Can one use rack mount raid system without rack?

[pullman]

Forgive the n00b question but I'm curious if there would be any negative effects of not mounting a rack mount raid array (like a Sonnet or G-Tech or such) but just having it on a shelf or table?

TIA

 

[kryten42]

Not really, just "ugly". I know plenty of rack mount systems run on a table for years 🙄

 

[ColdCase]

As long as the box is not depending on a rack mounted cooling fan, tabletop is fine. We do that often in the lab, although mounting them in a rack is cleaner with less cable clutter.

 

[pullman]

Thanks very much for the replies. Good point about the fans. The one I am thinking of is a Sonnet Fusion R800, an older model. I believe it has built-in fans so having it on a table or such could possibly work then.

Not really, just "ugly". I know plenty of rack mount systems run on a table for years 🙄

As long as the box is not depending on a rack mounted cooling fan, tabletop is fine. We do that often in the lab, although mounting them in a rack is cleaner with less cable clutter.

 

[matreya]

I have one of these:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/RAID/Rack_Mount/FireWire_USB3_eSATA_1U

I have been using now for a couple of years, sitting on top of a filing cabinet, with other drives stacked ontop of it, so it's very robust.

 

[pullman]

Thank you for the reply. That's a nice array. I'm wondering how much weight can be put on such arrays (including the Sonnet one I'm considering). Any one know - 10kg, 15kg?

 

[matreya]

I have a total 16 3.5" HDDs enclosed in 2 Thunderbay IVs, 1 G-Tech Thunderbolt RAID5 enclosure and 1 eSATA OWC RAID5 enclosure sitting atop the rackmount unit 🙂

Not sure how many kgs that is 🙂

 

[pullman]

Wow that's got to be 15-16 kg for the arrays only plus the drives. Impressive.

I have a total 16 3.5" HDDs enclosed in 2 Thunderbay IVs, 1 G-Tech Thunderbolt RAID5 enclosure and 1 eSATA OWC RAID5 enclosure sitting atop the rackmount unit 🙂

Not sure how many kgs that is 🙂