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Looking for advice on server closet ventilation in rented apartment

Dedicated Servers by mediaaustin 4 replies 298 views
mediaaustin

Member OP

Deliverability Nerd

#1

Advice on server closet ventilation in rented apartment

Hot take: my landlord is reasonable but explicitly no modifications. I run three 1U units in a closet, ambient hits 38C in summer. Portable AC unit is allowed, but window venting looks ugly and the hose kit is garbage. For what it's worth, I have a sliding glass door to a small balcony, not a sash window.

Has anyone built custom ducting without drilling holes? I need exhaust path that does not look permanent. Currently running with closet door open and box fan, which is not sustainable. SPF/DKIM for my mail server is finally perfect and I do not want thermal throttling ruining delivery timing.

SPF, DKIM, DMARC — holy trinity ✉️
haroldgsm

Member

Grumpy Old Sysadmin

#2
mediaaustin said:
I run three 1U units in a closet, ambient hits 38C in summer.

Mark my words, your landlord will notice the condensation trail before they notice a hose.

Dryer vent hose through the sliding door gap, foam board to block the opening. No screws, no damage. I have seen this in twenty apartments. The heat exhausts, the gap seals, you store the board when inspections come. Pessimistic prediction: you will still cook a drive by Christmas.

IPv4, IRC, and irssi — fight me
prague1983

Member

btw I use Arch

#3

Just use a grow tent

Seriously. Intake at bottom, exhaust at top, duct to your balcony. Skill issue if you cannot figure out zip ties. The "server closet" is already a hotbox, you are one thermal event from learning why datacenters have N+1 cooling

Also 38C ambient means your disks are screaming

oops: 0000 [#1] SMP
minh1987

Member

#4

Cost maybe 15 dollar. You make frame from PVC pipe, no drill needed, just pressure fit in door frame.

What is dimension of your sliding door? I can suggest exact pipe size.

phở at 3AM, deploy at 4
Bruno22

Member

#5

I make a test with dryer hose too. Is very good!

I use the insulation board from hardware store, cut with kitchen knife, make hole for hose. My girlfriend hate the look but the server is happy

You can paint the board same color of wall, then is stealth mode hahaha

ping so high I wave back

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