DSM-G600, DNS-3xx and NSA-220 Hack Forum

slim_is_in · 2008-08-14 04:24:25

I have several DNS-323's already, and recently was building one for a friend. The price of the bare unit has dropped quite a bit since the first days, as have hard drives.

In this case, the needs was to have Raid with twin 80Gbyte drives, so the dirt cheap Seagates seemed idea.

Until I got home and started integrating.

It's be a long time since I've been able to use a slim drive, so I wasn't paying attention when I purchased them. By slim, I mean thickness [top/label side to circuit side from a PC/server mount perspective]. For a PC/Server mount, it's no big deal because the mounting holes are still in the same places, and the width of the drive is as per spec. Unfortunately, the way the DNS-323 slide in mount works it assumes that the drive is the typical thickness, which means that the top of the drive [label side] touches casing at either the middle point or the right side. So, now I have the 2 drives inserted but I have to create some kind of plastic/metal spacer to span the distance between the top of the drive [label side] and those edges- otherwise the drive flops around inside when you move the unit, or even breath on it.

I love the easy install method overall, but this is a real problem. Not only do the drives move around, but they also easily come loose without using the ejection lever. Once the face plate is re-installed, they usually don't come completely out of the SATA connections, but they still move around and the DNS-323 sees enough of an electronic blip to want to rebuild the RAID. Arrrg!

Anyone find a solution?

PS: Scanned the Wiki and Forum topics for one that might be similar, didn't find one. Sorry if I missed it!

Zeke_D · 2008-08-14 06:13:32

I would use a series of hook & loop to 'space out' the drives so they fit snugly. apply one side of the hook and loop to the drive with the adhesive, and just stick the two ends together. use the adhesive on the other side to stick to the adhesive on the next pair of hook and loop. Hook and loop is found at radioshack, as well as craft and fabric stores. I used this methodology in tandam with a piece of wood so I could use 2.5" sata notebook drives.

slim_is_in · 2008-08-14 09:42:28

By "hook & loop" do you mean velcor?

The biggest problem is that the middle "divider", between the 2 drive bays, doesn't have a full wall, really just the portion at the face plate, and then a very small wall at the base separating the 2 bays and running inside. I mention this because there isn't much surface area to do much sticking to- at least for the left hand drive bay.

The mention of wood gave me an idea about maybe carving/planing a small piece of balsa etc which could run top to bottom of the bay, the "width" necessary to make the front of the drive snug, and a depth of a couple 1/8" of an inch- to give the spacer some mechanical stability. The sata connector end of the drive should be fine as is, since the connectors themselves at least give it some kind of anti-wiggle ability.

I would prefer to do it in plastic or even metal, but planing/sanding wood is far easier to get the right tolerances- unless you have a metal working shop handy.

Thanks for some ideas, and everyone feel free to offer more. When I get something worked out and acceptable, I'll let you all know.

DSM-G600, DNS-3xx and NSA-220 Hack Forum

Announcement

#1 2008-08-14 04:24:25

Slim Drives Solution?

#2 2008-08-14 06:13:32

Re: Slim Drives Solution?

#3 2008-08-14 09:42:28

Re: Slim Drives Solution?

Board footer