Looking for a set of wheels (not a car)...

[Koldov]

After much deliberation I have decided that due to our servers being routed through some ancient Cisco Catalyst 2960 switches (port max 100 Mbps) and the ridiculous cable runs that would need to happen to plug them into our core switches (or my other idea of a smaller cable run and looping it through sockets in the admin offices) I have decided that I could in fact actually move the servers!!!!

 

We have a core switch room with enough space (they are only tower servers) and air conditioning, the only downside I can see is that this room is also the main electricity distribution room...

 

This would not only have the benefit of being able to plug directly into the core switches for Gig connections, but free up the old server room (cupboard) for storage and not have to run the air conditioning 24/7 in there anymore.

 

Not wishing to break the bank obviously, but want them off the floor and accessible (not that I do much tinkering inside the servers) but they will be on the floor in a corner otherwise (or on a pallet as they are now)...

 

Anyway, due to the fact that 'server wheels' brings up mostly racks and similar Google searches for 'server carts' is mostly kitchen serving trolleys, I can't seem to find much that is suitable for the weight and size of a tower server (most are for pc size).

 

Any ideas (or better still recommendations that people are actually using)?

 

Shame we don't use anything Apple, I would love to see the Business Manager's face if I ordered these...

 

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MX572ZM/A/apple-mac-pro-wheels-kit

Edited May 12, 2021 by Koldov

[bald_pig]

Set of castor wheels?

 

https://www.toolstation.com/ironmongery/wheels-castors/c336

[3s-gtech]

Something like: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wooden-Trolley-Furniture-Platform-600x500mm/dp/B074KK2J9B

[Koldov]

Both good suggestions...

 

But I'm not liking the idea of drilling into the bottom of my servers to attach the wheels!

 

Also I'm thinking it would possibly need sides just in case, to stop it toppling over if it got moved.

 

Maybe locking wheels too!

 

Something like this I think (but a bit more heavy duty):

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HumanCentric-PC-Stand-Computer-Adjustable/dp/B07RGRV1VX

 

Our servers weigh more than 10kg and are much longer and wider.

Edited May 12, 2021 by Koldov

[steveg]

Can you get ones specific for your server? For example for a dell server there are these:

 

https://www.etb-tech.com/dell-poweredge-t-series-caster-kit-t501m.html?currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAjw-e2EBhAhEiwAJI5jg22nk4sWkboO4jugbtnM4hyWDx7SLmoAf5k9P7Hdwq7uDi8jNCJJpBoCwjMQAvD_BwE

[Koldov]

They look spot on!

 

Anyone used these guys before?

 

https://ticktech.com/dell-770-bcjl-poweredge-t420-t620-t330-t340-t430-t440-server-caster-wheels-t501m/

[Boredguy]

Could always use a 2x4 to raise them off the floor, plus give some side support at the bottom?

[Koldov]

Yeah, they are sitting on a pallet with a sheet of mdf over it at the moment... courtesy of my 'make do and mend' predecessor... along with wooden projector mounts and... well, that's a whole other thread for another time...

 

Not that I've got anything against that (apart from being a major fire risk), we're a small school and budgets are tight (especially for IT - obviously the really important 'school curriculum' stuff gets £££'s thrown at it).

 

I just felt like doing something that was a bit more 'proper'...

[pete]

How much floor space is available?

 

Or "is there a reason you're not simply getting a half-height rack with shelves for the tower servers?"

 

I wouldn't leave servers sitting unattended in a plant room unless they were locked away.

[Koldov]

How much floor space is available?

 

The actual floor space (WxHxD) available is pretty much just enough for 2 tower servers side by side (with a little 'breathing room).

 

Or "is there a reason you're not simply getting a half-height rack with shelves for the tower servers?"

 

Cost probably, although I do understand that this should be offset against the possibility of everything being fubar if a somebody accidentaly knocks them over somehow... so I'm not against putting them in a rack.

 

Do you have a link?

 

I wouldn't leave servers sitting unattended in a plant room unless they were locked away.

 

Yeah it's a good shout and I get where you're coming from, but the door to the room is within the school (right in the middle actually) and kept locked obviously so they are secure day-to-day. The only time anyone would go in there might be the occasional workman. But even so I do see the benefit of having them secure from accidental knocks. Our core switch cab now has a nice concave lid due to workmen apparently standing on it to reach the ceiling in that room - so I guess there is a precedence...