rickvanlieshout.com/content/posts/2014/pi-cluster-2-the-build/index.md

---
title: "Raspberry pi cluster Step 2: Assembling the hardware"
date: "2014-09-10"
template: "post"
category: "Homelab"
tags:
  - "raspberry"
  - "cluster"
  - "pi"
description: "Assembling all the parts and creating a cute little cluster"
disqusId: "3"
socialImage: "./media/improvising.jpg"
---

So today I finally received the required parts to finish up my Raspberry pi cluster and I was **extremely** excited! To share this excitement with you lot here's a picture of all the parts I'll be using:

![picture of all the parts spread on the mat](./media/pi_overview_full.JPG "all the bits!")

I began by building the Raspberry pi "tower", sadly I forgot to take a picture with the DSLR so I only have this one cell image to show you guys:

![2 raspberry pis stacked in their cases](./media/sneakpeek2.jpg "rising up!")

On the picture above you can clearly see how the "tower" is being assembled.
I'm basically using the stand-offs that come included to mount the pi to the bottom plates and then instead of attaching a top plate I attach a bottom plate again. I did have to customize the plates a bit to prevent the pi's from overheating (because there now is pretty much no room between a pi and the top plate).

After mounting all 4, the "tower" now looks like this: (oh, I also added SD cards)

![a picture of the front, back and side of the tower of pis](./media/pi_sides_prev.jpg "Assembled tower of pis")

Then I attempted to glue the tower to my switch.... Some complications came up though. First I glued my knife to my finger and then my finger to another finger. Once I had successfully managed to glue the tower onto the switch I needed something to apply pressure to let the glue dry. Since I didn't have anything heavy handy I had to improvise. And so I did, in true nerd style:

![a mini laptop on top of the cluster to keep some pressure on it](./media//improvising.jpg "balancing a weight.... a netbook")

Yes, those are 2 packs of cards (which weren't heavy enough) and an old netbook.
I went to have dinner while I let the glue dry and when I returned everything was all glued firmly into place.

After adding the cables and the usb switch I am left with my beautiful raspberry pi cluster:

![front and back of the cluster, all cabled up](./media/pi_front_back_prev.jpg "looking great!")

In my next blog post, I will cover how to install raspbian on a raspberry pi in general and how I plan on cloning the install across all pi's
moved over the last blogs, also changed the styling of lists 2022-09-25 23:25:23 +02:00			`---`
			`title: "Raspberry pi cluster Step 2: Assembling the hardware"`
			`date: "2014-09-10"`
			`template: "post"`
			`category: "Homelab"`
			`tags:`
			`- "raspberry"`
			`- "cluster"`
			`- "pi"`
			`description: "Assembling all the parts and creating a cute little cluster"`
			`disqusId: "3"`
fix: added social images to the frontmatter of most blogs 2022-11-16 09:04:34 +01:00			`socialImage: "./media/improvising.jpg"`
moved over the last blogs, also changed the styling of lists 2022-09-25 23:25:23 +02:00			`---`

			`So today I finally received the required parts to finish up my Raspberry pi cluster and I was extremely excited! To share this excitement with you lot here's a picture of all the parts I'll be using:`

			`![picture of all the parts spread on the mat](./media/pi_overview_full.JPG "all the bits!")`

			`I began by building the Raspberry pi "tower", sadly I forgot to take a picture with the DSLR so I only have this one cell image to show you guys:`

			`![2 raspberry pis stacked in their cases](./media/sneakpeek2.jpg "rising up!")`

			`On the picture above you can clearly see how the "tower" is being assembled.`
			`I'm basically using the stand-offs that come included to mount the pi to the bottom plates and then instead of attaching a top plate I attach a bottom plate again. I did have to customize the plates a bit to prevent the pi's from overheating (because there now is pretty much no room between a pi and the top plate).`

			`After mounting all 4, the "tower" now looks like this: (oh, I also added SD cards)`

			`![a picture of the front, back and side of the tower of pis](./media/pi_sides_prev.jpg "Assembled tower of pis")`

			`Then I attempted to glue the tower to my switch.... Some complications came up though. First I glued my knife to my finger and then my finger to another finger. Once I had successfully managed to glue the tower onto the switch I needed something to apply pressure to let the glue dry. Since I didn't have anything heavy handy I had to improvise. And so I did, in true nerd style:`

			`![a mini laptop on top of the cluster to keep some pressure on it](./media//improvising.jpg "balancing a weight.... a netbook")`

			`Yes, those are 2 packs of cards (which weren't heavy enough) and an old netbook.`
			`I went to have dinner while I let the glue dry and when I returned everything was all glued firmly into place.`

			`After adding the cables and the usb switch I am left with my beautiful raspberry pi cluster:`

			`![front and back of the cluster, all cabled up](./media/pi_front_back_prev.jpg "looking great!")`

			`In my next blog post, I will cover how to install raspbian on a raspberry pi in general and how I plan on cloning the install across all pi's`