fanless hardware for selfhosting lxd/docker

Kimusan@feddit.dk to Selfhosted@lemmy.world – 22 points –

Hi, I am planning to setup a home servering can get a remote desktop on via the webinterface Guacamole. I havehadit ona huge Servet before but this Time I really need it to Bea fanless server. I need 32gb+ of ram and at least 1tb SSD. Enough CPU power to serve a linux desktop running in lxd via a quacamole in a docker image.

Any recommendationsfor good hardware that isnt crazy expensive?

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I have built mine this way, reusing a very old 'normal' tower case:

Take a CPU with limited TDP, like 35W or 65W. Use a passive CPU cooler. Use a semi-passive power supply that is too strong for the actual need, so it's going to stay in it's passive state all the time - they are cheaper than the real passive ones.

Then use 1 really large fan (25 or 30 cm) that goes at the side of the tower case. It turns very slow because of it's size, so it is nearly inaudible. No other fans.

You can get 12V power dividers that plug into a 120 watt laptop adapter, if you keep your energy requirements down it saves quite a bit of space, noise and cost

I need it to be completely without fans due to the location where I need it.

Look up industrial mini PCs maybe?

If you're putting it in a box it is going to cook itself to death regardless of its need or lack of need for fans. If you're putting it on a dirty floor convection is going to move the dust into it anyways.

If youre putting it in a shop, consider hardware purpose built for that.

OK. Then you have to think very differently.

Decide on the case first, and it's going to dictate most of your further decisions.

For example, you cannot use a simple passive CPU cooler in a standard case without any fans, because they need some reasonable air flow all the time. I would guess you need heat pipes instead, and coolers on the outside - but I have no actual experience in that area.

Monsterlabo makes fanless cases, almost all heatsink, with upward airflow. There is another bramd where heatpipes attach to outerside aluminum finned panels, but I forget the name