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Wyse Dx0Q (5020): Using 

Overview

Anders: Various points

Applications

Here are some descriptions of what others have been up to with their Dx0Q.

Ammon: File Server
Daniel: File Server
Simon: MythTV
Steve: File Server
Craig: Media Server
Krzysztof: pfSense firewall

In July 2019 I heard from Daniel who had set his Dx0Q up as a file server. Originally he had been using a Raspberry Pi 3 but that solution was starting to run out of oomph for the various jobs it was being asked to do.

I decided to replace it with a Wyse Dx0Q (aka Dell 5020) with 4GB RAM and 16GB storage, which I got from eBay. This decision was based on your table which includes manufacture dates, CPU type/speed and power consumption figures. SMART information from the SSD indicated my unit had only been powered on for around 17.5 months. I have it set up running Debian Stretch.

The Raspberry Pi 4 was released shortly afterwards - while it would have addressed some of my original issues, the 5020 still has more CPU power which I find useful - plus a SATA SSD much faster than an SD card. The 5020 can serve files to other computers at around 65-70MB/second from a Western Digital Blue 500GB hard disk attached to the second internal SATA socket, much faster than the Pi 3.

Even during the recent heat wave, with a 2.5" hard disk inside and being within inches of a Virgin Media Superhub 3 (itself approximately as hot as the sun), the passively-cooled CPU maxed out at 60°C - meanwhile my car's dashboard reported 36°C outside. On a more average British day it idles at 54°C.

While Ammon's 3D printed hard disk bracket is very neat, I couldn't find anywhere which would print it for a reasonable price. Instead I ended up mounting the drive on the underneath of the metal side cover. All this took was drilling two holes.

Disk drive mounted in a Wyse Dx0Q

The way to approach this is:

  1. Remove the plastic side panel.
  2. Remove the metal side panel (remembering to carefully unplug the speaker).
  3. Remove the speaker otherwise metal shavings will get stuck to it.
  4. Apply a piece of masking tape to the metal side panel to mark where to drill. The positioning of the drive needs some care as there are a number of constraints. You need to make sure that:
    • the disk will clear the mounting lugs on the back of plastic panel. (These slot into the metal cover and hold it in place).
    • the disk is far enough back to clear the front panel daughterboard and...
    • the disk is far enough forward so that the power and data connectors will not prevent you sliding the panel backwards when you need to remove it.
  5. Measure twice. Drill small pilot holes, then make them bigger as required.
  6. Rest the panel on a small piece of wood placed under where you will be drilling. This is to avoid bending the tabs/lugs at the edges of the panel when you press down.
  7. Tidy around the new holes, and clean off the metal shavings.
  8. Reinstall the speaker.
  9. attach the disk (adding insulation if required). Use screws with flat heads if possible, although the inside of the DELL logo on the plastic panel does provide a little additional space.

I'm just using the two screws through the new holes to hold the drive in place. The other side of the disk is "floating".

Temporarily I powered the internal disk from one of the USB ports - the Kensington lock hole is conveniently large enough to feed two wires through. I have since replaced this with a connection to the 5V header on the motherboard.

Temporary +5V supply to disk drive

Another photo of the drive in place in the Wyse 5020.

2.5" drive fitted to Wyse 5020