Home Server Considerations/Ideas

[drew]

I feel this has been discussed before, but I can't find it.

That said, I'm considering going file server with everything.


I have two real choices:

1: buy pre-built NAS; or:
2: Build actual server.


I know nothing needs to be powerful, by any stretch, but what would be some recommendations?

I have a motherboard, cpu, PSU, ram, case selected for about $220. Case has room for 6 internal 3.5, but the mobo only has 4 headers. (is it worthwhile to spend a bit more on a mobo with more headers, or just expand down the road with an SATA card?).


No real rush on this.
)
I abandoned the HTPC, and consequently donated it to my brother in law. So I'm down to one "machine" now. There's an empty space :)

[Random]

We had a NAS discussion at the temporary board, with me asking the same question. :D It led to tsg updating his server, so this could be an expensive thread. ;)

[Yw-slayer]

Build a proper Windows server. Like a man.

Seriously though. Windows Storage Spaces (software raid) works pretty well. I'd get something with 6 headers if you can, unless you're going to buy an sas card and use that as a Sata drive expansion, which I think is possible. With 4 Sata drives in parity mode (not fast but good for data safety), a blu Ray drive and a 256gb boot SSD you're pretty much set.

[drew]

Doubt I'd even need a 256GB boot. Could probably do 128, easily, that's all I had in the HTPC box.


The only real concern would be streaming/transcoding my BDs (mkv), which I'd probably have an outboard streamer (WD, thinking about) anyway, so maybe that's moot?

[Yw-slayer]

Depends, I use Plex and I like having a comp that can run office and some basic games in a pinch.

[drew]

Absolutely NO need for that, at all :P

This is soley for files, nothing else.

That said, this is what I have so far:
Qty. Product Description Total Price
1 Kingston SSDNow V300 Series SV300S37A/120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $59.99
2 Fractal Design Node 304 FD-CA-NODE-304-BL Black Aluminum / Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case $59.99
1 ECS B85H3-M9 (V1.0) LGA 1150 Intel B85 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $50.99
1 Intel Celeron G1840 Haswell Dual-Core 2.8GHz LGA 1150 53W BX80646G1840 $46.99
2 Crucial 1GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CT12864BA160B $29.98
1 COOLMAX CM-300 300W Micro ATX Power Supply $36.28

All in, about $290.

[Random]

ReadyNAS is what got me interested in the the home NAS concept. Their RAID boxes (can) do some neat things, like hot swappable drives, and whatnot.

4-drive box (drives not included): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822122135

[thesameguy]

I'm onboard with the Build a Windows Box approach - I broadly mistrust appliance type arrays and they aren't cheap enough to justify the .0001% risk they will fail in a way you cannot recover from.

I don't remember the core specs of my current server, but it's:

o Some sort of cube-type case - I think a Lian Li box,
o Some sort of 1150 motherboard - very likely a B85 chipset
o A Pentium G3258 (overkill, but the cost difference between it and something less was negligible)
o Some sort of 256gb SSD (overkill, but the cost difference between it and a 128 was negligible)
o 8gb DDR3 RAM (I had it)
o I don't remember the PSU *at all* except it's a Silver or Gold 80 Plus to maximize efficiency
o Previously 5x 2tb drives, but now 3x 4tb

I think you've got the right things there but I would throw at least 2gb of RAM in it. 1gb makes even Windows 7 swap around a lot which is just unnecessary thrash on the SSD. I would have done 4gb, but with 8gb the SSD does nothing.

Mine's running 7 Pro 64-bit and hasn't had a hiccup ever. It works really nicely and is super-responsive.

Another route you might consider is a Dell PowerEdge - this can be had for $280 with some coupons:

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/poweredge-t110-2/pd?cs=04&oc=bect12b2bx&model_id=poweredge-t110-2&l=en&s=bsd&dgc=BF&cid=7420&lid=197374&acd=10549103-1225267-ac4cd48a70484c96a772e67f68fa21c6

($200 off code Z0J2BB0QTZ0N3Q - $120 off code GHDHJF68HLVCW7)

Another route is one of the HP mini ProLiant systems:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?sdtid=7770781&SID=5cd39243373f45daaeab820d5fdbfc7d&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16859108077&cm_sp=

You can routinely find them for $240-$280.

[drew]

It has 2 GB, it's 2x1 GB sticks :P

Still just gathering research. This may/may not be done any time soon.

Especially considering I just spent $350 on lego bits in the last 24 hours.

[thesameguy]

Oh, I thought the 2 was an artifact 'cause you also have two cases. :D

Remember, you can't take it with you. :D

[drew]

:P

[thesameguy]

Man, just saw this:

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/poweredge-t20/pd?cs=04&s=bsd&oc=bectc2&dgc=BF&cid=7420&lid=197374&acd=10549103-1225267-485e2d63e32443b282fc5421e3d5ba21

$120 off code 8DC6NZPTWF5H9T
$40 off code XWDTQHBD5CJX14

= $139 with free shipping

•Intel Pentium G3220 Dual Core CPU
•4GB DDR3
•Intel HD Graphics◦2x Displayport, 1x VGA
•No Hard Drive
•No Optical Drive
•No Operating System

Helluva great place to start for $140!

[Yw-slayer]

Damn. Nice one.

Mine is vastly overpowered.
It has a 3470, a 560Ti, and 8GB RAM.

[Yw-slayer]

Or just fuck it and get this 18-port SATA board for the lulz.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2015/04/09/asrock-x99-extreme-11-review/1

[drew]

Practicality!

Wonder how much of a cut that Fatality guy gets. His "name" has been on shit for years.

[Yw-slayer]

Don't know, but it's probably enough such that he doesn't have to worry too much about when he's next going to eat steak.