This thing started at the time when I wanted to have separate place to keep data and maintain my own basic services. I do not have much room and needs to keep normal-size server or even ITX-based one, so I had chosen to use thin-client aka terminal. Of course I could use SBC, but they are more pricey than thin clients.
Outside
This one is a Fujitsu Futro S900 (~20-25$, used), it has many ports on front and back, but I really use only audio jack and ethernet. Audio connector is used to serve music through switch to speakers - I like when something plays when I work. This thin client is pretty big like for thin client because it has a PCI slot. Most of the time it site behind a cupboard, so it does not have to look fancy.
- serv_front.jpg (333.45 KiB) Viewed 16918 times
- serv_side.jpg (421.25 KiB) Viewed 16918 times
As I mentioned it has PCI slot (covered by HDD on photo) which is great thing for so small computer, but this piece has a problem. Normally there would be only one radiator on CPU, but here there are two connected with pipe and a second one effectively blocks a place for PCI card. Anyone who made a decision to place double cooler should be kicked in ass. What is interesting, S900 has a SATA connector, so one can add SATA disk, but current is provided through FDD connector ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Either way, it works. AFAIK, there can be added second SATA connector for data and after BIOS modification there can be added second disk. No more interesting things.
BTW PCI slot needs a right angle riser.
- serv_inside.jpg (474.53 KiB) Viewed 16918 times
Of course it runs OpenBSD. Currently I use it as:
(1) "NAS" or just place to hold backups
(2) MPD server
(3) keeping local services like SearXNG and RSS-Bridge
It works well, I did not have any issues with it, CPU heats a little but nothing melted so far. If it would break totally, I would probably change to other thin client without PCI slot (not really needed for me), but having better options for adding disks.
It's suitably ghetto and creative in the best possible way. Approved!