Not yet, I’m learning CAD. My plan is to start with the mainboard enclosure that Framework posted to GitHub and extend it for battery, add notches for the ethernet cards, add some side fan vents, etc.
I haven’t heard of this! It would certainly be cool to get TB4 speeds instead of gigabit. But I’m only seeing it suggested for point-to-point (such as transferring files between two laptops), and I don’t think there’s thunderbolt routers. But having full power and ludicrous speed data on one little cable would be pretty slick.
Thunderbolt theoretically has a point to point mode that looks to the system like Ethernet, not sure how well it actually works since I only have one laptop with thunderbolt but it is theoretically a thing in the thunderbolt spec.
If you just want to connect framework mainboards to each other you could make some kind of mesh out of tb p2p connections but it definitely would not be trivial.
but if you actually want to go to a wider network you do need a network card though, can be one of those 300+ buck tb 10gbit ones if you want I guess. Could also just go with a <100$ 5gbit usb one or a <30$ 2.5gbit one or a <10$ gbit one XD
Anyone found a good multi-device power supply? The framework brick is pretty stackable, but it would be nice if there were even more compact options.
I did do a reduced version of the first-party printable case as my intro to Fusion. Simplified geometry, removed the wifi bump, added cutouts for for the ethernet module. I’ll be happy to share it, but it’s really not markedly different from what Framework published to GitHub. (Like, you can get the same functional differences with a dremel. Or a nice pair of flush cutters.)
Next version is going to add a battery area, improve air flow, use actual screws for assembly, maybe have a bracket for the power brick.
I have thoughts about what I’m going to put on there (debian, figure out puppet, and then poke at container systems), but that feels like a long way off.
But I am having a lot of success playing with serverless puppet.
From a hardware perspective:
Type C ports aren’t super robust to motion, esp with free cables. Using a battery or a rigid setup is recommended.
I’m getting some weirdness around boot and my thunderbolt dock. It might be fixed in the later generations and/or newer firmware. Playing with replugging power/brick seems to work.
I’m having such a hellish time with network adapters and Debian that I’m thinking of abandoning this project.
On Debian 12:
RTL8156BG (the framework ethernet module): Debian can read the mac address, but that’s about it
RTL8153A (an ethernet dongle i got for my work mac): Negotiates gigabit but doesn’t actually detect an “up” link
RTL8153B (thunderbolt dock): Works great
I share my homelab with others, so I’m pretty married to Debian. My suggestion to others is if you’re going to attempt this, either don’t use Debian or don’t use Realtek.
Currently, I’m praying that Realtek’s Linux team fixes this.
My biggest struggle is still cooling. Would it be feasible to have a smaller rack (e.g. a 6U or 8U wall-mountable ) and have the exhaust at the top of the case? And intake from either the side or front. Not really the best option for a datacenter but perfect for a homelab use. Any thoughts?
Cooling is not a big issue. Have all the heat sinks vertical and vented out the top. The biggest hurdle in my mind is the power distribution. I would to figure out a server PSU to PD. 10 boards at 60w each. I wish there was an easy to adapt a 1000w server psu.
The other idea is a AC rail with 10 60w PD adapters.
Hi guys! Im working on a similar server concept with the exception that i only want one board and about 6 sata 3.5" hdd, my biggest issue so far has been finding a single power supply for both the board and the spinning rust to run off of, Id love to hear some advice on what could power it.
Late response but I also struggled to find a viable solution to this. All methods seemed too janky for my liking, like taking apart a cigarette lighter charger to use it as a buck-boost converter. I ended up using a 200W USB-PD power supply with USB-C ports to power the board, as well as a PicoPSU for the hard drives and case fans, using a cable with a PD negotiation chip that converts the USB-PD power into something the PicoPSU can use. However, this method limits me to three hard drives.
Honestly, I’m just planning on using the Framework puck mounted on the blade–makes it easier to pull out individual blades for servicing or bench-top work.
I would be interested in this project but do bear in mind that it’s been noted these boards get hot enough to melt 3d printed cases. So, I hope you have taken that into consideration and have a means of keeping the thermal loads on the board side down under the 3d prints thermal melting point.
I used 2 of them to power a 6 node cluster : 