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---
title: Moving all my stuff into a server rack – Part 1, The Rack
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2023-07-27T12:11:17Z
url: /post/moving-all-my-stuff-into-a-server-rack-part-1-the-rack/
categories:
- Homelab
tags:
- rack
---
My den, where I keep all my tech and hobby related safely away from children’s mitts and wife’s eyes was becoming quite chaotic. Between 2 full sized PCs, a NUC, my PS5, 3 monitors and all the associated networking and wiring it was becoming quite the rats nest.
It was time to do something about it, and I decided to move build a server rack containing all my stuff.
A full sized 42U rack wasn’t going to fit in a room that already had slightly low ceilings, so I needed something that would give me room for all my things – with a bit of room to grow – but not take up as much space as a conventional server rack.
I found quite a few options out there for mid-height racks and also reduced depth. I did keep an eye on facebook marketplace and eBay for a while for bargains, but nothing came up that wasn’t going to be at least a 6 hour round trip. I eventually found a (new) 27U rack that was 600mm x 600mm on eBay.
I won&#8217;t be linking to the specific one as the seller tried to scam me for postage after the sale:<figure class="wp-block-image size-large wp-duotone-duotone-1">
<img data-dominant-color="ededed" data-has-transparency="true" style="--dominant-color: #ededed;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="370" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-at-15.38.50.png?resize=1024%2C370&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="has-transparency wp-image-88" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-at-15.38.50.png?resize=1024%2C370&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-at-15.38.50.png?resize=300%2C109&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-at-15.38.50.png?resize=768%2C278&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-at-15.38.50.png?w=1222&ssl=1 1222w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
Unfortunately for them I wasn&#8217;t born yesterday so they ended up posting it out on a pallet at their own cost, as it should have been. Fuckers.
Anyway&#8230;
### The Rack {.wp-block-heading}
The rack arrived and was relatively easy to put together without any assistance. I don&#8217;t think the same could have been said for a full 42U rack &#8211; so maybe keep that in mind when deciding what to get.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="6c6860" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #6c6860;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6156-768x1024.webp?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="Server rack built and ready to be filled with stuff" class="not-transparent wp-image-90" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6156-scaled.webp?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6156-scaled.webp?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6156-scaled.webp?resize=1152%2C1536&ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6156-scaled.webp?resize=1536%2C2048&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6156-scaled.webp?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> <figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The rack once built, please excuse the mess. It isn&#8217;t normally this bad.</figcaption></figure>
Overall the quality is good, it feels sturdy. My only gripe is that the front glass isn&#8217;t great &#8211; there are tiny abrasions on it if you get really close. From more than 30cm away though it looks great.
I added an LED strip around the inside without a diffuser for now, I quite like the harsh look. Everyone knows that LEDs make things go faster.
The next step is going to be decanting all my existing machines into server chassis that fit this particular rack and sort out my networking.
My advise for looking at server racks is:
### Know your space {.wp-block-heading}
Don&#8217;t get a 42U full depth rack if you don&#8217;t need it, and definitely don&#8217;t get one if you don&#8217;t have a spot for such a beast.
Consider the size of the server chassis you want to contain, how many U you actually need, and the depth.
Most of all, plan for the space you have. You might not even need a full size rack, StarTech do some <a href="https://amzn.to/3HfiAz6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cool little cabinets</a>.
### Keep an eye out for bargains {.wp-block-heading}
There were loads of bargains on facebook marketplace and eBay, but none of them were the right size for me. If you live in a city there are almost certainly going to be some in your area.
If you&#8217;re patient you can get a deal.
### Consider future expansion {.wp-block-heading}
I planned for about 50% future expansion over what I needed in terms of height. You might not need that, but it&#8217;s always good to have space for more projects. Also you can fill the spaces with blanks and stickers until then. Win/win.
That&#8217;s it! Good luck&#8230;

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---
title: Moving all my stuff into a server rack – Part 2, Server Chassis Shopping
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2023-08-02T12:38:53+00:00
url: /post/moving-my-stuff-into-a-server-rack-part-2-server-chassis-shopping/
categories:
- Homelab
tags:
- rack
- tech
---
Server Chassis Shopping, say that three times fast.
If you haven&#8217;t alreay [seen Part 1 of this series][1] you might be interested in catching up on that first. In that post I go over picking the rack I did, and now it&#8217;s time to look at decanting my existing machines into chassis that will fit that server rack.
