The Home Media Data Center Project

This homebrew project is to create a datacenter-in-a-box for a fully redundant home data & media management system, using Windows Home Server and Vista to serve media via XBox 360 extenders to different rooms. The goal was to fit the hardware to run both systems in as small and aesthetically pleasing a form factor as possible- pretty pleased with the way this turned out, let me know what you think!

Before embarking on this I did some pretty extensive experiments with virtualization- Home Server under Vista, Vista under Home Server etc... my conclusion was that both systems really need access to the raw hardware to perform best, which is why I settled on the two-motherboard solution. For next steps I'm looking at booting Vista from flash memory so as to free up a hard drive slot, and replacing the ATX power supplies with micro-ATX ones to free up more space. Suggestions welcome.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• homebrew
• computer
• diy
• electronics
• gadget
• windowshomeserver
• xbox

[klote2314]

how do u cool that dual mobo

arent the cooling blocks jamming each other??

[jamesf12345]

@klote2314

No, there's about a half-inch of clearance between them. They're dual core CPUs, not overclocked, so not super hot.

[andyisthebestest]

virtual machine

[jamesf12345]

@andyisthebestest

No good (at least when I built it). WHS needs access to physical hardware for drive extender. Media Center needs access to physical hardware for using multiple cores & tuner devices.

[jamesf12345]

@andyisthebestest

Can't do it- Windows Home Server needs direct access to the disk hardware.

[PhilipHo92]

Is that a coolermaster 300 case series?

[jamesf12345]

@PhilipHo92

It's a Cooler Master Centurion 534

[palauskas]

thats brilliant man

[Zewetenwieikben]

Compaq Evo N1020z ??

[neosmith80]

So wheres the redundancy, if there's only 1 power cord what if it gets disconnected same with the ethernet no dual ethernet connections. Just fyi Hub's are the worse networking gear available. Nub job and fire hazard!!! ~_~

[DialedBMX]

this is so cool man, i like the way you put the hun in the case with the single up link wire coming out of it, great idea

[HalleLangley]

Halle Langley is on FaceBook.

[HalleLangley]

This is what has gone before. I am what came after. I will not be replaced.

[novachevyguy]

what a damned joke this is...

[sacrenough]

@wwallender Dont Don't We Have Uploader's Comments For Something?

[wwallender]

Don't We Have Virtual PC For Somthing

[doomtomb3]

This needs cable management... badly... it runs so much hotter because of that.

[jamesfreddieboy]

UPDATE TO POWER PACK 3