Server hardware review

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-01 12:42pm

:edit: Fileserver->server. Given a more powerful computer, and it is trivial to find something for it todo.

:Edit: See this post. I've hammered out a differenct motherboard and the PSU + case.

I've been specing out a home fileserver with the money I earned during the runup to christmas and what I expect to get during this week plus extra cash in the bank. I'm not really planning on overclocking. The motherboard I want to get has to have onboard board video or a cheap card for video as well as onboard gigabit. More than 4 sata ports is a plus, and 2 PATA ports.

My real question is; can I get away with an Opteron 146 s939 on a desktop motherboard?

For the OS, I've got a copy of Win2k3 Enterprise via my University's MsdnAA program(What a wonderful thing).

The rough list of parts I have speced are;
4xWestern Digital Caviar SE WD3000JD - 300GB
2x1gb ddr400 DIMM
1xOpteron 146 2.0GHz s939
1xAsus A8N-VM CSM s939 GeForce6150 nForce430

Currently I'm not planning on RAIDing any thing(RAID1 on the OS drive with a pair of 80gb drives?).

Any comments? I would also need some pointers for a PSU & case too.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-01-01 01:56pm

Isn't that kinda overkill for a fileserver (CPU and RAM is 5x and 8x the one in mine...)?

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2006-01-01 02:15pm

Way overkill, a fileserver only needs disk, processor and memory are distant 3rd and 4th.

The 2nd being more disk

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-01-01 02:15pm

A home fileserver with a bloody Opteron? And you're not even doing RAID?

Here's the SH/SC Power Supply Guide for you.

As soon as my hard drives arrive from Newegg, I'm building a 500GB RAID-5 (in software) fileserver with a Celeron 1.7GHz and 512MB of RAM... and even that mostly because it does double duty playing videos on my projector.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-01-01 02:37pm

Ideally you'd be doing hardware RAID-5 (yay 3Ware!) but W2K3 does it in software. The Opteron is overkill and so is your RAM.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2006-01-01 02:43pm

If possible partition the disks in a existing system and make them "Dynamic"

Way more options for raid and stuff then.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-01 02:49pm

For the RAM complaints; 1gb sticks for $119 each. Thats cheap. Really cheap.

As for the complaints about the Opteron;

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Socket939 CPU Retail $253
AMD Opteron 146 2.0GHz Socket939 CPU Retail (Single Processor Only) $240.90

And the Athlon 3200+ appears to be sold out at any price below the Opteron 146 in any local stores.

Yes, the fucking Opteron is cheaper than the slowest Athlon 64 for a S939 motherboard. I'm not making this shit up.

I'm looking at a Cooler Master Stacker STC-T01 Case because of a recommendation (someone with 2TB of diskspace is recommending it)

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-01-01 03:07pm

You could get a system that isn't Socket 939.

phongn wrote:Ideally you'd be doing hardware RAID-5 (yay 3Ware!)...

Ideally, yes.

But that's awful expensive.

... but W2K3 does it in software.

Yup!

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-01 03:43pm

Uraniun235 wrote:You could get a system that isn't Socket 939.

If I want to go AMD; then I kiss away the +4 SATA ports, PCIe, >2gb mobo support, etc.

It is now getting damn hard to find Socket 754 mobo with the feature set I'm after.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2006-01-01 04:18pm

Your file server will own my desktop in every way except maybe for your video card (I'm not sure. I mean integrated video is generally sucky, but that actually looks usable...). I hope you're happy. Also, why run a windows server? Why not linux or BSD? You know, real server OSs. And you don't even need a monitor for it that way, you can just SSH it.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-01-01 04:40pm

Why don't you just get a SATA card and stick it in a cheapo mobo? Heck, buy some cheap crappy used hardware off of Ebay... those VIA ITX mobos look interesting due to small size/power usage... how much do they cost?

DD: He just likes Windows, don't question it (*runs away in fear)... And Windows does have RDP for remote management... personally I like the flexibility and infinite customizibility that Linux provides (plus easy diagnostics when things break), plus I prefer a usable CLI interface (hardly use Nautilus to handle anything other than removable media anymore).

For my purposes, I'd just get an NSLU2 and be done w/ it- less power consumption and noise, though you do lose gigabit ethernet and speed in file transfers- I really don't care about speed, and it's still more than enough to saturate a wireless LAN connection. Plus you can still stick Linux on it, and it seems to be just powerful enough to run a light webserver. Only 100$ + 80$ for two USB enclosures + whatever the drives cost.

My crappy fileserver is a PII-400 , 40GB HDD (used to have a 6 and a 10 in a JBOD but exchanged it w/ the desktop, and 256 MB of RAM running Debian. Makes too much noise and takes up too much space, but I really don't want to spend the money on upgrades.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-01 04:40pm

darthdavid wrote:Your file server will own my desktop in every way except maybe for your video card (I'm not sure. I mean integrated video is generally sucky, but that actually looks usable...). I hope you're happy.

