How to Turn an IKEA Coffee Table into a DIY Server Rack
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Submission timeline
2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderhttps://wiki.eth0.nl/index.php/LackRack#Enterprise_Edition My favourite bit on this site re. The long version of the LACK table or "enterprise edition": "Following ICT tradition, the Enterprise Edition is more than three times as expensive, while providing less stability than two of the regular products combined."
I have been really happy with the HEJNE shelf as a rack. Here are some 2U's here at home: https://s3.whalesalad.com/lab/rack.jpg The shelf: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/hejne-shelf-unit-softwood-s7903... I keep seeing full height Dell racks for sale on FB marketplace in the $200 range but haven't encountered the right manic episode to actually go for it.
Most people here are completely missing the point. It's a $4.99 coffee table, available at every Ikea worldwide. You're telling me you shouldn't put your "high-value hardware" inside a four dollar and ninety nine cent coffee table? Wow, I'm super surprised! It is helpful for a lot of people though. I know a handful of people myself who have no rack whatsoever, just putting the unit on the floor or on a desk. For them, this is a massive upgrade…
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 3
- Total points
- 914
- Total comments
- 474
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-02-01 | LackRack | GuiA | 1 | 0 |
| 2017-03-21 | LackRackFirst breakout | tete | 148 | 40 |
| 2019-09-03 | The IKEA Lack Rack for Servers | atesti | 3 | 0 |
| 2021-01-13 | The LackRack | eklitzke | 1 | 0 |
| 2021-01-31 | How to Turn an IKEA Coffee Table into a DIY Server RackHall induction · Best thread | thejokersthief | 414 | 196 |
| 2022-08-19 | LackRack: IKEA's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers (2020)Latest 20+ point return | bluehatbrit | 347 | 238 |