4 replies to this topic

[Smiley]

What do you think of these components for my first server build?

The server will be used for storing backups of home PC and Mac's, storing pictures, music and movies, it will be used to stream movies to various devices, so trans-coding on the fly will be a requirement. I also plan on running a VM of Windows 7 I'll use for various other tasks. It could be possible that 1-3 machines could be accessing or streaming from the server at a time. Probably won't be doing any gaming from the machine since I really don't have any time to play anymore.

OS: Windows Home 2011
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini MicroATX Tower
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Server Memory Model KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G
CPU: Xeon E3 1230 V2 (Ivy Bridge)
Motherboard: Supermicro MBD-X9SCM-F-O LGA
PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA-650 Green 650W
HD OS: 2 x 250GB HDD (Raid 1)
HD: 3 - 3 TB Green Drives (Raid 5), May go 4 - 3TB Green Drives if I go (RAID 10)

[krom]

Looks pretty nice to me. With all that performance you might want to look at an SSD for an OS drive. I'm seeing the Crucial M4 256GB all over the place for ~$200. And plenty of 120GB SSD for less than $1/GB as well.

What RAID card are you using? Or do you plan on using MB RAID? Personally I'd go with a dedicated RAID card. Finally don't forget a back up solution. RAID is for fault tolerance not backup.

[Smiley]

Right now I'm planning on using the MB Raid, just due to initial cost of setting this machine up. Down the road when I have a bit more cash I'll look at getting a RAID card.

As for the back up I haven't really thought about that yet. I do have a few external drives I use now that will be freed up when the server is built I could use to back up some of the data.

[ikon]

Whatever you do, ensure you put in place a process to ensure you have adequate backup of any valuable data. I would hate to hear you've become yet another victim of data loss.

[pcdoc]

What do you think of these components for my first server build?

The server will be used for storing backups of home PC and Mac's, storing pictures, music and movies, it will be used to stream movies to various devices, so trans-coding on the fly will be a requirement. I also plan on running a VM of Windows 7 I'll use for various other tasks. It could be possible that 1-3 machines could be accessing or streaming from the server at a time. Probably won't be doing any gaming from the machine since I really don't have any time to play anymore.

OS: Windows Home 2011
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini MicroATX Tower
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Server Memory Model KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G
CPU: Xeon E3 1230 V2 (Ivy Bridge)
Motherboard: Supermicro MBD-X9SCM-F-O LGA
PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA-650 Green 650W
HD OS: 2 x 250GB HDD (Raid 1)
HD: 3 - 3 TB Green Drives (Raid 5), May go 4 - 3TB Green Drives if I go (RAID 10)

I would not do RAID 5 with you motherboad. It will painful to port over if you try and add card. I would do one of two things, either spend the $80 and get a 2680 and be happy with your choice, or don't do a RAID 5 now. Just leave the standard dives or create a mirror until you have the money to get a raid card. I have done both and can tell you from experience you do not want to use you motherboard for the RAID 5.