Building my own Network Appliances using 1U Form Factor

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnNews
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J

JohnNews

Folks:


There is definitely a trend to build Network Appliances these days.

First there is the Print Server Appliance from companies like HP & Canon.
Then there is the Integrated Security Appliance. This is a 1U device with:
Antivirus, antiSpam, encryption, Firewall, VPN, Content Filtering, IPS, IDS,
etc
This is a great way to lower hardware cost for small businesses.

These appliances are usually of 1U form factor so that they can be bolted
into a standard rack.
I want to be able to assemble my own network appliances.

Does anyone know where I can buy the various hardware components to build my
own network appliances ?
Appreciate any references or experiences in this regard.



Thanks,
John.
 
Wrong newsgroup, and why would you think a small business would even have a
standard rack cabinet?

--
Phil Weldon, pweldonatmindjumpdotcom
For communication,
replace "at" with the 'at sign'
replace "mindjump" with "mindspring."
replace "dot" with "."
 
JohnNews said:
Folks:


There is definitely a trend to build Network Appliances these days.

First there is the Print Server Appliance from companies like HP &
Canon. Then there is the Integrated Security Appliance. This is a 1U
device with: Antivirus, antiSpam, encryption, Firewall, VPN, Content
Filtering, IPS, IDS, etc
This is a great way to lower hardware cost for small businesses.

These appliances are usually of 1U form factor so that they can be
bolted into a standard rack.
I want to be able to assemble my own network appliances.

Does anyone know where I can buy the various hardware components to
build my own network appliances ?
Appreciate any references or experiences in this regard.
Click to expand...

As Phil says, this isn't the ideal place to be asking for hardware building
advice. Not so much that people are unwilling to help, but that you might
get better advice in a more suitable place.

From what I've seen of the market, most of the 1U rackmount "network
appliances" are essentially based on standard computer components, opting
for the low power/noise/heat components, using solid state drives perhaps,
and also embedded or at least highly customised operating systems; nothing
all that exotic really.
 
Tyan sells 1U and 2U barebones systems--that's board and case and power
supply.

http://www.tyan.com/products/html/barebone.html

I believe they also sell motherboards designed for this usage separately for
your choice of case. I haven't ever looked for 1U cases.

You may find that this isn't so cheap, because the systems designed for this
form factor are more than you need for your application--but maybe not?
 
Bill said:
You may find that this isn't so cheap, because the systems designed
for this form factor are more than you need for your application--but
maybe not?
Click to expand...

Interesting comment. If I was building a "net appliance" for myself, I'd
probably do something with a "shuttle" type setup precisely to avoid the
price bump on rackmount gear. With a good processor cooling system I think
you could build a pretty reliable low power box to use for a dedicated "net
appliance" task relatively cheaply.
 
Good point; a decent 19" rack cabinet with air cooling costs more than one
of the blades!

--
Phil Weldon, pweldonatmindjumpdotcom
For communication,
replace "at" with the 'at sign'
replace "mindjump" with "mindspring."
replace "dot" with "."
 
Phil said:
Good point; a decent 19" rack cabinet with air cooling costs more
than one of the blades!
Click to expand...

Yep, I wouldn't make my own systems up in rack format unless i was planning
to make up enough to pretty much fill one of those racks.
 
JohnNews said:
*Folks:


There is definitely a trend to build Network Appliances these days.

First there is the Print Server Appliance from companies like HP
Canon.
Then there is the Integrated Security Appliance. This is a 1U devic
with:
Antivirus, antiSpam, encryption, Firewall, VPN, Content Filtering
IPS, IDS,
etc
This is a great way to lower hardware cost for small businesses.

These appliances are usually of 1U form factor so that they can b
bolted
into a standard rack.
I want to be able to assemble my own network appliances.

Does anyone know where I can buy the various hardware components t
build my
own network appliances ?
Appreciate any references or experiences in this regard.



Thanks,
John. *
Click to expand...


If you want a reliable 1U solution for as little cash as possable you
best bet is to buy a complete system and add the upgrades yourself
Alot of venders for 1U rackmounts overcharge for upgrades. If you bu
the basic configuration,case,motherboard,CPU,RAM and drives ad
whatever you want as far as "Extras" you will save time and money.

Rick
www.cheap1u.co


-
Cheap1
 
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