DR-0001

1U Rackmount for Raspberry Pi 5/4B

Description

This is an upgraded version of a 1U Rackmount designed for compatibility with both Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4B. It features a motherboard that supports PCIe expansion, allowing the PCIe interface of the Raspberry Pi 5 to be extended to accommodate an M.2 NVMe SSD in 2230/2242/2260/2280 form factors. The expansion board also routes the Raspberry Pi's 5V and GND, SDA, and SCL pins to the rear through PogoPin connectors, providing I2C interface peripherals in a Grove format. Additionally, a red LED is included on the board for the Raspberry Pi ID signal pin, which can be programmed to indicate the current device by controlling the GPIO4 pin's high or low level, acting as a programmable device ID signal light.

The Rackmount supports the connection of up to five Raspberry Pi devices and can also be configured with an OLED display frame in place of one of the Raspberry Pi slots. These components can be easily adjusted and removed due to the use of hand-tightened screws. The OLED display features a 0.91-inch screen and communicates with the Raspberry Pi via I2C protocol, displaying real-time information such as CPU status, memory status, IP information, and serial numbers. The content displayed on the OLED can be fully customized.

Features

• Compatibility: Designed to work with both Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4B models.
• PCIe Expansion Support: Includes a motherboard that enables PCIe expansion, allowing the connection of M.2 NVMe SSDs in various form factors (2230/2242/2260/2280).
• I2C Interface: The board routes the Raspberry Pi's 5V, GND, SDA, and SCL pins to the rear through PogoPin connectors, offering I2C interface peripherals in a Grove format.
• Programmable LED Indicator: A red LED on the board serves as a programmable device ID signal, controllable via the GPIO4 pin to indicate the status or identity of the device.
• Modular Design: Supports the integration of up to five Raspberry Pi devices, with the option to replace one slot with an OLED display frame.
• OLED Display Integration: The option to include a 0.91-inch OLED screen that communicates with the Raspberry Pi via I2C, displaying customizable information such as CPU usage, memory status, IP address, and serial numbers.
• Easy Assembly and Disassembly: Components are secured with hand-tightened screws, allowing for convenient adjustments and removal.
• Customizable Display Content: The information displayed on the OLED screen can be fully customized to meet specific needs or preferences.
• Rackmount Form Factor: Designed to fit into a 1U 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.

Specifications

• Form Factor: 1U Rackmount design suitable for standard 19-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.
• 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.
• Modular Bays: Five bays for Raspberry Pi devices. One bay can be replaced with an OLED display module.
• OLED Display Specifications:0.91-inch screen size, 128x32 pixels. I2C communication protocol.
• Customizable display for system information.
• 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.

Gallery

• Product outlook

• Application Senario

NOTE: Raspberry Pis are not included in the package, additional purchase required!

• Easy to assemble and maintain

• Customizable OLED display screen, with a size of 0.91 inches

• Ports Definitions and Featrues

Programmable I/O controlled UID indicator light, which can be programmed to control the LED blinking to indicate the device's location, facilitating faster troubleshooting and easier maintenance operations.

How to connect OLED display to Raspberry Pi on GPIO pins

• Please refer to following figure to connect OLED display to Raspberry Pi on GPIO.

NOTE: OLED's VCC should be connected to 3.3V power rail, Do not connect it to 5V power rail!!!

• Grove Connector Support I2C and Uart

• Accessories Dimension

• OLED assemble details

Please remove the protection film from acrylic panel and use the washer between OLED PCB board and acrylic panel.

• PCIe Expansion board for Raspberry Pi 5 only

The expansion board supports M.2 NVMe M-key SSD 2230/2242/2260/2280, and the board will be powered by Raspberry Pi 5 via PogoPin on the PCB board, please make sure the board's pogoins are contact well with the soldering point on back of the Raspberry Pi 5 on GPIO pins.

• Compatibility

NOTE: please note that Raspberry Pi 4B has no PCIe slot, so if you connected the PCIe expansion board to Raspberry Pi 4B, only Grove I2C and UART, UID LED indicator and OLED display are available, the M.2 NVMe SSD Sock will not work properly!!!

Package Includes

• Following figure shows the details of the product:

How to enable I2C OLED display?

TBD.

How to enable PCIe function on Raspberry Pi 5?

TBD.

How to light up identical LED?

TBD.

Keywords

• 1U Rackmount for Raspberry Pi 5/4B with M.2 NVMe SSD support.