I've got a spare r9800pro w/ 129mb. It's AGP so it cant be used with this system. But thats ok, it will be staying in my old fileserver which is being converted back into a desktop.

Used to have a Geforce4 MX in my fileserver (and the r9800pro in my desktop). But the Geforce4 MX is dead, and I got a nice shiny Geforce 6600GT w/256mb instead.

My current fileserver is a p4a 2.0ghz w/ 512mb. The PCI bus is 32bit & 33mhz and I already have a intel gigabit nic in there. It has 2 PATA ports, no SATA ports. Drivers for all the hardware dont exist for Win2k3(only Win9x!). The mobo is dodgy as hell, and one of the caps next to the CPU look to be bulging slightly.

Also, why run a windows server? Why not linux or BSD? You know, real server OSs. And you don't even need a monitor for it that way, you can just SSH it.

I RDP into my existing box. Plus I have a legit Win2k3 licence to use, I got the damn thing for free. +$1000 AUS software for free, plus it has features I want to practice with.

Plus the reason Linux is never going to make it big on the desktop. Applications, Applications, Applications.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2006-01-01 04:41pm

darthdavid wrote:Your file server will own my desktop in every way except maybe for your video card (I'm not sure. I mean integrated video is generally sucky, but that actually looks usable...). I hope you're happy. Also, why run a windows server? Why not linux or BSD? You know, real server OSs. And you don't even need a monitor for it that way, you can just SSH it.

Howcome every linux fanboy always comes up with crap like that?

Windows works just fine as a server os, the right os for the right skillset and application. There is no Linux is 100% fine for that allways, just the same that windows is not right for evryone everywhere.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-01-01 04:46pm

ggs wrote:Plus the reason Linux is never going to make it big on the desktop. Applications, Applications, Applications.

Well, we are talking about servers

....

I just personally don't like Windows since I hate repeatedly clicking things

and type much faster

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-01 05:10pm

Pu-239 wrote:
ggs wrote:Plus the reason Linux is never going to make it big on the desktop. Applications, Applications, Applications.
Well, we are talking about servers ....

It is called a closed whitelisted community only having a Win32 version of the app

Also the intergration between IIS6 & .NET 2.0 is sweet. As well as being able to trivially develop small apps on my windows box and just copy them over to my server.

I just personally don't like Windows since I hate repeatedly clicking things and type much faster

I dont do much clicking, "It Just Works"

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-02 05:11am

All prices in AUS and per item.

4xWestern Digital Caviar SE WD3000JD - 300GB $207
2x1gb ddr400 DIMM $119
1xOpteron 146 2.0GHz s939 $240.9
1xCooler Master Stacker STC-T01 Case $221.3
Subtotal: 1528.2

1xMSI K8N Neo4 Platinum Socket 939 Motherboard $233
OR
1xAsus A8N-VM CSM Socket 939 $145

The K8N Neo4 is $88 more expensive, and doesnt have builtin video. So I need to find a cheap PCI video card. The 4 extra SATA ports are well worth the +$120-140 price difference between the 2 setups(allowing for ~$40-$60 for a PCI video card). Since the K8N is a ATX mobo, it has more PCI & PCIe slots sot this isnt a problem.

2xAntec 380W ATX TruePower Power Supply $79
OR
1xAntec TruePower 2.0 430W ATX Power Supply - ATX2.0 24Pin SATA PCI-Express Connector/s $109

The CM Stacker features a kit to run dual power supplies. The 2x 380w Truepowers will give me amply expansion room to fill the case with harddrives. And I can always buy the 2nd later.

The 1 TruePower 2.0 430W will have very little margins with 12 harddrives packed into this chassis, ignoring any expansion cards added to get them all hooked up.

Comments?

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-01-02 05:16am

Two power supplies. As a sidenote: what do you intend to put on that fileserver and what kind of internet do you have to serve those files?

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-02 05:29am

Ace Pace wrote:Two power supplies. As a sidenote: what do you intend to put on that fileserver

Every bit of data I have in my possesion. To elaborate , I've got Stargate:SG-1 season 1-8, Stargate:Atlantis Season 1, Dark Angle seasons 1 & 2, Farscape seasons 1-4 + mini-series on DVD/DVD boxset which I would like to encode and store on my fileserver. There are also some other misc DVDs there too.

Also looking to get a copy of Blake's 7 at some stage, probably Serenity+firefly, more stargate, and other series I would like to pickup.

and what kind of internet do you have to serve those files?

