Unclutter my desk - Network Board

This was a weekend project I took on a couple months ago with the goal of cleaning up the surface of our desk. I had seen a few different versions of this project on Lifehacker which led me to Decluttered . I ended up building mine with materials I had in the garage.



The goals for this project were:

• keep the network devices off the desk
• minimize the cable clutter (this was a side benefit)
• keep the devices cool or at least prevent overheating (this meant no enclosures)
• allow the WiFi router to maintain good coverage -- keep the antennas clear
• allow for easy access to reboot the router (it's needed every 3-4 weeks)

So a section of peg board that I had in the garage, some paint to match the wall, two small L-brackets to secure the board to the underside of the desk, and a handful of zip ties to secure the devices to the board led to the finished product.

I also added an L-bracket to support the network drive since it weighs a bit more than the other devices.

A little time mapping out the location for each device -- allowing enough space for airflow and for the cabling to be tied to the board. I zipped tied everything in place before I mounted the board in place. Then mounted the brackets to the underside of the desk. Plugged in the power strip. The network was back up, and the desk was clean. At least until the mail and paperwork took over the free space.

Now if I could just find a hack that keeps the desk clear of paperwork I'd be happy.

See more pictures and notes at the Flickr set - 2007 Network Board