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Linux Server

T

Twinpeaksr

Senior member
After dealing wih all the recent problems on my 4 systems with windows, I am working on converting 2 of them to Linux. One will be my file server that Badly needs upgrading. So I am going to try a fresh start with it.

I know little to nothing about Linux, but am working on learning, I know I will need Samba, and that is about all I am planning on using right now. Based on other posts it sounds like Fedora 4 Core is the one to use, but now I need to find the hardware.

I will be using RAID 5, Gigabit Ethernet, and Basic Video Card, everything built in would be nice, and I would prefer AMD.

Any thoughts on a good stable starting point? Thanks!
 
How many drives? How much storage? What kind of budget? Feel comfortable enough to use Linux software RAID? or prefer a hardware card?
 
LSI megaraid controllers are probably the best out there.

I'd avoid nForce based motherboards on principle, but I guess they're supported ok these days. Video card doesn't really matter for a fileserver, and just about every motherboard out there has built in gigE.
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
LSI megaraid controllers are probably the best out there.

I'd avoid nForce based motherboards on principle, but I guess they're supported ok these days. Video card doesn't really matter for a fileserver, and just about every motherboard out there has built in gigE.
Click to expand...

LSI Megaraid? Bah! Too slow. Areca makes the best SATA RAID cards out there now - fairly solid Linux support, too.

nForce boards do seem to be supported well in Linux. But, its always a good guess if your particular motherboard's PCIe slot will support a decent hardware raid card.
 
Originally posted by: EatSpam
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
LSI megaraid controllers are probably the best out there.

I'd avoid nForce based motherboards on principle, but I guess they're supported ok these days. Video card doesn't really matter for a fileserver, and just about every motherboard out there has built in gigE.
Click to expand...

LSI Megaraid? Bah! Too slow. Areca makes the best SATA RAID cards out there now - fairly solid Linux support, too.

nForce boards do seem to be supported well in Linux. But, its always a good guess if your particular motherboard's PCIe slot will support a decent hardware raid card.
Click to expand...

LSI is a relatively open company, and you can get awesome OPEN support for them in other operating systems. Their new SAS stuff is supposed to be pretty fast too.

Is there raid management software for Areca cards? Is it open? (genuinely curious)

EDIT: Ahhh, it's Intel. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Originally posted by: EatSpam
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
LSI megaraid controllers are probably the best out there.

I'd avoid nForce based motherboards on principle, but I guess they're supported ok these days. Video card doesn't really matter for a fileserver, and just about every motherboard out there has built in gigE.
Click to expand...

LSI Megaraid? Bah! Too slow. Areca makes the best SATA RAID cards out there now - fairly solid Linux support, too.

nForce boards do seem to be supported well in Linux. But, its always a good guess if your particular motherboard's PCIe slot will support a decent hardware raid card.
Click to expand...

LSI is a relatively open company, and you can get awesome OPEN support for them in other operating systems. Their new SAS stuff is supposed to be pretty fast too.

Is there raid management software for Areca cards? Is it open? (genuinely curious)
Click to expand...

On their website, Areca provides drivers for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris. The Linux drivers are open source and they're trying to get them integrated into the Linux kernel as GPL'd code. I'm not sure about the other OS's but with the exception of Windows, the source is probably there.

There is acceptable RAID management software available, at least for Linux. Its not open source, as far as I can tell.

There's also a download available called "API"... looks like it could be source for the management code, but I'm not sure. I'm not a developer...🙂
 
Originally posted by: EatSpam
On their website, Areca provides drivers for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris. The Linux drivers are open source and they're trying to get them integrated into the Linux kernel as GPL'd code. I'm not sure about the other OS's but with the exception of Windows, the source is probably there.
Click to expand...

areca.com.tw if anyone else is interested. 😉 It may be supported using the Intel I2O drivers (the page google pulled up for me happened to have Intel processors on them).

There is acceptable RAID management software available, at least for Linux. Its not open source, as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...

boo.

There's also a download available called "API"... looks like it could be source for the management code, but I'm not sure. I'm not a developer...🙂
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was looking at that. I was wondering if it'd be bioctl-able. :evil:

Upon further inspection, it seems to include a binary library file. Too bad. 🙁 LSI still comes out ahead. 😀
 
I was thinking about 0.9TB using a 3Ware 9550. I know they support Fedora (at least based on thier website. Any thoughts on using a Supermicro P4SCi-O? Has everything else built on, though I don't know about Linux Support.

As for Budget, Looking at less than $1500.

I will have to check out the Areca, I have not heard much about them, but it has been about 3 years since I last built a system.

Any thoughts on a Good workstation Replacement? I have Dual 1600MP with a SCSI Backbone now, Looking to do CAD, basic Gaming and Circuit Simulation/Devolopment.

Thanks for all the good info, Keep it coming!
 
Originally posted by: Twinpeaksr
I was thinking about 0.9TB using a 3Ware 9550. I know they support Fedora (at least based on thier website. Any thoughts on using a Supermicro P4SCi-O? Has everything else built on, though I don't know about Linux Support.
Click to expand...

3ware is well supported under Linux. I have 2 SuperMicro P4SCi motherboards in service. Very, very stable. One is running Linux and does so perfectly, with complete driver support.
 
Stability is good, I value that above Speed, I had good luck with Supermicro Before. There does seem to be a lot of opinions on RAID cards though, I would only do Hardware RAID only.

BTW I am planning on 4 Drives, Seagate Barracuda 300GB. Think 512MB RAM is enough for the server?
 
Originally posted by: Twinpeaksr
Stability is good, I value that above Speed, I had good luck with Supermicro Before. There does seem to be a lot of opinions on RAID cards though, I would only do Hardware RAID only.

BTW I am planning on 4 Drives, Seagate Barracuda 300GB. Think 512MB RAM is enough for the server?
Click to expand...

512mb is plenty for a simple file server.
 
For <900 you can get a Buffalo Terastation (NAS) 1TB (4 x 250 GB sata hd) with raid 5 750GB. Pretty well made and easy to setup in a windows environment. I looked at making my own, but decided this was better. If you are willing to accept IDE drives, its is even cheaper. It can't be a real server ib c/s setup, but as a file repository it will be just fine
 
I forgot about NAS solutions. Any other NAS solutions that may work? I really Just need a large amount of space at a good price ($1200 or less would be good) and a Gigabit Connection. More thoughts?

Thanks!
 
After Much Thought (at least through the night) I have come up with this Setup:

Supermicro MBD-P4SCi-O Motherboard
Intel Celeron D 330
Corsair ValueSelect 512MB DDR
3Ware 9550SX in RAID 5 Config
Plextor PX-750UF External DVD-RW
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 300GB (x4 RAID 5)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 80GB (Boot Drive)
Antex TX640B Case w/400W Smart Power
Fedora Core 4 File Server w/SAMBA

Any thoughts from the experts?

Thanks!
 
Other NAS solutions that may work for you within a budget of $1,200, most have a gigabit LAN, as does Buffalo Terastation

Irfrant ReadyNAS (good reviews) pricey
Yellow Machine no gigabit but has a built-in switch
Intel/Lacie/Iomega/Snap Soulutions all have NAS products
 
I thought about the NAS and look at some (the Infrant ReadyNAS mainly) but decieded that the if I built a server, I could actually use it to learn Linux, where as if I have a NAS, I would not have that Benifit. Also gives me a little more control on what is in it, and that is always fun!

Thanks for the input!
 
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