--- description: Review and Step-by-step Guide for Updating, Setup, and Configuration of the Axe Effect by Craft Computing for Monitoring the Home Lab. title: "How-To Guide: Setting Up Temperature Monitoring in Your Server Rack with Axe Effect by Craft Computing" image: https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/StorageReview-AxEffect-4.jpg --- [![Storage Review]()](https://storagereview.com/) --- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [![StorageReview.com]()](https://www.storagereview.com) ≡ Menu - [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) - [Storage Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/review) - [End User Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/consumer) - [Enterprise Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise) - [Ubiquiti Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/best/ubiquiti-reviews) - [SR Merch](https://store.storagereview.com) - [Leaderboards](https://www.storagereview.com/best) - [Best Storage Arrays](https://www.storagereview.com/best/storage-arrays) - [Best Enterprise SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/enterprise-ssds) - [Best Servers](https://www.storagereview.com/best/servers) - [Best Enterprise GPUs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/enterprise-gpus) - [Best Desktops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktops-local-ai) - [Best Laptops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptops-local-ai) - [Best Local LLM Tools](https://www.storagereview.com/best/local-llm-tools) - [Agentic AI Hardware](https://www.storagereview.com/best/agentic-ai-hardware) - [Best SSDs & Hard Drives](https://www.storagereview.com/best_drives) - [Best Portable SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/portable-ssds) - [Best Business Laptops](https://www.storagereview.com/best/business-laptops) - [Best Mobile Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/mobile-workstations) - [Best Desktop Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktop-workstations) - [Best Mini PCs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/mini-pcs) - [Best Laptop Battery Life](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptop-battery-life) - [Storage Reference Guide](https://www.storagereview.com/storage-reference-guide) - [About SR](https://www.storagereview.com/about-storagereview) - [StorageReview.com Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations](https://www.storagereview.com/storagereview-com-sweepstakes-rules-and-regulations) Search [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) » [Review](https://www.storagereview.com/review) » How-To Guide: Setting Up Temperature Monitoring in Your Server Rack with Axe Effect by Craft Computing # How-To Guide: Setting Up Temperature Monitoring in Your Server Rack with Axe Effect by Craft Computing by Jordan Ranous on June 23, 2024 [Enterprise](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise)  ◇  [HomeLab](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise/homelab) Jeff at Craft Computing, a friend of the site, has identified a common yet often overlooked problem in small to medium-sized businesses and home labs: the lack of affordable and effective server room temperature monitoring. He has developed a solution called Axe Effect, designed to be a cost-effective, easy-to-deploy, and accurate temperature monitoring device for server racks. This setup and configuration guide will walk you through setting up the Axe Effect sensor, its features, and what you can expect from this innovative product. [![Craft Computing Axe Effect Guide]()](https://www.storagereview.com/storagereview-axeffect-3) Size of the Axe Effect compared to a u.2 NVMe Solidigm SSD ## Axe Effect Introduction Temperature monitoring is crucial for maintaining server performance and longevity. Traditional solutions, such as environmental monitoring cards for UPS units, can be prohibitively expensive. Axe Effect addresses this issue by providing a budget-friendly alternative with the following features: - [Accurate temperature monitoring with a margin of error of ±0.3°C](https://www.circitor.fr/Mibs/Html/E/ENTITY-SENSOR-MIB.php) - Data available via SNMP for monitoring and alerting - Simple and secure deployment - Built around the Raspberry Pi Pico W development board during the beta phase - Custom PCB and 3D printed enclosure - The beta version will use Wi-Fi, while the final versions will include Ethernet and PoE options. Established industry giants have long dominated traditional temperature monitoring solutions. While highly reliable and comprehensive, these solutions come with their challenges, primarily cost and complexity. There’s a wide swath of legacy solutions for this like: - **Monitoring Probes**: Typically, temperature probes from leading brands can cost upwards of $200 each. These probes are designed to provide precise and accurate readings, often incorporating advanced features such as multi-point calibration and high-temperature resilience. - **Network Cards**: To utilize these probes effectively, a compatible network card is usually required, which adds additional expense. These cards facilitate data transmission and integration with the broader network monitoring infrastructure. ## Craft Computing Axe Effect Setup Guide [![Craft Computing Axe hero]()](https://www.storagereview.com/storagereview-axeffect-1) The Solution as Delivered #### Step 1: Unboxing and Initial Setup 1. **Unbox the Axe Effect Unit**: Ensure all components are present and free of damage. 