I am planing on building a network briefcase pc these holidays (i have decided on a case that will be helpful and easy ish to do). I am planning on putting a compaq deskpro sff case in there (modded of course) running smoothwall, fitted out with an adsl modem, and extra nic. The extra nic is for an access point to be connected to (will be mounted inside the case). THere will be a 5 port network switch in there, aswell as the access point. THe ports on the back will be 4x network, 2 antenna and phone line, and the needed pc ports. I might make it 12x network ports and include space for my 8 port d-link switch. I am still looking for ideas. And has any one ever cut up one of them aluminium breif cases. What would it be like for this porpuse.
ive seen several of those aluminum cases cut up for these portable compys. but, i have never seen one with that much stuff stuck in it. the theing i dont like about these jobs is when people just hack a hole in the front of it and leave the dvd drive hanging there. i think it could be stealthed more. especially in your case. it looks like you are just building a portable network, so after you have the software installed you really dont need an optical drive, so you can put it inside the case, if you need it, pop the case open put the disc in. this way you have it, but it isnt ugly. same for floppy if you plan on using one.
i made a briefcase computer once with a leather buisness case. the problem with them is that theres barely any room, so your going to need a truckload of fans. especialy with all this stuff your going to put in it.
Ok, i put the pc i want to use on the case, to see how much work would be required to make it fit. And the answer is no work is required, it fits fine, but i will change it a bit, (the floppy drive is at the front, so will do someting to that so that it is only useable from the inside). There will be no cd rom. Not much cooling is required due to the age of the pc, and it will not get well loaded. Here is the picture, along with my d-link switch for size comaprison, (i will try to source a new one) http://server2.uploadit.org/files/nzboy33-000_0377.JPG is the piccy. Im not going to embed it as it is to wide, and mucks around with the width of the post. Now it will probable be easier to get what im talking about. But i will be getting a cheaper case, so its not a problem if i wreck it, by putting vents, switches ect in it. Also im no longer mounting the access point in the case, but under the eve (for connection to the sleepout) and am going to use poe to supply it with power. So its got easier from a room point of view, bt more work has to be done to it now. Expect some piccy's and the gear starts arriving, case should be got next weekend, all internal network cables and backpane network plugs should be here by firday. The access point will be here next monday, and the switch should be here on about wednesday. So plenty of time to mod the switch before everything else arrives.
i wouldnt have all the network cables coming out of the side like it looks like you have them planned. id make sure they came out one end of the case. just my opinion.
Ok, for the network cables, im going to try an flush mount a samll patch panel into the back. I am going to try an flushmount all ports on the back, so if i need to moce, i can stil relatively safely leave it sitting the way you would normally leave a case sitting. I am vagely thinking of incorperating a manual 2 way kvm switch. Then i would run a kvm cable from my computer to the router. And plug my screen mouxe ect into that. And that would get rid of the need of a seperate keyboard and screen for the router. And shag beard, i think it would look a hideous mess if i run the network cables out the side. I might need to cut the side out of the coumputer chassis though , to be able to run the cables to the back. I am going to put my ideas / start worknig out placement of parts / find a poe circuit tonight.
Im scrapping the breif case idea, and fitting every thing inside the computer case (ive just realised how much it would cost to get a new one of them cases, and they're quite hard to find round here). But im still having an external access point, and need to know how to implement internal poe. I want it all internal at the pc/router end, but dont mind (too much) an adapter at the other end. The only idea I have came up with so far was to turn the network plug over, and have the pins pointing up, and solder short wires back to the motherr board. Any ideas.
