LackRack

The first implementation: Red LackRack with Ethernet switch and table lamp

The LackRack

First occurence on eth0:2010 Winterlan, the LackRack is the ultimate, low-cost, high shinyness solution for your modular datacenter-in-the-living-room. Featuring the LACK (side table) from Ikea, the LackRack is an easy-to-implement, exact-fit datacenter building block. It's a little known fact that we have seen Google engineers tinker with Lack tables since way back in 2009.

Summary

The LackRack was first seen on eth0:2010 Winterlan in the no-shoe Lounge area. Its low-cost and perfect fit are great for mounting 19" hardware, such as switches (see below), or perhaps other 19" gear. It's very easy to assemble, and thanks to the design, they are stable enough to hold (for example) 19" switches and you can put your bottle of Club-Mate on top! Multi-shiny LackRack can also be painted to your specific preferences and the airflow is unprecedented!

Assembly

For assembly in terms of a programming language, this is not the page you need.

However, in order to assemble the LackRack, there are a few prerequisites or tools that are needed:

• 1 (or more) LACK side table from Ikea
• Screwdriver (whether muscle-driven or motor-driven, with preference of the latter)
• Wood screws (they should fit in the rack mounts on your appliance, and not exceed 1" in length)
• Spare time

That's all! First, follow the assembly instructions in the Ikea manual in order to assemble the LACK. After that, the installation of your 19" hardware can begin.

The LackRack is a stackable modular product. Additional elements can be stacked on top easily. Brackets to secure the top element to the bottom one are not included but available from your local non-computer hardware store.

• If you put several LackRacks side by side, the higher levels can be staggered to form a pyramid. This feature is not present in any other of the commercially available rack products.

Installation

Installing hardware in your LackRack is easy!

• Optional but recommended - Put the table on its side (which one is your decision) or upside down
• Mount the hardware between the left and right leg
  • If you mount the first item, it is recommended to install it against the table top for good fit. This happens automatically if you have the LackRack upside down, except in zero gravity environments.
• Screw all the screws that fit in the rack mount in the left and right leg (for stability).
  • With deep units, a Z-shaped bracket may be advisable to secure the rear of the unit against the underside of the tabletop.
• Profit!

Goodies

• You can put food and/or drink on your rack.
• You can put a small lamp on top of the rack to see your hardware and/or better find the aforementioned food and drink.
• The table can be painted in a color of your preference, or decorated in various ways. The eth0 Design team can advise, for a fee, how to optimally decorate the rack to suit your environment.
  • That means, no more dull black/gray racks!
  • Or you can put stickers of your favorite event on them : [1]
• Cheap!
• Easy!
• Looks good!

Specs

As from the Ikea product page:

• Product information
  • Easy to assemble.
  • Low weight; easy to move.
  • Readily available desktop area holding your laptop during maintenance.
  • Levenstein distance of "Lack" and "Rack" is 1. Can this still be a coincidence?

• designer:
  • IKEA of Sweden

• Product dimensions
  • Length: 55cm (21 5/8 ")
  • Width: 55cm (21 5/8 ")
  • Height: 45cm (17 3/4 ")
  • About 9U of rack space

• care instructions
  • Wipe clean using a damp cloth and a mild cleaner.
  • Wipe dry with a clean cloth

• product description & measurements
  • Top: Particleboard, Fiberboard, ABS plastic, Printed and embossed acrylic paint, Clear acrylic lacquer
  • Filling material: Paper
  • Leg: Particleboard, Fiberboard, Foil, Foil

Enterprise Edition

Note: actual 19" compatibility remains unconfirmed. Please measure and report back!

Ikea LACK coffee table: almost twice as high and twice as deep, and comes with a shelf. Its size allows both short ends to be used as rack space simultaneously. It's interesting to note that Ikea photographed it from the side; an uncommonly artistic approach to 19" server rack photography.