Home Adsl2+ connection with 4-7 mbit down (20gb peak, 20gb offpeak quota, after is used up DL speed drops to 64kbps) and 1mbit upload 100% unmetred with no usage restrictions.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2006-01-02 05:46am

ggs wrote:
Ace Pace wrote:Two power supplies. As a sidenote: what do you intend to put on that fileserver
Every bit of data I have in my possesion. To elaborate , I've got Stargate:SG-1 season 1-8, Stargate:Atlantis Season 1, Dark Angle seasons 1 & 2, Farscape seasons 1-4 + mini-series on DVD/DVD boxset which I would like to encode and store on my fileserver. There are also some other misc DVDs there too.

For your own personal use right? Wouldn't want to break the "illegal activities" rule...

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-02 06:08am

darthdavid wrote:
ggs wrote:
Ace Pace wrote:Two power supplies. As a sidenote: what do you intend to put on that fileserver
Every bit of data I have in my possesion. To elaborate , I've got Stargate:SG-1 season 1-8, Stargate:Atlantis Season 1, Dark Angle seasons 1 & 2, Farscape seasons 1-4 + mini-series on DVD/DVD boxset which I would like to encode and store on my fileserver. There are also some other misc DVDs there too.
For your own personal use right? Wouldn't want to break the "illegal activities" rule...

Of course. Gigabit home lan will make providing video to my computers and hopefully my Xbox (soon to be chipped) a snap.

Plus my ISP, iinet, hosts a ton of Linux distributions, I think I'll DL all of them and set them up in a virtual enviroment (VirtualPC2004, also from Uni's MsdnAA).

There is also over 600gb of games stuff mirrored on iinet's servers, so I'll queue that some time and then sort through what I want to keep.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-01-02 06:10am

My fileserver is a P2 with a $100 RAID card. I got it for free. The drives are the only component with any real value. I don't get even slight performance issues - although plugging a mouse into the server and waving it about ramps the CPU usage up to 80%.

Your fileserver rules.

EDIT - Gigabit LAN for video streaming? That's overkill unless you're talking about utterly retarded bitrates. Again, my system has gigabit to the rack and 100 from there: even though half my systems go through wireless, I have no problems.

And having B7 on a server is a guilty pleasure you'll learn to never live without!

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-02 06:28am

Stark wrote:EDIT - Gigabit LAN for video streaming? That's overkill unless you're talking about utterly retarded bitrates. Again, my system has gigabit to the rack and 100 from there: even though half my systems go through wireless, I have no problems.

I believe in standard movie length of 2.5 hours being encoded with xvid + ac3 audio being at least 1.4gb in size. 45 minute TV eps a minimum of 350mb. 45 minute HDTV 720p + ac3 audio, 700mb.

I've got a 5.1 sound setup, and a 19" monitor. Im going to use them!

Also it will allow for everyone (2 computers(sometimes my brother's laptop) + future Xbox) to be watching the same multipule videos at the same time and not drop frames.

It is mainly to keep transfer times between my boxes at a minium. Currently I have my video collection balanced between 2 computers due to lack of space. Consolidating it will be great.

And having B7 on a server is a guilty pleasure you'll learn to never live without!

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-01-02 09:29am

All prices in AUS and per item.

4xWestern Digital Caviar SE WD3000JD - 300GB $207
2x1gb ddr400 DIMM $119
1xOpteron 146 2.0GHz s939 $240.9
1xCooler Master Stacker STC-T01 Case $221.3
1xAntec 430W Neo Highly Efficient v2.2 Power Supply $127
1xMSI K8N Neo4 Platinum Socket 939 Motherboard $233
1xGeForce 6200TC 128Mb(Turbocache so only 16/32mb really) $65
Total: $1,953.60

The GeForce 6200TC isnt for more than configuring the BIOS and other stuff like that. It is still damn handy to plug a monitor & keyboard into a headless box to see what the hell is going on. Plus I still want to be able to plug a keyboard, mouse & monitor in and use it as an actual computer.

The NeoHE-430 is a little more expensive, but it looks to be much nicer preformance characteristics as well as being able to power this rig even with a full load of drives.

Jawawithagun · Post by **Jawawithagun** » 2006-01-02 10:00am

Why don't you go for a dedicated fileserver?
Like this one
Less hassle and a bit cheaper.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-01-02 11:09am

Jawawithagun wrote:Why don't you go for a dedicated fileserver?
Like this one
Less hassle and a bit cheaper.

Less capacity- he's planning on 1.2TB

I still think the bandwidth is overkill- I still manage to stream movies over a NFS+OpenVPN or SSHFS connection over the internet w/o dropping frames , w/ only the small problem of long startup buffering times (~20 secs) when using Mplayer. And transfer times? Isn't that what multitasking is for?

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Server hardware review

Server hardware review

Update, now includes case & potential PSU

Started ordering parts: