iBook server booklet
A little while ago I was given an iBook with a faulty screen (as in not working at all).
Having a hard time just throwing it away, I was looking for a way to put it to use even though it was a fairly old 500mhz G3 ibook.
Things being as they were, I thought the only thing to do was using it as a server even if it would mean quite a makeover - hence the fun.
First of all we need to take the iBook apart to remove screen, optical drive and battery. All of these aren’t necessary since we are building a server. “But what about restoring of OSX - don’t we need the hard-drive for that?” Actually, you don’t, since you can do it just as well in target mode from another hard-drive. Another thing we need to keep in mind is that we really want to keep the footprint of the iBook as small as possible.
Before taking an iBook apart I strongly recommend visiting ifixit’s guide on how to disassemble an iBook so that nothing unintentionally gets broken.
I take absolutely no responsibility for any destroyed iBook. Making this is your own responsibility !!!
Carefully remove the Power circuit board without breaking the cables for it. The next thing to do is cutting the alu-frame as shown with the red markings (see picture below). Be very careful!!! The frame breaks easily.
Remove the modem-port. This is done easily just by gently pulling of the wires from the logic-board and thereafter the modem port itself. Now we have room for the power-plug.
The next step is to remove the power-plug from the power circuit board and afterwards solder 5 extension wires between the two. These should be about 20cm in length. This is done because there isn’t room for the power circuit board, when the incasing is fully assembled. Mount the power-plug with some tape with glue on both sides.
The last thing we need to do before assembly is to take off the old power button and replace it with a new one that would be easier to build in. It is easily soldered on the same wires as the old one. Drill a small hole (that fits the diameter of the new power button) into the alu-frame and mount it. The result should look as the picture above.
Cut the lower case so it fits the footprint of the alu-frame and mount it.
Use some tape with glue on both sides to hold the Power circuit board on to the lower case and some duck-tape for the power-cords. The end result should look as the picture above.
Cut the upper case so it fits the footprint of the alu-frame and the lower case. Cut a hole for the power switch in the corner, mount the upper case and use some tape to hold the wires in place on the upper case. The result should look as below.
Backview
The next step is to pimp the server up a bit, so it doesn’t just look like half an iBook.
I went to my nearest second-hand book pusher and found a hardback that fitted my chopped iBook in thickness and footprint. I brought it home and gutted it, leaving only the cover for my project. To hold the iBook together with the cardboard-back use two angled pieces of plastic (about 15cm long) and glue each of them at the inside of the cardboard-back so that they’ll work as a rest for the iBook to stand on (as shown on the image below).
First I thought about wrapping the book using the remaining Leopard plush I had from my OSX Leopard ready hard-drive project but it didn’t seem right since OSX Leopard won’t run on a G3 processor. Besides, a plush leopard HDD is pimp, but to make a server as well, would make me look as if I was playing for the wrong team…
So eventually I decided to use a matted black plastic film to wrap it in and decorate it with one of my many Apple stickers from the countless Apple products I’ve bought and some letter stickers from my local bookstore.
What remains is a way to ensure that the half iBook doesn’t end up on the floor when handling the server… For that I’d simply use velcro-tape at the bottom of the half iBook and the rest-plates, making it quite simple to disassemble the server, but also holding the half iBook in place when handled.
Some thoughts about the project.:
I did have some concern that there would be a heat problem after the modding, but this wasn’t the case, since I’ve had it running for some time now with no problems at all.
I didn’t have the time for finding a solution for building in Airport. That will have to come later. Meanwhile there’s a lot of info about the subject if you google it.
Oh god! Oh why even build it when a Mac mini has just about the same volume and isn’t all that expensive? Well. First of all, I already had the iBook so making the project costed me a fraction of the price of a new Mac mini. Second: A Mac mini wouldn’t fit so neatly on my bookshelf. Third: Because I’m able to do so and love the challenge.
Read this article in Jive thanks to gizoogle.com
Or some other language with translate.google.com
36 Comments so far
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Awesome idea! I need to find me some old laptops.
And don’t mind that other guy, this article wasn’t that hard to read
Why do you remove the battery? it can be a really good ups, if elettricity go down. And you can check it to shutdown (or send the ibook in sleep mode) once it goes with battery.
just m2c
I know… but i prefered size for the battery option
Regards Jonas
DIY iBook server booklet…
Jonas writes - A little while back i was given an iBook with a faulty screen as in not working at all. Having a hard time just throwing it away i was looking for a way to put it……
Cool. I have one of these and I will consider doing this. Thanks for the idea and time spent on writing this.
really cool idea! what kind server do you’ve plan to use?
I just don’t think I’ve seen anything like this before, I’m absolutly stuned
Grats man, this is by far the greatest Mod I’ve ever seen…
Now I wish I would have an old iBook to cut in half…
This is great! I think an Airport would be easily added except for the cost. It looks like it fits, and in taking apart the screen, you can remove the two antenna ends and cable. Glue them inside the book cover, done. I have about 20 white ibooks and I wanted to make a display-only kiosk setup in a small size. I think I found what I’ll do for my project. I think I’d use the stock 10gig drive and run it internal, vnc into it for remote control, and only have one cable running out the wall. Fantastic! Thanks.
i have what seems to be the same problem with a g4 powerbook that i came across through a friend. any chance of that display ever working?
