Ever since Apple introduced the Xserve way back in 2002, I've wanted to rack mount my
Mac.
Yes.
I'm a Mac user.
And yes, I compile the Linux kernel daily.
Get over it.
But why rackmount?
Well for starters, it looks cool, and I love cosplaying as a sysadmin.
Other than that, it keeps my desk nice and clean, and keeps my main editing computer
secure so cables don't wiggle out over time.
For years I only used laptops, so the little rack I have under my desk only held my audio
equipment, and I used to set my laptop up on top, where the Macs are now.
But a couple years ago after I bought that M1 mini, and had it in this 1U rack mount
kit from MyElectronics.
Well, this year I upgraded to a Mac Studio, but I'm still keeping the Mac mini to run
Asahi Linux.
But I had a problem: The Mac Studio is really tall... at least compared to the mini!
You can ignore that huge gaming PC under my desk, I don't think I'll be fitting that thing
in the rack any time soon.
But the Studio's still smaller and cheaper than my only other option, the Mac Pro Rack.
That thing takes a full 5U of rackspace and starts at $6500!
But the Mac Studio is still fairly tall, so I couldn't mount it next to my mini in the
old rack.
So right now my Mac Studio's sitting on top of my little desk rack, and I put the mini
next to it so it wouldn't be lonely.
This setup works, but since I have a rack...
I kinda want everything in it.
It'd also be nice since I wouldn't have to see the rat's nest of cables plugged into
the back.
Plus, every time I plug in an SD card on the front slot, the Mac Studio kinda slides backwards,
which gets annoying.
First world problems, I know.
While we're talking first world problems, I have to say only Apple would make someone
think having an SD card on the computer or front IO is a groundbreaking new feature.
But hey, it is way more convenient than the dongle I used to lose all the time.
But anyways, a month ago, MyElectronics reached out and told me they had a new solution: this
new Mac Studio rack mount that can hold not one but two Mac Studios, or you can convert
one side to hold a Mac mini.
And that's perfect for my use case.
I'm not MacStadium or Uptime Lab.
I don't have to try to cram like 50 of these things on a rack shelf.
So two Macs in one rack is just right.
So today I'm getting my Mac back in the rack.
That... sounded funnier when I wrote it.
The rack MyElectronics sent is part of their modular system for rackmounting Macs, Raspberry
Pis, and Apple TVs.
Using some replacement covers, you can mount two Raspberry Pis, an Apple TV, or a Mac mini
next to the Mac Studio if you want.
There are also two keystone cutouts on the front, so you can put through any IO to the
front of the rack, like Ethernet, if you wanna connect your Mac to a network switch on the
front of your rack.
There's also this little mechanical arm that lets you press the power button from the front
of the rack.
Without it, you couldn't do things like force shutdown the Mac, or put it into recovery
mode.
Or, you know, turn it on at all!
It looks like they sent me a few accessories, like an I/O faceplate that I could use instead
of my Mac mini if I ever get rid of it, so I could pass through more ports on the front.
They have little I/O kits for HDMI, USB 3, or Cat 6A, and I think there are some other
ones on their website.
The great thing is it's just keystone, so if you can find a keystone connector for it,
you can put through whatever you want on the front.
The first step in installing it was moving my existing gear down a bit to make room for
the new rack mount.
It's 3U, instead of the old one that was 1U so I had to move my audio equipment down,
and ditch the 2U shelf I had in there that just had my audio interface on it.
I dry-fit the Studio rack mount, and it fit like a glove, so I pulled it out and worked
on putting in the two keystone jacks I wanted to connect to the mini, a network jack and
HDMI.
That way I can plug the mini into my switch and plug in my 2nd monitor when I need it.
Otherwise I just run the mini headless.
One complaint I have about those keystone jacks is the mounting mechanism.
There's just a single screw holding a metal plate to secure the jack, so it's a little
wobbly.
It'd be nice if there were two screws for a bit more stability, or one plate across
both holes.
The way they have it works, but it was a little cumbersome and the ports don't feel rock solid
like everything else on the rack.