2. **Powering the Device**: Connect the Axe Effect to a power source using the provided USB cable. The beta version uses a USB micro-B for power, while the final version should use USB-C or Power over Ethernet (PoE). #### Step 2: Flashing the Firmware 1. **Enter Boot Mode**: Hold down the small button on the top of the Axe Effect unit while inserting the USB cable into your PC. This will bring up a “USB drive” on your PC. Don’t push too hard on the small button mechanism, which can cause alignment issues or damage the case. The button is sensitive, and the case is well-designed, so you do not need to push too hard. 2. **Copy the Firmware**: [Download the latest firmware from the Craft Computing GitHub](https://github.com/CraftComputing/CraftComputingProjectAxeEffect) and copy it onto the newly populated USB drive. The device will automatically reboot and update the firmware. #### Step 3: Serial Configuration 1. **Connect via Serial**: Keep the USB cable connected to your PC. Use a serial terminal access program (e.g., PuTTY) to connect at 115200 baud. On Windows, you can use the device manager to view listed Com ports. In our case, there was only one available option, Com 3. [![Craft Computing Axe Effect Guide PuTTY Configuration]()](https://www.storagereview.com/review/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing/storagereview-craft-computing-guide-axe-effect-0) 2. **Access the Configuration Menu**: Press `Enter`a few times to bring up the main menu. [![Craft Computing Axe Effect Guide Serial Console Options]()](https://www.storagereview.com/review/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing/storagereview-craft-computing-guide-axe-effect-1) Axe Effect Serial Console Options 3. **Factory Reset (Optional)**: If you’ve just flashed new firmware, perform a factory reset by pressing `F`. #### Step 4: Axe Effect Network Setup and Configuration 1. **Enter Network Information**: Press `C`to enter the configuration screen. You can set up the Wi-Fi network (SSID (N) and password (P)) and SNMP settings here. [![Craft Computing Axe Effect Guide Serial Console Network Configuration]()](https://www.storagereview.com/review/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing/storagereview-craft-computing-guide-axe-effect-3) Axe Effect by Craft Computing Serial Console Network Configuration 2. **Save and Reboot**: Press `W`to write (save) your changes and reboot the device. #### Step 5: Adding to SNMP Monitoring Software to the Craft Computing Axe Effect 1. **Retrieve IP Address**: After rebooting and connecting to the Axe Effect, press `I`to view the device info, including the IP address. (You may need to go to the above connection step 3 and hold the button while plugging in the device to re-connect to serial) [![Craft Computing Axe Effect Guide Serial General Configuration]()](https://www.storagereview.com/review/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing/storagereview-craft-computing-guide-axe-effect-3-2) Axe Effect by Craft Computing Serial General Configuration 2. **Configure SNMP Software**: Add the Axe Effect sensor to your SNMP monitoring software (e.g., Observium, in our case). Enter the IP address and SNMP community name to start receiving temperature data. [![Craft Computing Axe Effect Observium Readings]()](https://www.storagereview.com/review/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing/storagereview-craft-computing-guide-axe-effect-5) Observium Readings from the Axe Effect by Craft Computing ### Final Thoughts Axe Effect offers an affordable and reliable home lab or server room temperature monitoring solution, eliminating the need for expensive UPS environmental monitoring cards. The [beta version is available now](https://www.craftcomputing.com/product/axe-effect-temperature-sensor-beta-/1), and a more refined final product will be available around Q4 2024. For more details and to order, visit [Craft Computing’s website](https://www.craftcomputing.com/). [![Craft Computing Axe Effect Mainboard - VOY and DISO are the best Star Trek, fight me Jeff.]()](https://www.storagereview.com/storagereview-axeffect-4) Inside the Axe Effect by Craft Computing We’re thrilled to see our friend Jeff at Craft Computing tackle this industry-wide problem with such an innovative and cost-effective solution. Traditional temperature monitoring options often come with a hefty price tag. Axe Effect offers an excellent alternative for homelab enthusiasts and small businesses, providing reliable temperature monitoring without breaking the bank. This project exemplifies the ingenuity and resourcefulness that we at StorageReview admire, and we’re excited to see how this affordable solution will benefit the tech community. Be sure to [check out his video on the topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbxU_ZJRsPQ) for interesting background and additional information. Head over to the [StorageReview Discord](http://discord.gg/storagereview) to tell us about your experience with the Craft Computing Axe