### Moving my gaming PC into a server chassis {.wp-block-heading}
The main issue with this was always going to be height, there was a chance I could fit the machine into a 3U chassis, but after a fair bit of poking it looked like my best bet was going to be a 4U chassis of some variety.
My gaming PC is currently water cooled, and while the chassis I found did technically support a water cooler, my cooler didn&#8217;t actually fit it. Which was quite annoying.
The chassis in question is the [Logic Case 4U Short][2]. Everything fit in pretty well with a lot of breathing room, but having to replace the CPU cooler was a bit of a pain. I needed to replace it with something not to tall, not too expensive, and available with next day delivery.
I found the <a href="https://amzn.to/41Tgdf5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">be quiet! PURE ROCK SLIM 2 9.2cm</a> fit all my requirements and it did indeed arrive the next day so I was able to fit it and crack on.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="6e6b65" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #6e6b65;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6163-768x1024.webp?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="not-transparent wp-image-119" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6163-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6163-jpg.webp?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6163-jpg.webp?resize=1152%2C1536&ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6163-jpg.webp?w=1295&ssl=1 1295w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
The height was actually a bit tighter than I would have liked, but it does fit kind of perfectly given the height.
I&#8217;ve not noticed any performance difference between using the water cooler and this fan based cooler, so happy days.
I replaced the fans on the front with the LED ones that used to live in my NAS case, because everyone knows LEDs make things go faster.
Wait for the end of the post to see a photo of everything in place in the rack&#8230;
### Moving my NAS into a server chassis {.wp-block-heading}
The NAS relocation was always going to be easier for me, my build has a small motherboard and low profile fans already.
I did, however, have another concern and that was future expandability. At the moment I only have 3 drives in it, but in the future I wanted to be able to expand this without having to think too hard. Unraid is JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks) so my only real limit was SATA connections, and those are expandable.
I found another <a href="https://www.servercase.co.uk/shop/server-cases/rackmount/4u-chassis/4u-standard-chassis-15-x-35-hdd---480mm-short-depth-sc-h4-480/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pretty generic 4U Chassis that supports up to 15 3.5&#8243; disks</a> &#8211; sorted!
Moving the NAS into this chassis was completely uneventful. I did like the feature of the case that allows the disk drive section to flip upwards for easier access, it&#8217;s certainly going to make life easier when I get to adding more drives.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="5b535f" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #5b535f;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6176-768x1024.webp?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="Server rack with the cases in place" class="not-transparent wp-image-120" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6176-scaled.webp?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6176-scaled.webp?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6176-scaled.webp?resize=1152%2C1536&ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6176-scaled.webp?resize=1536%2C2048&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6176-scaled.webp?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
One thing that I did want to do when moving all my stuff into a server rack was getting a UPS. While our power supply is good and pretty consistent, we do get the odd blip and I wanted to protect the system from being taken offline when they occurred.
I looked at various refurbished options and there were a lot of good deals to be had with batteries replaced. While I was looking there was a discount campaign going on on eBay so I had a look on there and found the Powercool 2U. I hadn&#8217;t heard of the brand but it had a 2 year warranty and a few reviews online said they were decent. It worked out quite cheap so I decided to risk it.
I&#8217;ve been using that Powercool UPS for a few months now and can confirm it&#8217;s been solid, even keeping the system online when we were away on holiday and the power blipped offline &#8211; which was a lifesaver as Plex being offline would have been a right pain!
In Part 3 I am planning on covering the PS5 being in the rack, and decoration&#8230; See you then.
[1]: https://danbaker.dev/post/moving-all-my-stuff-into-a-server-rack-part-1-the-rack/
[2]: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/logic-case-4u-short-depth-server-chassis-4x-35-hdd-450mm-depth-high-airflow-with-water-cooling-mount

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---
title: Adding a double mini-monitor panel to my 19″ server cabinet
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2023-08-10T08:52:36+00:00
url: /post/adding-a-double-mini-monitor-panel-to-my-19-server-cabinet/
featured_image: /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6358-edited.webp
enclosure:
- |
|
https://danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6353.mp4
3466771
video/mp4
categories:
- Homelab
tags:
- rack
- tech
---
When I started the project to move all my computers into a single rack to save some space, and to look cool, I knew I wanted some kind of monitor in it.
There were a bunch of options for big and ugly KVM panels that pull out, but that wasn&#8217;t what I was looking for.