I screwed the rack mount back in, then took off the front faceplate.
That plate actually holds the Macs in place, and it has the keystone jacks on it, so you
have to plug those in while installing the faceplate, making it a little more complicated.
It'd be nice if the keystones were part of the main rack unit, and the facade just went
around them, but that would probably complicate the design a bit.
The mini and Studio just sit in their respective cutouts, and that recesses the fan intake
area a tiny bit.
I haven't had any thermal issues, so at least there's enough airflow for my M1 Max.
The front of the rack is cut out a little taller on the bottom so the Macs can pull
in air, but at least on the Studio, I'd be worried I had an M1 Ultra; it can pull through
a LOT of air under load.
But hey, it's not like Apple did anyone a favor with the way they ventilate these things.
The ring around the base of the mac pulls in air, and it gets blown out the back.
It's not like most PCs or servers, where air enters in front and exhausts out back.
And it's also not like most PCs or servers, because cleaning dust out, at least on the
Studio, requires some sticky and destructive disassembly.
I'm not sure what Apple was thinking making these screws inaccessible.
I popped in a cable passthrough under my PDU, then I put my audio interface back on a 1U
shelf so it wasn't just resting on the voice processor.
Then I went around behind and plugged everything in.
There aren't any cable tie downs or built-in cable management on the rack mount, so you
need to make sure your cables are routed so they won't pull out.
There is this weird little plate with four holes above where the Mac mini goes.
But it looks like it's just there to provide some support to hold down the smaller Mini.
Both Macs fit like a glove, and the little power button arms were right on target, so
the next step was to wire up the front side and turn 'em on.
I plugged the mini's Ethernet passthrough into my cheap 10 gig switch, which I have
on its own 3D-printed rack mount.
There's a link in the description to the switch and the rackmount, if you wanna replicate
my setup.
Finally, I turned on both of the Macs.
[Mac startup sounds]
I plugged my 2nd monitor into the front HDMI port... and look at that!
Two Macs running in my rack.
So after mounting that all up, what do I think?
Well, I'm happy everything's back in my rack.
Again, first world problem, but as someone who plugs in an SD card five or ten times
a day, every day, having that be a one-handed operation again is really nice.
And keeping the Macs inside my rack instead of on top means they should get at least a
little less dust in them.
But I still dread the day I'm gonna have to open up the Studio and blow it out.
Build quality is excellent.
The finish on everything is durable and the powder coating seems to be done well.
The spacing for both Macs is precise to the millimeter, and the power buttons both hit
solid every time.
My two main gripes are probably the lack of any cable management and those front keystone
jacks.
Having a little tray extend behind the Macs with slots for zip ties would make permanent
mounting more reliable.
And the front I/O keystones are both slightly flimsy because of the way they're mounted.
Even if they just had one metal backplate with both of the same screws, instead of two
little backplates, with one screw each, it would be a lot more solid.
The only other thing I can think of that would make this unit better—and it's a really
small thing—is using captive thumbscrews for the front plate.
Not a big deal at all, but that would just add a little polish.
So that's all well and good.
Racking up my Macs is convenient.
And for me, it might actually make sense, since I already have a rack, and use it in
a professional environment.
But should you consider it?
Well... maybe.
But for most people, no.
These rack units cost a little over $250, plus $25 shipping.
That means you're getting close to $300 just to mount your Mac.
I mean it ain't like paying $700 for a few wheels, or a thousand bucks for a monitor
stand... but still, $300 isn't nothing.
And if you just have Mac mini's, they sell a 1U rackmount kit for a lot less, but if
you have a Mac Studio, and you want it in a rack, there aren't many other options.
And since this isn't a high-volume item, it's probably not gonna get much cheaper.
So if you really need to rack up a Mac Studio, this is the best option I've seen so far.
But if you don't, and you don't mind your Mac Studio sliding around a bit when you plug
in an SD card, then you can skip it.
And you could always just put the Studio on a rack shelf, but then access to the power
button is limited, and you still get that sliding issue.
Until next time, I'm Jeff Geerling.