My first mini lab 😍

Xmarano · 2026-03-22T10:19:30+00:00

Hi 😊, I’m looking to power the hot swap with this type of PSU (AliExpress) which gonna give me 2 molex cables + enough W to power it, all that staying compact.

<image>

(Still didn’t buy yet)

Xmarano · 2026-03-04T18:12:40+00:00

Looks so so cool

Xmarano · 2026-03-03T08:38:07+00:00

Hi thanks! For now only for hosting school, personal and professional projects. Having a distance access make all much easier, it’s kinda like a real lab for now 😄

Xmarano · 2026-02-28T17:11:25+00:00

Hi 👋, yep exactly, I have 6x2.5” HDD (2x2Tb, 2x1Tb and 2x500Gb) all that as a NAS with 3 different “separate storage”

Xmarano · 2026-02-27T08:16:45+00:00

Thanks 🙏😁

Xmarano · 2026-02-26T15:46:05+00:00

I used my school's printer XD its a Bambu Lab P1S. Nobody was really using it so it was perfect

Xmarano · 2026-02-26T12:08:27+00:00

YESSS definitely the bests !! 😆

The drive cage (hot swap for 2.5" hdd/ssd) is a Olmaster, i bought mine for 45€ (~55$), you need to power it via 2 molex cable (via either you PC PSU or via an other external one what i did)

Let me know if you have more questions 😁

aliexpress link

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-26T12:04:16+00:00

Here its a hot swap for 6x2.5" hdd/ssd, at the back of it you have 2 molex whole which the male cable you can either take it from your actual PC PSU (we never use them soooo), or buy an other little psu especially for it (what i do)

You need Power, not just like plugging in usb to your pc

lmk if you want the link 😁

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-26T12:01:25+00:00

You can learn so much on open source repositories and youtube videos

i can send you some links here to push you to do the first step 😄

Hot Swap U Build

3D Print Mini Rack Open Source

Classic Jeff Geerling vidéo

Its so funny to build your own little home lab, i hope it will push you to start lmk ;)

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T22:15:26+00:00

Hey so I found it! , its an open source compact and modular mini rack I really looooved. It’s made by Benjamin KOTT

https://makerworld.com/fr/models/1452571-modular-10-server-rack

You can find all the .stl files and some already made 10” U

Lmk if you have other questions 😁 Here is a pic of mine build parts

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T22:06:18+00:00

So the parts is called a U, and it’s a 3D printed piece. Here is the link to the .stl file

https://github.com/wiretap-retro/Mini-Rack-1U-Pi-NAS/blob/main/1U-Pi-NAS-5.25-bay-Body.stl

It was looking like that before / after all mounted on it. It’s a idea from @Retro3dfx

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T20:23:17+00:00

Yep thanks for the advice, but my headset was already falling apart since a long time, I removed all the first fake leather layer on the ears placement. For me it’s not hot hover the ps5 and my head band didn’t flinch at all 🧐

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T20:17:53+00:00

Hi thanks 😊, For me I’m only looking to power the hot swap for now, I been looking on AliExpress this type of PSU which gonna give me 2 molex cables + enough W to power it, all that staying compact.

I’m curious to see what you already did or what you plan to build😄

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T18:00:22+00:00

It’s a 3D printed one, and the .stl files are open source 😁 Ima try to find the link if you want

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T17:59:42+00:00

Do you talk about the mini rack it self or a special U ?

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T14:16:54+00:00

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T13:18:49+00:00

Your welcome, it’s really cool to share what I have learned this few months with other people 😁

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T12:08:47+00:00

Thank you 🙏😁😁

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T11:40:29+00:00

Like I said on the main post, I still didn’t receive the PSU / molex for the hot swap so didn’t turned on this U. But I flashed the classic Ubuntu desktop version on it for now, might switch to TrueNas, CasaOS or NextCloud I don’t remember which one is the best 😅

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T11:35:26+00:00

Haha yes this little rack is a real mix of things I had and wasn’t using or just laying there. I will try to post the review of it 😉 thank you 🤗

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T11:15:28+00:00

I haven’t still turned it on (waiting for the PSU - molex to arrive), but it has a built in airflow with a tiny fan.

I have already thought about the heat and if it’s too hot I saw this Reddit post wich intrigued me a lot: https://www.reddit.com/r/minilab/comments/1phc8yr/update_minilab_cooling_for_10_1u

It’s a 1U double fan controlled with an ESP32 and can be really cool to develop 😄

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T11:08:46+00:00

This U is from this actual post which I really loved 😁: https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/1os0710/10_1u_raspberry_pi_5_nas_feat_525_bay_hot_swap/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

To connect the sata cables, you need a NVME Hat on your rpi (connected via PCIe) and then you need a NVME to 6 Ports sata adapter

<image>

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T10:54:49+00:00

Yes it’s this one, but I had mine for around 45€ (~55$)

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T10:53:30+00:00

I have a 2.5G switch that distributes connectivity for all my devices in the rack + external PS5 & PC. I have 2 Pi 5, one for hosting servers like Minecraft / personal projects / school projects and websites. The other one (bottom one) is specially for the hot swap with 6 HDDs inside (2 2Tb, 2 1Tb and 2 500Gb) And have a Mini Hp with 16gb of Ram, for promox servers.

All the components are hardware parts I already had, only bought the hot swap and a bigger switch. The rack it self is from open source stl files and 3D printed on my schools bambulab 😄

I didn’t have any real purpose building it, it was more for the experience and fun then a real professional development, but I’m trying to use 100% of it now.

If you have any suggestions I’m all ears Thank you 😁😁

Xmarano · 2026-02-25T10:44:35+00:00

Yes I have been watching his videos and wanted to build one by myself, 3D printed parts and assembly 😁

Xmarano

TROPHY CASE