Building a new *nix server

[FP]

I am building a new *nix server for my house.

I already have an Antec NeoHE 500W PSU and a standard ATX case I can use for the build.

I would like to keep it under $500. I checked out some of the combo deal at the Egg but they are all MicroATX mobos and my PSU doesn't support MicroATX... and all of the MicroATX PSUs seem low quality.

So... In summary I need a solid mobo/CPU combo and some cheap memory. I don't need ECC but I would like the mobo to support some sort of RAID.

 

[Arcanedeath]

With that Budget I'd suggest getting a Single core Athlon 64 and a decent motherboard w/ intergrated everything

 

[Sunner]

Before you go out wasting money, what's it gonna be for?
"Server" is a rather imprecise word.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: binister
my PSU doesn't support MicroATX... and all of the MicroATX PSUs seem low quality.

"MicroATX" PSUs are probably just small format PSUs, meaning that they'll fit into some very small cases. So your PSU should be fine with MicroATX MB's.

Originally posted by: binister
I would like the mobo to support some sort of RAID.

If you're going Linux, the type of on-board RAID is probably not important, moreover, Linux doesn't support all on-board RAID configurations -- your best bet is probably to forget about on-board RAID and use Linux software RAID. Just look for a MB with onboard gigabit and enough SATA + IDE ports for your needs.

 

[n0cmonkey]

On consumer boards the on-board raid is generally bios assisted software raid crap. Don't bother with it. Unless you want to spend some decent money, use software raid.

Which "*nix"? Solaris has different requirements than Linux which has different requirements than *BSD.

 

[jose]

Any hardware that's been out for 3 months should work. Which Unix ?

BTW It's just a pc running a version of a server OS, it's not a real server ..

Regards,
Jose

 

[FP]

Originally posted by: jose
Any hardware that's been out for 3 months should work. Which Unix ?

BTW It's just a pc running a version of a server OS, it's not a real server ..

Regards,
Jose

I guess it depends on your definition of a server. It will be used for mail hosting, web hosting, DNS services, file serving and a part-time J2EE development instance.

I know none of that needs a beefy box (the J2EE dev will be relatively small). I will probably run Fedora only because it is what I am most comfortable with but I may go with Ubuntu as it is all the rage right now. BSD-based OS isn't an option because I already have one.

Madwand1: Thanks for the info... I couldn't find the answer in the first few pages of Google but found a couple Google groups answers.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: binister

Originally posted by: jose
Any hardware that's been out for 3 months should work. Which Unix ?

BTW It's just a pc running a version of a server OS, it's not a real server ..

Regards,
Jose

I guess it depends on your definition of a server. It will be used for mail hosting, web hosting, DNS services, file serving and a part-time J2EE development instance.

I know none of that needs a beefy box (the J2EE dev will be relatively small). I will probably run Fedora only because it is what I am most comfortable with but I may go with Ubuntu as it is all the rage right now. BSD-based OS isn't an option because I already have one.

Madwand1: Thanks for the info... I couldn't find the answer in the first few pages of Google but found a couple Google groups answers.

Well, anything in the P-iii range or higher would be sufficient, assuming you're talking small scale web hosting and such, and it does sound like it.
Athlon64's or P4's would be way overkill, unless you're simply not comfortable buying used stuff.

If you want a proper RAID card, look into a 3Ware card, they're well supported under Linux, or if you want something cheaper, just go with Linux's software implementation.
Come to think of it, last time I tried to install Redhat on a "software" RAID controller, the installer informed me that I had a "fake" controller and that it would present the disks as separate disks so that I could use MD/LVM instead.

And one last thing, most "standard" hardware is supported by default by Linux, say NIC's, chipsets, S-ATA controllers, etc.
Things that can give you troubles are Wi-fi cards, crypto accellerators, and by trouble I don't mean they won't work, just that you'll have to go through extra trouble to make them work, due to vendor stupidity.
Stay clear of nVidia motherboards though, can't say I know how well they work these days, but nVidia has never played well with the OSS community in terms of open drivers, so the native drivers probably won't be as high quality as those for VIA chipsets for example.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Sunner
If you want a proper RAID card, look into a 3Ware card, they're well supported under Linux, or if you want something cheaper, just go with Linux's software implementation.
Come to think of it, last time I tried to install Redhat on a "software" RAID controller, the installer informed me that I had a "fake" controller and that it would present the disks as separate disks so that I could use MD/LVM instead.

LSI controllers may be a better choice, they seem to be better supported all around. 3ware are documentation bastards.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Sunner
If you want a proper RAID card, look into a 3Ware card, they're well supported under Linux, or if you want something cheaper, just go with Linux's software implementation.
Come to think of it, last time I tried to install Redhat on a "software" RAID controller, the installer informed me that I had a "fake" controller and that it would present the disks as separate disks so that I could use MD/LVM instead.

LSI controllers may be a better choice, they seem to be better supported all around. 3ware are documentation bastards.

Hmm, didn't even know they made ATA controllers, only used their FC and SCSI adapters

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Sunner
If you want a proper RAID card, look into a 3Ware card, they're well supported under Linux, or if you want something cheaper, just go with Linux's software implementation.
Come to think of it, last time I tried to install Redhat on a "software" RAID controller, the installer informed me that I had a "fake" controller and that it would present the disks as separate disks so that I could use MD/LVM instead.

LSI controllers may be a better choice, they seem to be better supported all around. 3ware are documentation bastards.

Hmm, didn't even know they made ATA controllers, only used their FC and SCSI adapters

The megaraid line.