DeskPi Rackmate 2U Rack Mount with PCIE NVME Board for Raspberry Pi 5/4B

SKU: DP-0046
Name: DeskPi Rackmate 2U Rack Mount with PCIE NVME Board for Raspberry Pi 5/4B

DP-0046DC09

Description

The 2U RackMount is specifically designed for the Raspberry Pi 4B and Raspberry Pi 5, serving as a robust and efficient rack solution to house these single-board computers within a standard 10-inch server rack. Ideal for data centers or network installations that require space-saving while looking to expand computing capabilities, this 2U rack is tailored to perfectly accommodate the Raspberry Pi 4B and Raspberry Pi 5, ensuring optimal compatibility and performance.

DP-0046DC01

Features

Standard 2U Size: Perfectly fits into a 10-inch server rack, saving space while providing additional computing power.
Raspberry Pi Specific Design: Tailored specifically for the Raspberry Pi 4B and Raspberry Pi 5, ensuring the best compatibility and performance.
Convenient Access: Designed with user convenience in mind, making all critical ports and cards easily accessible.
Durable Construction: Made from high-quality carbon steel with a matte black powder coat finish, ensuring durability and a professional appearance.
Efficient Cooling: There is ample space between the Raspberry Pis for heat dissipation.
Scalability: Capable of housing multiple Raspberry Pi 4B and Raspberry Pi 5 units, supporting the construction of high-performance computing clusters.
Versatile Applications: Suitable for a variety of applications, including server rooms, home automation centers, and more, making it an ideal choice for tech enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Easy Assembly and Disassembly: Components are secured with hand-tightened screws, allowing for convenient adjustments and removal.
Rackmount Form Factor: Designed to fit into a 2U rack space, making it suitable for data centers or other environments where space is at a premium.
Versatility: The Rackmount can be configured in various ways to suit different use cases, whether for development, testing, or deployment in a production environment.

DP-0046DC02

Specifications

Form Factor: 2U Rackmount design suitable for standard 10-inch racks.
Raspberry Pi Compatibility: Specifically designed for Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4B models.
PCIe Expansion: Supports M.2 NVMe SSDs in 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 form factors. Provides a PCIe interface for high-speed data transfer. NOTE: This function supports Raspberry Pi 5 only!
I/O Connectivity: Rear I2C interface via PogoPin connectors for external peripherals. GPIO4 pin for programmable LED control.
LED Indicator: Red LED for device identification or status indication. Programmable through software to show different statuses.
Physical Security: Hand-tightened screws for secure mounting of Raspberry Pi devices and OLED display. Ensures stability and ease of maintenance.
Power Requirements: Compatibility with Raspberry Pi's standard power supply.
Material and Construction: Durable metal construction for the rackmount chassis. High-quality components for reliable performance.
Mounting Options: Standard rackmount holes for easy installation into a rack. Includes additional mounting accessories for different setups.
Software Compatibility: Compatible with Raspberry Pi's operating system and software ecosystem.
Support for GPIO programming: for custom LED and device control.

DP-0046DC03

Size and Design

Height: 2U
Width: 10 inches
Compact design to save rack space and fit standard 19-inch racks

DP-0046DC04

Port definitions

DP-0046DC05

Easy to access

DP-0046DC06

Easy to install

DP-0046DC08

Compatibility

DP-004610

How to assemble it

Please assemble it according to following figures.

DP-0046ins

Please note the key step in the installation:

DP-004610

Package Includes

DP-0046pl

How to enable PCIe function on Raspberry Pi 5?

To enable PCIe functionality on the Raspberry Pi 5, follow these steps:

1. Enable the PCIe External Connector: By default, the PCIe connector on the Raspberry Pi 5 is not enabled. To enable it, you need to add a configuration parameter to the config.txt file located in the /boot/firmware directory. You can use either of these lines:

dtparam=pciex1

After adding the line, reboot your Raspberry Pi for the changes to take effect.

2.Enable PCIe Gen 3.0 (Optional): The Raspberry Pi 5's PCIe connection is certified for Gen 2.0 speeds. However, if you want to attempt using Gen 3.0 speeds, add the following line to the config.txt file as well:

dtparam=pciex1_gen=3

Be aware that the Raspberry Pi 5 is not certified for Gen 3.0 speeds, and using this setting may result in instability . 3.Booting from PCIe: If you intend to boot from a device connected via PCIe, such as an NVMe SSD, you will need to modify the boot order in the EEPROM. Use the following command to edit the EEPROM configuration:

sudo apt update 
sudo apt upgrade -y 
sudo rpi-eeprom-config --edit

Then, change the BOOT_ORDER line to include NVMe in the boot order:

BOOT_ORDER=0xf416

This setting will make the Raspberry Pi attempt to boot from an NVMe device connected to the PCIe port .

How to light up identical LED?

To light up UID LED indicator on a Raspberry Pi 4B or 5, you'll make sure the GPIO Pin of the UID LED connected to.

GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) pins on the Raspberry Pi.

Steps

Identify GPIO Pins: GPIO4
Power On: Make sure your Raspberry Pi is powered off before connecting the LED. Once everything is connected, you can power on your Raspberry Pi.
Software Setup: You'll need to write a small program to turn the GPIO pin on and off to control the LED. You can use Python with the gpiozero library or RPi.GPIO library to control the GPIO pins.

Example Python Code with gpiozero:

from gpiozero import LED
from time import sleep


led = LED('GPIO4')

while True:
    led.on()
    sleep(1)
    led.off()
    sleep(1)

Example Python Code with RPi.GPIO:

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time


# Set the GPIO mode
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)

GPIO_PIN = 4

# Set up the GPIO pin as an output channel
GPIO.setup(GPIO_PIN, GPIO.OUT)

while True:
    GPIO.output(GPIO_PIN, GPIO.HIGH)  # Turn on the LED
    time.sleep(1)
    GPIO.output(GPIO_PIN, GPIO.LOW)   # Turn off the LED
    time.sleep(1)

# Clean up the GPIO pins before exiting the program
GPIO.cleanup()