I built a mobile HCI system for my on-site presentations at the customers. You can read the hardware/software construction steps here:

Setup Nutanix CE All-Flash NVMe – Part 1

Setup Nutanix CE All-Flash NVMe – Part 2

So you could call this article Part 3

First of all, let’s look at the requirements for this HCI System in a Box. The most important thing for me was that it is portable and quickly operational.

The customer and me simply don’t have the time to set up a functional showcase in 15-20 minutes. Also I did not want to check every time whether all cables are there. So I thought, that it is a good idea, to built a portable system.

The 2nd important factor for me was to present a system, which not only works technically perfect, but also looks optically professional. after all, the customer also buys the visual experience 🙂

The 3rd important key-Feature: a connection as simple as possible!

The “Showcase” provides a WiFi for the Customer or presenting System Engineer to connect to the hole HCI in a Box System. You can also connect over a Cable Link (RJ45) at 1GBit Speed. Thus there is also the possibility to transfer a test workload from the customer network!

The HCI in a Box also provides a WIFi uplink to a guest WiFi/Network. Thus the Showcase can be operated at any Internet connection (mobile phone tethering, WiFi Guest Network …)
The yellow and white device is responsible for this.

As you can read in the article the following Hardware is in this small case:

• 4x Intel NUC NUC8i7HVK Hades Canyon
• 4x Kingston HyperX Impact HX424S14IBK2/32 32GB (2 x 16GB) RAM Kit
• 8x Samsung MZ-V7P512BW 970 PRO Interne SSD 512GB NVMe M.2
• 4x SanDisk Ultra Fit 32 GB USB 3.1
• 1x TP-Link TL-WR902AC AC750 WLAN Nano Router
• 1x GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Mini Travel Router
• 1x Netgear 16 Port Switch

What were the biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge was the Intel NUC power supplies!

The power supplies of the Intel NUC Sky Canyon were much smaller. That means the new ones simply took up twice the space. The power supply is almost as big as the Intel NUC Hades Canyon itself now!

The Intel NUC Hades Canyons themselves are at least twice as thick as the Intel NUC Skull Canyons. I would have known, if I had read the manual before (RTFM).

Pro Tipp: Read the Specs befor buying 😉

Construction

For the construction I used Aluminum Extrusion and a 3D printer.
You can get the Aluminum Extrusion for example at motedis.com, it’s an CNC Online Shop.
I’ve been recommending it for years!

From the aluminium profiles I built a construction for the NUCS and power supplies. Furthermore I used a FAN Duct which I printed with the help of a 3D printer to ensure the fresh air supply to the NUCs.

Finally I had a nice Plexiglas cover made by an CNC Service (I provided the DFX Files).

All right, let’s cut to the chase, let’s show some pictures!

The Intel Hades Canyon sucks the cold air from the lower part of the NUC Case, so a selfmade fanduct is needed.

Unfortunately I didn’t photograph everything during the building process.

With this short post I wanted to share my experience with building an own professional showcase. So let me know your opinion and improvement suggestions using the commentary function 🙂