the Sq. FT you have and you don't have enough space to let hot to cold convection to work right for you setup. So.. Place your gear in a rack that you can when in case with a plexi-glass air tight front door that is path from the outside air. Use dual high air volume mover fans. Try to restrict each of your sides of the front of the rack as close off so all air is pulled only thru the GPU chassis's, next do the same for the back of the rack but only for exhaust only. Same goal, make sure the all the air is pulled thru the chassis and pump outside with a dual fan (High air volume movers) setup. Now can you use your AC unit as well? Yes you can to stabilize the room around the rack plus you can add access air flow ports on the intake ducking just in case it gets to hot outside for cool air, you can add some of the indoor air to help compensation but this has a limited effect and will drive up you cooling cost but for short term only and on hot days mostly. One other thing to watch is the humid levels .. Make sure that you tract that as well. Both your intake and exhaust vents need to be port downwards to avoid pulling in rain and other sources of water. It is easy to fix. Also thin about a air flow alert device to monitor all four fans. That will keep things well monitored. This will take some effort if you want to save money. (DIY) mode or you can buy a rack already setup this way but you will still need to tweak it out plus get the air movers installed. You will not hear yourself with these install so think about ear protection. Sorry for the long delay.. I will look at your setup.. Sorry and keep trying dude!

[@leadiususa7394]

BTW I just check out your setup. Yes you need help.... Review my last text message and again sorry for the slow response, I was sick... But I am better now! /:>

[@mishasawangwan6652]

can you show us “the math”?

[@leadiususa7394]

Sure, I will do a video on that... Sure not an issue! Coming...

[@ttss5726]

It amazes me that the majority of americans use their garage for purposes other then parking in them.. weird

[@leadiususa7394]

Well, I do that as well but that is in the other larger garage, I had the third car garage added for my IT needs and built a mini Class B server IT data center. Best of both worlds!

[@Stormchoirs]

Laughs in thermodynamics.

[@leadiususa7394]

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