Custom Dell server front panels

[zag]

This is a really silly vain question but I'm building a new server rack and like things to look different

 

Does anyone know where to get custom front panels for Dell servers?

 

I have a load of R300's that look really plain and boring like this:

 

 

And I would like to make one of them (our new backup server) look like this:

 

 

Any ideas?

[FN-GM]

Not being funny but surely thats a waste of tax payers money?

[AngryTechnician]

You might not want to do away with the grill: Dell servers are designed to have that much airflow, so if you can find something custom, be sure it doesn't restrict ventilation.

[cpjitservices]

Boring? They dont look boring! Servers are servers they arn't meant to be pretty but the front facia is designed that way for a purpose..... Personally I dont think the servers look boring the only thing that annoys me about my dell servers is that my blue LED flashes Amber!!!

[zag]

Boring? They dont look boring! Servers are servers they arn't meant to be pretty but the front facia is designed that way for a purpose.....

 

I bet you use Linux and hate apple too haha

 

Seriously though I would just like the rack to look good and be able to differentiate servers without forking out 15k for the backupexec appliance

 

The front faceplates only cost 30 quid, I was just wondering if anyone else had customized them.

Edited March 28, 2012 by zag

[Achandler]

Buy soem different cover cans of spraypaint, and they respray the vented ones you have?

 

Costs about £10 for the cans.

[sted]

if its just differentiation you want couldn't you just spray paint em?

so say left half denotes role right half actual server so red on left means dc green exchange yellow files server and on right blue=1 green =2 etc

ps i wish computers would stop using blue leds i dont need power lights capable of illuminating a room thats what actual lights are for lol

[cpjitservices]

I bet you use Linux and hate apple too haha

 

Seriously though I would just like the rack to look good and be able to differentiate servers without forking out 15k for the backupexec appliance

 

The front faceplates only cost 30 quid, I was just wondering if anyone else had customized them.

 

Yes I do use Linux.... A lot! Most of our server farm is Linux - MAC I would say I dont love it but I dont hate it either......., In regards to making the rack looking different I do know what you mean, we use peel able stickers on the front of the servers with the server name / IP. We use different coloured cabling also for network. Spray paint sounds like a good idea also.

Edited March 28, 2012 by cpjitservices

[PotNoodleTech]

Dell customise them directly but not sure how much that would cost - my guess not cheap!

 

I recon painting them yourselves may be the only cheap option.

 

As for your boaring server rack - get over it - your lucky to have all that lovely rackmount goodness bolted in to your rack as it is!! :-)

[Soulfish]

A few companies offer custom front bezels from Dell that comply with standard Dell warranties - including Dell themselves

 

Some links for you:

Dell OEM Custom Branding Solutions | Dell

Dell Custom Server Bezels from Drake Labels - PMS Match Paint or graphic skin | Drake

Custom Colored Dell Server Bezels | RackSolutions UK

Dell OEM Solutions Bezel Customization Tool

[CESIL]

Man you have waaaay too much time on your hands...

[localzuk]

I'm guessing this rack is not a school rack? Also, is it in a shared room or something? We don't even have bezels on our servers as they get in the way of actually managing the servers!

[zag]

Its our new school rack yeh.

 

Thanks for the ideas, I'm going to try and do it myself thanks to our art department!

 

Before pic....

 

Edited March 28, 2012 by zag

[zag]

A few companies offer custom front bezels from Dell that comply with standard Dell warranties - including Dell themselves

 

Some links for you:

Custom Colored Dell Server Bezels | RackSolutions UK

 

Thankyou so much, exactly what I was looking for!

Edited March 28, 2012 by zag

[Dos_Box]

I like the default Dell server covers. It's a very industrial design.

[zag]

I like the default Dell server covers. It's a very industrial design.

 

Yeh they look pretty good. Just wish they did them in different colours so I can work out which one is which without using silly stickers.

[zag]

This is coming along really nicely!

 

The rack bezel is now painted gloss black which looks amazing.

 

Also got these custom 25mm "buttons" made up which just so happen to fit in the dell bezel perfectly

 

4 Hyper-V badges, 1 Symantec badge

 

 

Time well spent me thinks!

[Dos_Box]

That is pretty cool. You'll post piccies fo the finished panels in place I take it?

[Oaktech]

I like the idea of the custom badges, we just have some dymo tape to denote servers!

[gshaw]

Definitely looks pretty but slightly pointless seeing as you're the only person seeing them?

 

Dymo tape is all you need

[zag]

Yeh I will post a picture when I'm back from easter holidays.

 

The Symantec backup server now looks totally unique

Edited April 5, 2012 by zag

[synaesthesia]

Wow, you actually WANT to have symantec things on anything?

 

And there's a very good reason why Apple aren't a huge force in servers... Looking good does bugger all!

[Admiral208]

have you had a slow few weeks? surely you could have found something more productive to do that decorate the servers!?

[zag]

Little update of the badge fixed to the logo space on the bezzle.

 

Now to find out how to get the backupexec text and version on the right hand oval...

 

Edited April 12, 2012 by zag

[john]

Looking very fancy, I find Dymotape works well, except when you get non-VM understanding people that go oh you only have 3 servers what is XenServer1 stand for, where is your Exchange server as you say you run Exchange.....