In the AV world there are often small screen monitors in racks for keeping an eye on the broadcast outputs, but they are often quite expensive, and the monitor qualities also aren&#8217;t great unless you spend a _lot_.
## Display Panels {.wp-block-heading}
I decided the best thing to do would be to DIY something, there are [loads of small panels available][1] on Amazon, and if <a href="https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DELKqBL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">order from China</a> you can shave a few quid off as well.
After doing a bit of research it seemed Waveshare was going to be a reliable brand, so I opted to spend a little more and get something with a reputation, and some decent online documentation. I ordered two of the [Waveshare 7inch displays][2].
The panels arrived and I plugged them both into the Intel NUC I was planning on driving them with. All looked good.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large wp-duotone-unset-3">
<img data-dominant-color="443950" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #443950;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6352-1024x768.webp?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="not-transparent wp-image-13" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6352-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6352-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6352-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6352-jpg.webp?resize=1536%2C1152&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6352-jpg.webp?w=2018&ssl=1 2018w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
I planned to use one screen to display my Grafana dashboard (more on that in the future&#8230;) &#8211; and another to display video content, so I tested it out with Lord of the Rings.<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6353.mp4"></video></figure>
With the monitors sorted, I got back to thinking about how to mount the things in the rack. I had two main options, either get someone to fabricate something, or DIY something myself.
## Monitor Mount Panel {.wp-block-heading}
I can get access to a CO2 laser cutter with a decent sized bed that could cut something, but that would involve designing something to size, acquiring something to cut &#8211; metal? plastic? &#8211; and then actually doing it.
Getting someone to fabricate me something was also an option, but obviously more expensive.
I was about to pull the trigger on making my own when I came across a company setting mounts designed to fit some of their own monitors &#8211; [Lilliput Direct][3]. They make a [19&#8243; 4U dual panel bracket][4] which looked to be exactly what I was after.
After getting hold of the technical documentation from Keith at Lilliput, who was extremely helpful, I measured up and decided there would be enough of the surround of the monitor to attach to the panel without needing to use the standard mount points. I&#8217;d sort out the exact details later.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large wp-duotone-duotone-1">
<img data-dominant-color="fdfdfd" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #fdfdfd;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="383" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schematic-1024x383.webp?resize=1024%2C383&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="not-transparent wp-image-22" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schematic-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C383&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schematic-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C112&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schematic-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C287&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schematic-jpg.webp?resize=1536%2C574&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schematic-jpg.webp?w=1913&ssl=1 1913w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
The panel arrived and I was able to simply hot glue the mounting nuts provided with the screens to the mounting panel. Make sure you attach them to the screens first so you can get the spacing and positioning accurate. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full wp-duotone-unset-4">
<img data-dominant-color="31303a" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #31303a;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="635" height="396" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-edited.webp?resize=635%2C396&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="not-transparent wp-image-15" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-edited.webp?w=635&ssl=1 635w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-edited.webp?resize=300%2C187&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
You can just about make out the hot glued mounts on the rear in the above photo.
The only downside to this method is the original mounting holes on the panel remain, I am planning on either filling and painting these &#8211; or sticking something over it. Maybe more stickers.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large wp-duotone-unset-5">
<img data-dominant-color="1d1a64" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #1d1a64;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-768x1024.webp?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="not-transparent wp-image-16" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-jpg.webp?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-jpg.webp?w=1136&ssl=1 1136w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
[1]: https://amzn.to/3TUjw3I
[2]: https://amzn.to/3NURgtH
[3]: https://lilliputdirect.com/
[4]: https://lilliputdirect.com/19-inch-4U-rackmount-bracket

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---
title: Moving all my stuff into a server rack – Part 3, Housing the PS5 and some decor
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2023-08-15T12:06:15+00:00
url: /post/moving-stuff-into-a-server-rackhousing-the-ps5-and-some-decor/
categories:
- Homelab
tags:
- ps5
- rack
- tech
---
At this stage in the build I was about ready to find a way to house my PS5 in my rack, and do some general decor. If you haven&#8217;t checked out [Part 1][1] and [part 2][2] yet, check them out first!
One of the main reasons for moving things into a rack in the first place was to clear _all_ my tech &#8211; or as much as possible. Housing the PS5 would clear a fair bit of room from the surfaces in my den, they are not small things.
Hunting around I found that there was one commercially available PS5 shelf for AV racks but it was ridiculously over priced, so ultimately I decided that just putting it on a shelf in the rack was going to be the best bet.
