Rack mount cabinet for N100

[jesper]

Hi,

I'm looking to setup a home server, probably with Proxmox, one of the applications I intend to run is Frigate for CCTV recordings. I got a 4GB 3.5" I removed from an old NAS that I intend to use for Frigate recordings, no need to for all those writes on a NVME SSD.

To that effect, I'm looking at a motherboard like a CWWK "12th i3-N305 N100 NAS Motherboard 6-Bay DC Power 2xM.2 NVMe 6xSATA3.0 PCIE X1 4x i226-V 2.5G LAN DDR5 ITX Mainboard" (seems I cannot add links) that has 2 M.2 NVME slots, 6 SATA connectors and a mini PCIE slot for WIFI, that I intend to populate with a mini PCIe Coral Edge TPU accelerator, for primary storage I got a 1 TB Samsung NVME card left over from an older project.

What I'm struggling with is a suitable cabinet for it, ideally a rack mount cabinet with space for one 3.5" harddisk, but I'm open for non rack mount options too.

Any suggestions for a cabinet, or comments regarding the motherboard and other HW?

thanks
Jesper

[ed]

Great to see you're setting up a home server with Proxmox! The CWWK N100 motherboard sounds like a solid choice for your needs, especially with its support for multiple storage options and the Coral Edge TPU for AI applications like Frigate.

Cabinet Recommendations
For your setup, here are a few cabinet options that might work well for your needs:

Rack-Mount Cabinets:

StarTech 4U Rack Mount Cabinet: This offers ample space for your motherboard and has removable side panels for easy access. It also includes a shelf for your 3.5" HDD.
Tripp Lite 12U Rack Enclosure: A bit larger, this model provides a lot of flexibility, including space for additional hardware and decent airflow. You can easily mount your 3.5" HDD using a drive cage.
NavePoint 12U Wall Mount Rack: If you're short on floor space, this wall-mountable option can accommodate your motherboard and offers a 3.5" hard drive mounting solution.
Non-Rack Mount Options:

Cooler Master HAF 912: If you prefer a non-rack mount case, this mid-tower case has excellent airflow and can fit your components well, including the 3.5" HDD. It’s user-friendly for cable management and expansion.
Fractal Design Node 304: This compact case is great for mini-ITX setups and has room for multiple drives, including 3.5" HDDs. It’s stylish and quiet, perfect for a home server.
Comments on the Hardware
Motherboard: The CWWK N100 is a great choice for running Proxmox and handling multiple applications like Frigate. The dual M.2 NVMe slots and SATA connectors give you flexibility in terms of storage.
Storage Configuration: Using the 4GB 3.5" HDD for Frigate recordings is a smart move to reduce write cycles on your NVMe SSD. Make sure you have good backup solutions for those recordings, as HDDs can be less reliable over time.
Coral Edge TPU: This accelerator should enhance your CCTV processing capabilities significantly, especially with real-time object detection.