Open Source Server Room Monitor

Intro: Open Source Server Room Monitor

This server room environmental monitoring system is a low cost high performance device with the same onboard features as commercial devices costing hundreds of dollars more. In addition to a low cost platform we will provide low cost sensors for many important devices to insure your equipment stays safe and sound.


Full instructions are available at sproutboard.com as well as several kits to create some very unique projects.

STEP 1: Stuff You Will Need...

You will need a few parts for this build as follows:

Sprout Board: sproutboard.com
Arduino Duemilanove: Trossen Robotics
Ethernet shield: Sparkfun.com
Rack Mount Chassis: sproutboard.com
LCD Screen: Sparkfun.com
Audio Board: Sparkfun.com
Temperature / Humidity Board: sproutboard.com
Power Supply: Sparkfun.com

Odds and ends, screws, glue, tools, etc...

STEP 2: Putting It Togeather

Step 1:
The assembly of the sprout board is very simple and requires very little experience with soldering. There are a few places where adding components can get cramped, but if you take your time it will be very easy.


Step 2:
Mount your arduino, ethernet shield and lcd screen


Step 3:
Glue the chassis togeather

Step 4:
Mount the board on the chassis

STEP 3: Add Accessories

Next plug in any sensors you want to. I am using a temp/humidity and sound sensors.

STEP 4: Load Software and Do a Happy Dance!

So all we need to do is load our software and do a Happy Dance!

Use this link so anyone can download the pde that will test the system. This also is an excellent framework to customize your application.

STEP 5: How to Use It

Pin Assignments

Analog I/O:
Analog 0 - CCD Light Sensor (CDS1)
Analog 1 - Accessory Terminal Block 1 (TA1)
Analog 2 - Accessory Terminal Block 2 (TA2)
Analog 3 - Onboard Accessories Socket 1 (Temperature sensor on external board J9)
Analog 4 - Onboard Accessories Socket 1 (Humidity sensor on external board J9)
Analog 5 - Onboard Accessories Socket 2 (Sound J10)

Digital I/O:
Digital 0 - Not used
Digital 1 - Serial Terminal (TS1)
Digital 2 - Onboard Switch (SW1)
Digital 3 - Onboard Peizo Speaker (SP1)
Digital 4 - LED 1 (LED 1)
Digital 5 - LED 2 (LED 2)
Digital 6 - Accessory Terminal Block 1 (DA1)
Digital 7 - Accessory Terminal Block 2 (DA2)
Digital 8 - Accessory Terminal Block 3 (DA3)
Digital 9 - Accessory Terminal Block 4 (DA4)
Digital 10 - Reserved For Additional Shield (Ethernet shield pins correspond)
Digital 11 - Reserved For Additional Shield (Ethernet shield pins correspond)
Digital 12 - Reserved For Additional Shield (Ethernet shield pins correspond)
Digital 13 - Reserved For Additional Shield (Ethernet shield pins correspond)

Headers
CWe have provided 6 headers that can be used for expanding the capabilities of the sprout board to add additional sensors, input devices or control external devices. On the left side we have 2 analog terminals and on the right we have 4 Digital terminals. These terminals all have a set of three sockets that all use the same configuration of 5V+ on the left, I/O in the center and Ground on the right. In addition the two analog ports can simply be configured as digital I/O as needed with the arduino pinmode.

Jumpers
We have added these jumpers to our board to allow for very flexible connection of additional circuits through the accessory terminals. This configuration allows for you to setup a 2 wire button for input, have the option of both 5v and GND on an external device, or even ground your floating analog pins for more constant signals.

Serial Header
We have added a serial header on this board to allow you to connect a LCD screen with ease. As you can see in the picture here we have our 3 terminal block mounted at the end of the board. From left to right we have 5V+, TX, Ground. If you choose to use a spark fun Serial LCD display this allows for the simplest and most user friendly addition you could ever want.

More Info:
You can find lots of great info on how to use a sprout board, how to connect sensors or have it control devices at SproutBoard.com

Comments

[RedMeanie]

I took a look at Sprout Board website.....Everything coming soon??? Nice ideas but I wish they would have at least more than one project available before putting a whole website up. Cant wait to see how and when they come out with more of those especially the home automation and the security projects.

[OCPik4chu]

Some of the links arent right, looks like just the basic kit is available now. The rest say to check Kickstarter, which shows the kickstart as completed. Wish there was more to this honestly.

[Blackice504]

Nice work i am new to arduino i will build this when i get better at it but there is an Arduino that you can get with built on io shield but no usb i think that might be the go for this project.

[it_dont_work]

Exelent! im going to build this, this week. you have found the perfect solution for me

[mrmath]

OH THE IRONY! Your name is it_dont_work, and you're going to build it because you love it!

[it_dont_work]

lol my name ended up as it_dont_work out of frustration to begin with. i couldn't find a user name on something ages ago that wasnt taken so i wrote in for a laugh It_dont_work because nothing was working :P