I found a few rack shelves, but the one I went for was a <a href="https://amzn.to/3U2wc8O" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">simple 1U shelf</a> with a depth of 250mm &#8211; enough for the PS5 to sit on.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="414056" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #414056;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="353" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6360-1024x353.webp?resize=1024%2C353&#038;ssl=1" alt="Front view of the PS5 on a shelf" class="not-transparent wp-image-135" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6360-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C353&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6360-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C103&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6360-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C265&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6360-jpg.webp?resize=1536%2C530&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6360-jpg.webp?resize=2048%2C706&ssl=1 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
It would certainly look a bit better with a proper fronting panel on it, but for my purposes this works just fine.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="37343a" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #37343a;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="470" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-1-1024x470.webp?resize=1024%2C470&#038;ssl=1" alt="Rear view of the PS5 on a shelf" class="not-transparent wp-image-136" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-1-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C470&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-1-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C138&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-1-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C353&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-1-jpg.webp?resize=1536%2C705&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6361-1-jpg.webp?resize=2048%2C941&ssl=1 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
As you can see from the rear, it sits on the shelf nicely. Don&#8217;t worry about the cable management&#8230; I&#8217;ll deal with that later&#8230;
### Decoration! {.wp-block-heading}
As you&#8217;ve probably seen from previous posts, I have some blanking panels installed to fill in the gaps that I have covered in stickers. Obviously this won&#8217;t be to everyones taste, but I love it.
Blanking panels are available all over the place in a variety of U heights, <a href="https://amzn.to/3SkVzBq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mine are all 1U</a> so I can move things about without having to think about it too much. If you didn&#8217;t want to get stickers to decorate it, you could get vented blanking planels to switch up your air flow.
Packs of 50-100 stickers are available from your favourite online retailer in whatever themes you can imagine.
I also added a chocobo standing in the bottom of the rack as there was a very handy spot for it.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="38417f" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #38417f;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="880" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6619-1024x880.webp?resize=1024%2C880&#038;ssl=1" alt="A chocobo made of plastic bricks" class="not-transparent wp-image-137" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6619-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C880&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6619-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C258&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6619-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C660&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6619-jpg.webp?w=1151&ssl=1 1151w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
And with that, the rack is almost complete. I&#8217;ll cover networking in a completely separate post as that covers my whole house.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="1d1964" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #1d1964;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-1-768x1024.webp?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="A server rack with pink and blue LED lighting" class="not-transparent wp-image-138" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-1-scaled.webp?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-1-scaled.webp?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-1-scaled.webp?resize=1152%2C1536&ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-1-scaled.webp?resize=1536%2C2048&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6367-1-scaled.webp?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
Please let me know if this has inspired you to move your own stuff into a server rack, and send me pictures if you go wild with the decoration!
[1]: https://danbaker.dev/post/moving-all-my-stuff-into-a-server-rack-part-1-the-rack/
[2]: https://danbaker.dev/post/moving-my-stuff-into-a-server-rack-part-2-server-chassis-shopping/

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---
title: Upgrading our coffee experience – a review of Rave Coffee
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2023-10-31T11:45:21+00:00
url: /post/upgrading-our-coffee-experience-a-review-of-rave-coffee/
featured_image: /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3116-jpg.webp
categories:
- 'Food & Drink'
tags:
- coffee
---
One of the first presents we bought ourselves after we got married was a proper bean-to-cup coffee machine. For the longest time we just picked up whichever beans were cheap enough and easily available, be it from large online retailers or the local supermarket. We really needed to upgrade our coffee experience &#8211; here is my review of Rave Coffee.
More recently we decided we should be focusing on quality over quantity. Moreso we had become concerned over the <a href="https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/foods-and-beverages/environmental-effects-of-coffee-production" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental impact</a> our coffee habits were having.
Deciding we could do better, we needed to find a local coffee supplier. They needed to also be environmentally minded.
A friend suggested we try Cirencester based <a href="https://i.refs.cc/m9Xi83Rv?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjoxOTk0ODg5ODk5fQ%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">Rave Coffee</a>. This is a brief review of the experience so far.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded">
<img data-dominant-color="7c6d68" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #7c6d68;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3114-1024x1024.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="Rave coffee with a pumpkin coffee mug and a jar of coffee beans" class="not-transparent wp-image-152" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3114-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3114-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3114-jpg.webp?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3114-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3114-jpg.webp?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3114-jpg.webp?w=2048&ssl=1 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
### The Coffee {.wp-block-heading}
Despite the photos in this post being of The Italian Job Blend, which is very nice in itself I am going to be talking about their _Now That&#8217;s What I Call Coffee Nº 2023_ blend that is currently in our machine.
