There are two things that get a homelabber’s pulse going. The first is a pile of thrown-out server gear that still works, but no one wants it because it’s obsolete for data centers and professional server rooms.
The second is a piece of furniture that just so happens to be perfect for homelabbing, and that’s what the IKEA “LACK” side table has become.
Its dimensions accidentally match 19-inch rack equipment
Happy little accidents
As far as I know, IKEA didn’t set out to make a $17 disposable table that just happens to have the same dimensions used for 19-inch server racks like the one you see above. That measurement, of course, refers to the length of the front panel and mounting ears for each blade. The body of the blade occupies the inner portion of the table’s legs.
The usable space when building a so-called “LackRack” is around 8U, which is also a similar figure to a typical compact server rack solution.
Putting an exact date on when people discovered this cheap little side table could be converted into a server rack is tricky, but an article in Gamestar Tech dating from 2010 claims that although it was seen at eth0:2010 WinterLAN, Google employees had already been working with this table prior to that point.
It provides rack organization for almost no money
Well, it’s $2 more than it used to be
For some context, a purpose-built server rack with similar capacity will run you around $100 if not more. So the idea that you could have a solid solution for $17 and a buck or two for mounting hardware is very attractive. All you need is the table itself, a screwdriver, wood screws under an inch in length, and that’s pretty much it.
As you might expect, there’s a whole subreddit called r/lackrack where people show off their own takes on the concept, and some go beyond the most basic requirements. Upgrading and modifying the table. More elaborate builds add rack rails, shelves, casters, and braces, but owners can buy those parts only when needed. It’s all optional.
A commercial metal rack offers far more structural strength, but for a homelab setup, paying for that durability is arguably a waste of money.
Dimensions
21.63″D x 21.63″W x 17.75″H
Weight
15.62 pounds
IKEA’s cheap little side table has turned into a secret homelab server rack, and even a 3D printer enclosure. Just don’t tell teh Swedes or they’ll jack up the price.
It works particularly well for small homelabs and NAS setups
It’s like a tiny wooden data center
While I’m sure some low-budget commercial outfits might actually use a janky solution like the LackRack, this is really only appropriate for hobbyist homelabs and self-hosted services like a NAS or Plex server.
There’s no end to the gear that you can pick up for a homelab that will fit neatly into a LackRack. What’s really cool is that some people create a hybrid setup, where there’s some rack-mount gear, but also just a shelf where a consumer-grade NAS can sit.
It’s compact with an open side and back, which makes it easy to access all the bits and pieces you’d want when tinkering. Best of all, you can still use it as a table, and put stuff on the tabletop.
Some people have dug into the rest of the LACK family too. Above is an example of a Reddit user called ViolinistUnknown, who made a 17U rack from two LACK coffee tables!
Related
Skip the mini PC for homelabbing and buy a laptop with a broken screen instead
Who needs a mini PC when the laptop nobody wants gets the job done?
Owners can customize and expand it as their homelab grows
It’s impressive how the LACK table community has morphed into something far more advanced than a particle board table and a few wood screws. They quickly figured out that if you use the right metal braces, you can stack your LackRacks quite efficiently.
Other popular mods include locking casters, shortened legs, rack shelves, side panels, cable management, internal timber reinforcement, and rear supports. Because these tables are so cheap, people feel completely comfortable modding the heck out of them. At worst, you’ll just have to buy another $17 table.
It is still a paper-filled table, not a real server rack
IKEA lists particleboard, fiberboard, and recycled-paper honeycomb as key ingredients in a LACK table. The legs are basically hollow, and the official maximum load is a mere 22 pounds. Though that does apply to the tabletop, not the legs.
I guess there’s an argument to be made that when you screw network and server blades into a LackRack, you’re probably making it stronger, not weaker.
Still, I really would be wary about the weight of the gear anyone who attempts this. Heavy server blades, a NAS stuffed with hard drives, or any sort of UPS battery backup probably would be too much. At least, unless you go to the trouble of reinforcing what IKEA has already wrought.
Interestingly, looking through the Amazon reviews for the LACK table, it turns out that some people are now also using these tables to make 3D printer enclosures. That’s a little more involved, but basically they put clear panels between the table legs, and create a door on one side. Then you can put an open bed-slinger printer inside and expand the types of prints it can make for very little money. Maybe IKEA named it the “LACK” because it’s the only thing you needed to perfect your DIY project?