WARNING: This file is outdated. Since the last commit, a lot has changed.

pi server rack

Monitor and control a Raspberry PI server rack.

Why?

Because I can. Overcomplicated stupid projects are a lot of fun.

To "briefly" explain the concenpt:

A server rack containing 2 Raspberry PI's (Pi 4 & Pi 1.2) and an Arduino Nano is cooled by 2 fans. A display at the front of the rack shows some status infos along with some buttons for direct control of the PI's. The Arduino's role is to communicate with the PC that it is connected to via USB for monitoring purposes and to tweak settings from the PC. The display is controlled by the arduino.

Required for this to work without any modifications are:

1x PC
2x Raspberry PI's with GPIO Pins (Model A, A+, B or B+), any version works (I use a Raspberry PI 4 B and Raspberry PI 1.2 B+) and needed power, ethernet for temporary ssh access
2x cooling fan (I used 1x 5V & 1x 12V fan), external 12V power source (or matching one for the large fan)
GPIO cables
fan control pcb with control circuit (The needed circuit is described here)

Setup: outdated!!!

Raspberry PI basic setup

Install a UNIX operating of your choice onto both PI's
If both PI's are different, declare the more powerful one as the master and install an FTP server on it
Install pytho3 on both PI's
Go to the releases page and download the latest release.
Copy the single programs to their dedicated devices
Make the programs run automatically on launch (optional)
Edit IP adresses, ports, usernames, passwords, configs, etc... on all 3 programs
Connect 2 GPIO pins from the Slave on pins GPIO_17 and GPIO_18 to the Master pins GPIO_17 and GPIO_18 (17 to 17 and 18 to 18)
Connect the GPIO pins GPIO_4 and 3.3V OUt on both PI'S and pin GPIO_24, GPIO_25 and 5V out of the Master with the fan control circuit board. For pin mapping, view here.
Connect the cooling fans like shown here

Control circuit

This setup includes a custom designed and built circuit board that manages the cooling fans. The board has the following circuit:

Description

S1: Status Pin for Master PI. Connected to GPIO_4
S2: Status Pin for Slave PI. Connected to GPIO_4
P1: Power Pin for Master PI. Connected to 3.3V Out
P2: Power Pin for Slave PI. Connected to 3.3V Out
+ 1: 12V external Power supply for large cooling fan
+ 2: 5V Power supply for small coolimg fan. Connected to 5V Out on Master PI
- 1: Ground for 12V external power supply
- 2: Ground for 5V Out on Master PI
~ 1: Modulation Pin for large cooling fan. Connected to GPIO_24 on Master PI
~ 2: Modulation Pin for small cooling fan. Connected to GPIO_25 on Master PI
XOR 1: XOR-Gate 1. Determines Master PI status
XOR 2: XOR-Gate 2. Determines slave PI status
TR1, TR2, TR3: NPN Transistors

In-more-depth explanation

//TODO

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