This coffee truly lives up to its name, offering a symphony of flavors that left us singing its praises.
First and foremost, the aroma of this coffee is amazing. As soon as you open the bag, you&#8217;re greeted with a rich and inviting fragrance that hints at the magic within. The beans are beautifully roasted to a 4/5 level, hitting that perfect balance between depth and brightness.
Rave describe this coffee as tasting of milk chocolate, blackberry and toffee. Whilst I am not amazing at detecting these subtle tastes in anything I did get the sense of the milk chocolate, creating a velvety and indulgent experience. It&#8217;s a delightful taste that perfectly complements the robust coffee base.
One of my favourite things about this coffee is its ability to cater to a variety of tastes &#8211; my wife enjoys her coffee black, I have mine with milk or cream. All three have proved a great success with us. This blend is versatile enough to accommodate various brewing methods and preferences.
_Now That&#8217;s What I Call Coffee Nº 2023_ is a must-try for anyone seeking a coffee that goes beyond the ordinary. With its captivating blend of milk chocolate, blackberry, and toffee, this coffee earns a well-deserved spot among our favorites.
### The Company {.wp-block-heading}
As I mentioned at the start, the coffee alone wasn&#8217;t all we were looking for. We also wanted a coffee supplier that was in some alignment with our values.
Good news is, Rave Coffee seem quite environmentally minded. They are a member of <a href="https://ravecoffee.co.uk/pages/1-for-the-planet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1% For The Planet</a> &#8211; which donates 1% of sales (not profits) to environmental causes.
They&#8217;re also not that far away from us geographically, so hopefully that cuts down on the carbon footprint a little bit.
Their website is really usable too. Sounds like a weird thing to say, but it&#8217;s obscene how often a companies website seems to be actively trying to stop the user actually using it.
The price is probably 50% more than we were paying for coffee previously, but with our _quality not quantity_ mindset it&#8217;s working out about the same on our monthly expenditure. They aren&#8217;t cheap, but they are really good.
I don&#8217;t have much more to say, the coffee we&#8217;ve had so far has been fantastic. Give it a go.
Before I sign off, can we just take a moment to appreciate how cool this pumpkin mug is? <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded">
<img data-dominant-color="705f67" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #705f67;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3121-1024x1024.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="A mug shaped like a pumpkin" class="not-transparent wp-image-154" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3121-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3121-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3121-jpg.webp?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3121-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3121-jpg.webp?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3121-jpg.webp?w=2048&ssl=1 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
Enjoy your coffee, feel free to send me any other coffee producers in the UK that we could try out.
If you want to try Rave Coffee, <a href="https://i.refs.cc/m9Xi83Rv?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjoxOTk0ODg5ODk5fQ%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">use this link to get £5 off</a>, sorted!

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---
title: Increasing upload size for WordPress docker on Unraid
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2024-01-09T13:09:17+00:00
url: /post/increasing-upload-size-for-wordpress-docker-on-unraid/
categories:
- Unraid
tags:
- wordpress
---
If you&#8217;re using unraid and want to use the docker engine to run your wordpress site, you&#8217;re likely going to want to increase the maximum upload size.
This is the simplest way I found of doing it, though I am sure there are other methods.
First locate the `.htaccess` file in your webroot. If you don&#8217;t know where to find the appdata path you can just edit the container and look for the following option:<figure class="wp-block-image size-large wp-duotone-duotone-1">
<img data-dominant-color="efeceb" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #efeceb;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="86" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-125819.png?resize=1024%2C86&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="not-transparent wp-image-73" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-125819.png?resize=1024%2C86&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-125819.png?resize=300%2C25&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-125819.png?resize=768%2C65&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-09-125819.png?w=1435&ssl=1 1435w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
Depending on your setup you may need to edit the file permissions so it can be edited, so open the terminal on your server and navigate to the above path:
<pre class="wp-block-code has-medium-font-size"><code>cd /mnt/user/appdata/rest_of_path_you_found_above && chmod 777 .htaccess</code></pre>
This will make the file writable by every group. If you&#8217;ve got security concerns you should probably not be following instructions found on someones blog without understanding them.