Effect Guide! **Engage with StorageReview** [Newsletter](https://www.storagereview.com/storage_newsletter) |  [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/StorageReview "Opens in a new window") | Podcast  [iTunes](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/storagereview-com-storage-reviews/id1060681115 "Opens in a new window")/ [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0 "Opens in a new window") |  [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/ "Opens in a new window") |  [Twitter](https://twitter.com/storagereview "Opens in a new window") |  [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview? "Opens in a new window") |  [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) ![]() ### Jordan Ranous AI Specialist; navigating you through the world of Enterprise AI. Writer and Analyst for Storage Review, coming from a background of Financial Big Data Analytics, Datacenter Ops/DevOps, and CX Analytics. Pilot, Astrophotographer, LTO Tape Guru, and Battery/Solar Enthusiast. Previous post: [WD 6TB Portable HDD Review](https://www.storagereview.com/review/wd-6tb-portable-hdd-review) Next post: [Lenovo ThinkSystem D3 Chassis: Powering Next-Gen Compute-Intensive Workloads](https://www.storagereview.com/review/lenovo-thinksystem-d3-chassis-powering-next-gen-compute-intensive-workloads) Trusted Vendors Products and solutions from our affiliate partners: - [ ![Ubiquiti Logo]() Ubiquiti ](https://store.ui.com/us/en?a_aid=StorageReview "Opens in a new window") - [ ![Newegg Logo]() Newegg ](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=g5terNMDhz0&offerid=1207190.18&subid=0&type=4 "Opens in a new window") - [ ![Amazon Logo]() Amazon ](https://amzn.to/4fLJUEW "Opens in a new window") Newsletter Subscribe to the StorageReview newsletter to stay up to date on the latest news and reviews. We promise no spam! 1 Leave this field empty if you’re human: ## Advertisement Content Categories [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X](https://twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) Copyright © 1998-2025 Flying Pig Ventures, LLC Cincinnati, Ohio. All rights reserved. Manage your privacy To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen. Functional Functional Always active The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Preferences Preferences The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Statistics Statistics The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Marketing Marketing The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Statistics Marketing Features Always active Always active - Manage options - Manage services - Manage {vendor\_count} vendors - [Read more about these purposes](https://cookiedatabase.org/tcf/purposes/) Accept Deny Manage options Save preferences Manage options - {title} - {title} - {title} Manage your privacy To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Functional Functional Always active The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Preferences Preferences The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Statistics Statistics The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Marketing Marketing The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Statistics Marketing Features Always active Always active - Manage options - Manage services - Manage {vendor\_count} vendors - [Read more about these purposes](https://cookiedatabase.org/tcf/purposes/) Accept Deny Manage options Save preferences Manage options - {title} - {title} - {title} Manage consent Manage consent ```json {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing","name":"Guide to Set Up the Craft Computing Axe Effect | StorageReview","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/StorageReview-AxEffect-4.jpg","datePublished":"2024-06-23T23:48:51+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-24T14:41:18+00:00","description":"Review and Step-by-step Guide for Updating, Setup, and Configuration of the Axe Effect by Craft Computing for Monitoring the Home Lab.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/StorageReview-AxEffect-4.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/StorageReview-AxEffect-4.jpg","width":1500,"height":1125},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/how-to-guide-setting-up-temperature-monitoring-in-your-server-rack-with-axe-effect-by-craft-computing#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Review","item":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How-To Guide: Setting Up Temperature Monitoring in Your Server Rack with Axe Effect by Craft Computing"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/","name":"StorageReview.com","description":"StorageReview.com is a leading provider of news and reviews throughout the entire IT stack - from the datacenter to the edge, and all points in between.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#organization","name":"StorageReview.com","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Storage-Reviews-2-2.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Storage-Reviews-2-2.png","width":344,"height":61,"caption":"StorageReview.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/storagereview","http:\/\/youtube.com\/user\/storagereview"]}]} ```