So I have a a mini rack.

I have about 1.5 U of rack space and a model for a 4 bay 3.5 inch BOD

HOWEVER, no idea how best to connect them to a computer.

I’m thinking right now just plugging them into a Think center m715 with a powered USB hub.

I’m also thinking get a Raspberry Pi 5 and a nvme to sata hat, but I’m not aware of a way to power those 4 drives other than extra internal power supply. It would be convenient to just use like a wall wart or USB 2 power.

Thoughts? Best practices?

  • frongt@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    1 day ago

    You have a disk shelf? Usually they have something like SFF-8088 SAS connectors. I would just use those.

    • nagaram@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Imagine less off a proper BOD and more of a 3D Printable holder for 3.5 inch drives and no actual connections.

      I was considering a mini ITX PC with just an external SAS to Sata PCI card. But at the rate of just building that I might end up just building a better tiny nas box with maybe a jonsbo case like the N3

      • frongt@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        24 hours ago

        Yeah I have the N3 and I have no complaints. It works great.

        If you’re building your own rackmount system, I would still recommend some kind of SAS connector and PCIe card with external connectors, like a 9200-8e. If you aren’t using a backplane, you’ll probably want a SATA breakout cable and external power.

    • nagaram@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      2·
      1 day ago

      That’s basically what I’m going for.

      How are you connecting the mini PC via SATA and how are you powering the BOD?

      • tofuEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        The mini PC case is open and the cables go directly from the mainboard/PSU to the BOD back (4 SATA and 1 MOLEX).