Now edit the file however you wish, either using a terminal based editor like `nano` or opening the file in something on your local machine.
Add the following two lines to the bottom of the file:
<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>php_value upload_max_filesize 500M
php_value post_max_size 500M</code></pre>
Adjust the values as you see fit.
In the latest version of WordPress this didn&#8217;t seem to do the trick for me, I also had to edit the value stored somewhere in WordPress&#8217; gubbins&#8230; To make this simpler I just used the plugin [Increase Maximum Upload File Size][1]. Navigating to the plugins page in your install and change the drop down. Hit Apply. Done.
That&#8217;s it! Let me know if there&#8217;s a way to do this without the plugin.
[1]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/upload-max-file-size/

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---
title: Cutting off from Compulsive Connectivity
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2024-01-24T15:11:51+00:00
url: /post/cutting-off-from-compulsive-connectivity/
categories:
- Digital Minimalism
tags:
- tech
---
Towards the end of 2023, a growing unease prompted me to seriously evaluate my device and app usage. I found myself habitually reaching for my phone, ostensibly to &#8220;just check&#8221;. Recognizing that I wasn&#8217;t alone in this sentiment, I delved into the realm of digital minimalism and connected with various communities centered around this philosophy.
The main issue that surfaced was my persistent need to stay connected— whether through Discord, iMessage, Reddit, or email. I found myself compulsively checking these apps, only to discover that I was missing out on nothing substantial. Even with the majority of notifications disabled, allowing people instant access to my time and attention started to feel very wrong.
I wanted to cut people off, and cut myself off.
I found the book <a href="https://amzn.to/3UaFteI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World</a> by Cal Newport, which I can highly recommend. As with all books like this, all the methods won&#8217;t work for everyone. I am choosing to implement some of the suggestions, and then going far more extreme and deciding to put my iPhone in a box outside of work hours.
There are multiple issues which will need overcoming and I want to address them all in individual posts as I come up with proper solutions, here is the rough list so far:
* **Watch** &#8211; I currently use an Apple Watch
* **Phone** &#8211; Yes, the obvious iPhone replacement quest looms. But not just any replacement — a humble dumb phone dedicated to emergency calls and texts. A bold move towards essential communication without the smartphone overwhelm.
* **Camera** &#8211; With the iPhone out of the picture, my portable camera dilemma surfaces..
* **Music** &#8211; No iPhone, no portable music player. The silence is about to be shattered by a new rhythm, a device solely devoted to delivering musical bliss.
* **Gaming** &#8211; Portable gaming system enthusiasts, fear not! The absence of an iPhone won&#8217;t hinder the gaming experience. A new, dedicated device is on the horizon.
* **Notes** &#8211; Joining the league of paper aficionados, I&#8217;m set to conquer the world of note-taking without the digital distractions.
* **Reading** &#8211; I&#8217;m finally going to get a kindle I think.
Those are the main areas to address if I want to cut my smart phone usage in the evenings and weekends.
The first one, the watch, was actually pretty easy to address. I&#8217;ve always admired the retro styling of the old-school Casio watches so I picked up one of those for around £10 and have been wearing it for a week already. I haven&#8217;t missed the notifications on my wrist and I really don&#8217;t care how many steps I haven&#8217;t taken in the day so it&#8217;s really not been much of a transition.<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded">
<img data-dominant-color="5f3655" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #5f3655;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3156-1024x683.webp?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1" alt="Casio digital watch on pink and purple background" class="not-transparent wp-image-170" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3156-jpg.webp?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3156-jpg.webp?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3156-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3156-jpg.webp?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSCF3156-jpg.webp?w=2048&ssl=1 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> </figure>
I do really enjoy wearing this strangely, it&#8217;s lighter and smaller than the Apple Watch so is quite a bit more comfortable over long periods.
Yet, a peculiar phenomenon has emerged—the phantom notifications. It&#8217;s as if my wrist still expects the familiar buzz of alerts, a reflex ingrained by the smartphone era. A quirky reminder of the digital transition underway. Here&#8217;s hoping that this sensation fades into the background as I fully embrace the simplicity of my new wrist companion.
Join me on my journey as I quest for the perfect dumb phone, a reliable portable camera, a dedicated music player, and a gaming partner—all already in progress. Stay tuned for updates.

