1u and 2u servers - noisy?

[FTL_Ian]

I'm looking at options for rackmounted servers that will be operating in my on-air studio. I was wondering if you have any experiences with computers in 1u and 2u cases in regards to how noisy they are. I know the bigger the case fans, the quieter they are, but I've never actually heard 1u and 2u computers operating, so I don't know what to expect.

Am I getting concerned over something insignificant, or should I go 4u (utilizing 80cm-120cm fans) to be safe?

 

[Sgeirk]

95% of cases where I've had a rackmounted computer in a studio, enough fan noise erupts to where some serious mic gating is necessary. Spend the extra $$$ for a kvm cable, I've even heard of kvm replacement setups using just a cat 5 to xfer the k, the v, and the m.

 

[ontheair247]

Several outfits make KVM extenders that interconnect using a Cat-5 cable, but after going through some thunderstorms, I find the BlackBox survived the best.

Another big factor when sizing a rackmount pc case is to make sure the case will allow enough room for plug-in audio cards. Several one and two rack unit pc cases will not have enough clearance to fit any tall plug-in cards, so you may have to go to a 4 rack unit case to accomodate your cards.

 

[FTL_Ian]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going 4u 80-120cm, because I know that works.

 

[xmusicmatt]

I would think the cooling required to keep a 1U or 2U cool would make to much noise. I know I worked with 1Us in the previous job I had as an ISP tech and our 1Us where very darn loud.

a 4U with one of those super quiet power supplies would be better but still would have some noise I think. Best bet is to KVM the control and mount the PCs in another room.

 

[RadioMan203]

The non-comm FM I help out got an Enco system from NPR and both the Dell server and the non-name second workstation are way too noisy for in-studio mounting (and the narrow 1u or 2u boxes are usually way too deep to fit in standard studio furniture). They ended up mounting both units in their rack room and are using a KVM box that runs over ethernet. Sems to work pretty well, too.

 

[ChiefOperator]

This post is very timely because we're looking at moving our 4U rack mount computers out of the air studio because they are quite noisy (sounds like the inside of a jet).

Which KVM extenders are you folks using? I would rather go with something tried-and-true rather than shop around. Someone mentioned "Blackbox." Any other suggestions??

As always, thank you!

 

[w9wi]

Which KVM extenders are you folks using? I would rather go with something tried-and-true rather than shop around. Someone mentioned "Blackbox." Any other suggestions??

Avocent.

We've also used Raritan units with good success. (and they're smaller)

In my experience, anything active (i.e., that requires power) made by Belkin should be run away from as quickly as possible. Passive Belkin stuff (cables, adaptors) is fine.

 

[RadioMan203]

I personally don't recall the brand KVM that the non-comm FM is using, but I can't imaging many enternet-type KVM's out on the market. The reason they opted for this type was the distance between their equipment room and studios - plus it didn't hurt they had a good amount of networking pre-wired when they built their new studios so spare lines were easy to come by.

 

[desert_er]

Stay away from the Cybex Longview... I installed 10 systems and have replaced 4 "transmitters" and 3 "receivers" in less than a year. The video output on an LCD looks horrible, and they have a tendency to blink in and out or lock up at random. All of the operators here are familiar with the power-cycle process.

 

[RadioMan203]

I'll be visiting the studios on Saturday and I'll try to ferret out the brand of the KVM they're using for their Enco system. I haven't seen any video issues so I hope it's not the brand you've mentioned with the poor video.

 

[ChiefOperator]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I'll look at Blackbox, Avocent, Raritan, and perhaps another if Bill DeFelice is able to to determine the brand used at his FM's. I'll stay away from Belkin and Cybex Longview.

All great suggestions.

Thanks again for all the input everyone!!

 

[nyc_eng]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I'll look at Blackbox, Avocent, Raritan, and perhaps another if Bill DeFelice is able to to determine the brand used at his FM's. I'll stay away from Belkin and Cybex Longview.

All great suggestions.

Thanks again for all the input everyone!!

Cybex is now Avocent, and their current line of KVM over Cat5 extenders works quite well.

as far as cases go, I've never put one in a studio, but the storm series by iStar USA (http://www.istarusa.com/) are quite quiet, even when populated with the max number of fans the chassis can hold. I've been ordering these for all the new builds i've been doing for the last year or so, and have turned a few others onto them who are doing the same, and we've all been very pleased with their quality. Many of these machines travel in shipping racks for 40-odd weeks out of the year, and have held up better then any other units i've used- and are cheaper and MUCH quieter to boot!!

 

[Robert Bass]

Interesting that all you guys are talking about 1, 2 and 4 RU cases. No 3's? We use 3's where I work and most of them are mounted in racks under the console. The real noise maker is an old 360 Systems Digicart unit. The drive noise whines like hell, and gets picked up by the mic!

R

 

[nyc_eng]

Interesting that all you guys are talking about 1, 2 and 4 RU cases. No 3's? We use 3's where I work and most of them are mounted in racks under the console. The real noise maker is an old 360 Systems Digicart unit. The drive noise whines like hell, and gets picked up by the mic!

R

only drawback to a 3U chassis is that is dosn't use a standard ATX power supply, thats what you gain by going to 4U.