You know, I’ve had this same idea for a few years now, and now that I know what it looks like, I’m thinking about doing it again. Over the last couple years, I’ve gotten rid of most of my extra computer junk and downsized to a laptop, but when I look at what’s left, I see a few essentials that won’t go away for the foreseeable future:
- Home server
- Uninterruptible power supply
- KVM switch
- Firewall
- Wireless access point
- DSL modem
I’ve also been thinking that the money I spent on this laptop might have been better invested in a new chair. I thought it would be nice to sit on my couch with a laptop, but my legs just get hot and sweaty. Laptop keyboards and touchpads suck when trying to get any actual work done, and when I come home, I miss the dual monitor setup I have at work. So if I do decide to invest in a new desktop machine, I think I’d have enough computer junk to justify a little 12U server enclosure, and I’m sure it would look a lot better than the shelf I have now.
Update: I did end up completing my home server rack project.
Have you considered Synergy (http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/) instead of a KVM?
im aware of synergy, but i need a kvm for my server which doesnt run x, and for all the times when i have to fix my friends computers. ;)