To add Airport, simply plug a Lucent Orinoco Silver Card into the Airport-Slot
You will realize, that there is suddenly an AirportCard added to your machine…
This is a stunning projekt !!!
Sven
Hi,
i’ve also runnig an ibook Server G3/700. Its displayless caused from a defect grafik card. The cable was broken and killed something on the board. But it was not the known grafikboard logicboard problem. Your powerboard /switch modification is great.
I use OSXVNC to connect. Without a keyboard it is possible to use an ordinary lucent OEM silver or goldcard (11mbit) instead of the original expensive aitport-card. It works great, i’ve tried. (The silvercard have to be update with OS 9). My iBookServer has an internal 40GB and external 400 GB drive. 100Mbit connected to a router and for audio to the hifi tuner.
I have also overclocked a 500Mhz iBook to 600Mhz.
This sounds not much but the internal busfrequence raised from 66 to 100Mhz (30%) for memory and harddrive! It feels a lot snappier.
Bye Jan
I am wondering do you still use the enclosure of iBook or you have made your own? A great work.
Thanks for the kind words
Yes i do… thanks
Regards Jonas
that’s a really good way to recycle my old powerbook…..
This blog seams to include much different languages….
Very nicely done! I’ve been wanting something like this for ages. What kind of hack do you need to make to get OSX server to run on a ibook? I’ve got an old G4 PB that would make a great server for the house.
Thanks for the kind words
I have never worked with OSX server… I also belive it’s a bit to pricy for this project… how ever there are loads of cool functions in OSX it self so you really don’t need OSX server for the home… You can easily set it up for filesharing and as a printserver etc.
Also you might wanna take a look at Vine VNC for OSX. It’s a really cool alternative to Apple’s Remote desktop and also multi platform.
Regards Jonas
Great idea. I’ve just pulled out my old displayless and optical-drive-less iBook G3 and made the surgical markings out on the frame.
BTW, I’m pretty sure the frame is magnesium alloy (which does have aluminium in it), so I’d be cautious with high-speed cutting tools.
Thanks for the kind words
Your right about the material… however I used a wire cutter (carefully) and it did the trick.
Regards Jonas
Well done. I am using an old G4 Powerbook as homeserver and mediacenter. I also have the same 500Mhz G3 iBook with a display problem (still works to some degree) but it wouldn’t perform good enough (probably with a lightweight Linux distribution it would). I will just keel the old iBook with Mac OS 9 for old applications in the Intel Mac age.
So I’m a little confused, did you leave the hard drive in our not? Your post says:
remove screen, optical drive and battery. All of these aren’t necessary since we are building a server. “But what about restoring of OSX - don’t we need the hard-drive for that?”
So is there a hard drive in it or not
Only screen, battery and optical drive is removed… not the harddrive.
Regards Jonas
Super klasse das nenne ich einen wahren Mac-Freak !!!
with best regards from Heidelberg/Germany
Looks, very nice. Nicer in fact as mine:
http://hubionmac.com/wordpress/?p=16
I just hope the iBook is not getting too hot inside it’s new houseing.
I chose to keep the CD Drive to inst. Debian (though it might work well w. a net-install) and retained the Battery as an UPS. Networking is done via Airport, so the only cable I need is the powercord and I can place the thingy wherever I want (it is currently humming in the attic
Yours definately looks better though 
I love my lil server w. a power consuption of ~ 6Watts
Ab ins Bücherregal mit dem iBook…
Endlich habe ich mal wieder eine richtig schöne Bastelidee gefunden. Bei c-h-a-o-s.com. Was man braucht: Ein iBook (das darf ruhig ein kaputtes Display haben), viel Geduld, ein paar Werkzeuge und eine Prise Geschick. Dann wird aus einem iBook ein iBoo…
I am usuary of Mac, and that that you have invented is I generate
frightful! The Mac is Mac, and they are not modified of that form,
it uses a Windows and you do what it pleases to you, thanks.
Nice observation, thanks.
Cool…
Hey, I love this article. My ibook recently went out. The logic board fried. I bought a new macbook and I was looking for mods to do with my old one. Do i still need a functioning Logic Board for this to work?
Thanks.
Interesting…
Nice!
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article , but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
It’s an interesting concept to say the least..
Hi all!
Very interesting information! Thanks!
G’night
A good server OS for the ppc arch is Debian. Its stable, scalable, and doesnt eat resources if u dont want the gui.
Awesome!
This is great. I might do this. Except I’d only remove the lid, keyboard, and trackpad. That way it can run pretty much anywhere as a fully self-contained unit. Not sure whether I’d run OS X or Linux though. It would fit nto a standard A4 binder, so that would look pretty awesome. It would, of course, be twice the size of Jonas’.