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---
title: Finding the right dumb phone for me
author: Dan
type: post
date: -001-11-30T00:00:00+00:00
draft: true
url: /?p=178
categories:
- Digital Minimalism
---

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---
title: Turning my smart phone into a dumb phone
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2024-02-05T13:55:21+00:00
url: /post/turning-my-smart-phone-into-a-dumb-phone/
featured_image: /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSCF3198-Enhanced-NR-jpg.webp
categories:
- Digital Minimalism
tags:
- dumbphone
- tech
---
One of the first things I wanted to explore in my [mission to cut myself off from compulsive connectivity][1] was to find the options for turning my smart phone into a dumb phone.
The main aim was to make my phone as uninteresting as possible. One of the main tips thrown around for this is to turn your phone greyscale. Luckily on the iPhone that is quite simple, and you can also setup a toggle button. I found this feature to be quite useful as accessibility on the internet is really quite terrible &#8211; you don&#8217;t know annoyance until you try and submit a form and it tells you there&#8217;s an error but there&#8217;s no obvious indiciation as to what that error is unless you&#8217;re viewing the page in colour.
### Enable Greyscale Mode {.wp-block-heading}
1. Go to iOS **Settings** > **Accessibility**
2. Tap on **Display & Text Size**
3. Under the **Vision** section, tap on **Color Filters**
4. Toggle the switch to turn on **Color Filters**
5. Tap on **Grayscale** to select it.
### Setup a Toggle Shortcut {.wp-block-heading}
1. Go to iOS **Settings** > **Accessibility**
2. Scroll down to **Accessibility Shortcut** > select **Color Filter**
3. Triple-click the side button to turn the Grayscale filter on and off.
Okay, so with my phone able to toggle between colour and greyscale it did make it significantly less interesting, but I wanted to take it further.
A bit more research led me to an app named <a href="https://www.blankspaces.app/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blank Spaces</a>. This is a paid app, but in my opinion is well worth it. It allows you to add two widgets to your home screen that act as shortcuts, letting to remove easy access to any other apps you want to restrict yourself with.
Setting it up is quite easy, the app has a great walk through. This is how my homescreen looks now:<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large">
<img data-dominant-color="2b2b2b" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #2b2b2b;" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="473" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_7455-473x1024.webp?resize=473%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="not-transparent wp-image-184" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_7455-jpg.webp?resize=473%2C1024&ssl=1 473w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_7455-jpg.webp?resize=139%2C300&ssl=1 139w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_7455-jpg.webp?resize=768%2C1662&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_7455-jpg.webp?resize=710%2C1536&ssl=1 710w, https://i0.wp.com/danbaker.dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_7455-jpg.webp?w=828&ssl=1 828w" sizes="(max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px" data-recalc-dims="1" /> <figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My dumb iPhone homescreen</figcaption></figure>
If I want to access any other apps I have to go into the library and manually search for them.
So far it has really restricted my use of these apps. The added few steps whenever I pull my phone out has really helped.
### Turning my smart phone into a dumb phone {.wp-block-heading}
I&#8217;ve been using this system for a couple of weeks now, and while it works, I still want to be able to turn off my iPhone completely in the evenings and weekends. Due to needing banking apps to approve payments, and various functions required for my day-to-day job, I need to keep the iPhone. I am going to be looking for alternatives so I can walk away from it.
[1]: https://danbaker.dev/post/cutting-off-from-compulsive-connectivity/

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---
title: Going back to an MP3 player in 2024
author: Dan
type: post
date: -001-11-30T00:00:00+00:00
draft: true
url: /?p=190
categories:
- Uncategorised
---

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---
title: My Every Day Carry (EDC) – Early 2024 Edition
author: Dan
type: post
date: -001-11-30T00:00:00+00:00
draft: true
url: /?p=192
categories:
- Digital Minimalism
- Life
tags:
- edc
- every day carry
- tech
---

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---
title: Leap Year.
author: Dan
type: post
date: 2024-02-29T09:42:00+00:00
url: /?p=164
categories:
- Life
tags:
- nonsense
---
That&#8217;s it. That&#8217;s the post. I just wanted to post something on February 29th.
<div class="wp-block-jetpack-gif aligncenter">
<figure>
<div class="wp-block-jetpack-gif-wrapper" style="padding-top:56%">
</div></figure>
</div>
When I am undisputed ruler of the world, all February 29ths will be bank holidays. Decent ones too, like Christmas.

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+++
title = 'My First Post'
date = 2024-02-09T12:11:17Z
draft = false
+++
# This is a test
What's up?
hi