Monster Dual Opteron Advice Needed

[fibersnet]

Hello I need to build up a monster dual opteron server.

Here is what is REQUIRED:

15K RPM SCSI 72GB U320 Hard Drive
4GB RAM

Here is what I want to get so far:

2x Opteron 242 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-389&depa=0

Tyan Thunder K8W S2885
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-151-120&depa=0

8 x 512 MB ECC Registered DDR 3200
Good site?

SeaGate 73GB 15,000RPM SCSI Hard Drive http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-111-139&depa=1

Antec 550W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-918&depa=1

I am going to need an SCSI controller. Should I get a motherboard with onboard SCSI or should I buy a PCI one. If so, which one should I buy?

This is for a databasing server.

I have seen benchmarks and read reviews stating that the opertons are better at databasing than Xeons so that is why I chose the opterons. The 64-bit makes it a big plus.

It will be running Linux kernel 2.6

Do you guys see any conflicts?

Any ways to lower the price tag?

Any suggestions?

Thanks guys!

 

[Cerb]

1. If it's Linux 2.6, it will be much faster than Xeon (about even in Windows).
2. Google is your friend!!! Find out what SCSI controllers, especially RAID controllers (and ZCR), work in the new kernel, and make sure you can get drivers for all but video (it will be Ati Rage XL or similar--old and solid). Onboard + ZCR card should be fine.
3. Check that dually barebones at Newegg, and for tower, Enlight EN-8950 (convertible to rackmount--Intel uses this case) w/ redundant 470w PSU. The Tyan comes with a 6-drive backplane, but non-redundant PSU. Monarch will build a similar system w/ redundants if you want (same mobo and case even).
4. Why not 4 1GB sticks? This will make expansion easier.
5. What is your budget? This is VERY important for a server like this. If there's room to spare, Opterons scale in clock speed very well, so maybe move to 244 or 246, for instance.

 

[Markfw]

Get one of these so you can add storage and get speed and safety as well. Around $400-$500 on ebay or $1000 (I think) new. If you want to do it right and still lower the price tag, go down to 2 gig ram and get a good controller card. Then you can add drives and memory both

 

[SUOrangeman]

Crucial's PC3200 RAM

Don't forget the 15% off coupon! Dont' forget eBates/FatWallet!

-SUO

 

[fibersnet]

Hi, this is my "final" setup.

This server will be used for a database with a large amount of small entries.

CPU: 2 x Opteron 244
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_...asterid=783373&isbn=&pid=&ut=185a7e32ad42cdef

Motherboard: Tyan S2882
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_...sterid=1358526&isbn=&pid=&ut=185a7e32ad42cdef

Ram: 2 x 2GB Kit Kingston DDR 400Mhz ECC REGISTERED
http://www.komusa.com/komusa/2gbkit1pc40d.html

Case: Enlight EN-8950 ATX Tower
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_...574/search=Enlight%208950/ut=185a7e32ad42cdef

PSU: Antec 550W True Power Supply for Dual Xeon Boardhttp://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=605469/search=EPS12V/ut=185a7e32ad42cdef

Hard Drives: 36.4GB Fujitsu MAS3367NC, 15K, Ultra 320, 8MB. (OEM)
http://www.upgrade-solution.com/productlist.cfm?Subcategory=S.C.S.I. HARD DRIVES

Generic Floppy
Generic CDROm

Thanks guys I took into account all of your suggestions and this is my setup. I plan to use the onboard Adaptec AIC-7902W Ultra 320 SCSI controller and have OS setup on one hard drive and probably the database on the second with backups made on the third.

I want to make sure that everything is compatible. The PSU is EPS12V so it should have both the 24pin and 8pin connects for the motherboard.

If you know of any places with lower prices, please tell me!

Thanks guys!

 

[Cerb]

Why not just spend an extra $220 and go with one RAID 5?

Also, it really that much cheaper getting parts from everywhere than just going w/ Newegg or Monarch (especially considering waiting on so many stores...I can see 2, but...yikes)?

Oh, you want the S2882UG3NR, and Newegg has it ETA'd for 3 days from now, and cheaper than Pricegrabber has listed.

Lastly, you might need to update the BIOS, depending on how old it is, for PC3200 support.

Edit: nope. The "lastly" is now that the link for RAM is not the RAM you say it is, nor the RAM you need.

 

[fibersnet]

Oh man, thanks your a life saver.

The RAM is not ECC REGISTERED.

I will have to find some new ram, thanks!

 

[fibersnet]

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator/partsinfo.asp?ktcpartno=KRX3200AK2/2G

http://www.crucial.com/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT12872Y40B&cat=RAM

Here is the updated RAM info, the other RAM was not good, thanks for pointing that out!

 

[TerryMathews]

Not knocking Opteron, as it kicks ass, but AFAIK there aren't any stable AMD64 Linux distros yet. To fully extract the performance from your setup, you're going to need to build from source. Probably Gentoo.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Not knocking Opteron, as it kicks ass, but AFAIK there aren't any stable AMD64 Linux distros yet. To fully extract the performance from your setup, you're going to need to build from source. Probably Gentoo.

There's SuSe, but AFAIK, the official business one is not 2.6 yet (so 2.6.x 32-bit vs. 2.4.x. 64-bit). However, on Linux, even in 32-bit it does a great job, so no biggie. However, if you're up for it, compiling for 64-bit will give better results.

 

[fibersnet]

All that is left now is the storage:
This computer will be only for databasing and will need to store/retrieve data extremely fast. It is also mission critical and can not be shut down to replace a hard drive.

I am thinking of going all out and getting hardware raid, specifically the Adaptec SCSI Raid 2200S

http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/pr...-2200S&cat=/Technology/Ultra320/Ultra320+RAID



I am going to use Raid 5 for the database. Since the OS will really not be in use, I might just put the OS on that as well.

I hope everything will be hot swappable so that I can remove hard failing hard drives at will and replace them on the fly and have the raid controller rebuild the array automatically with no downtime.

The system will be running Suse to take advantage of 64bit running on 2x Opteron 244's.
The database is mysql.

Thanks!

 

[fibersnet]

Hello guys, thanks for all your help so far.
This is now the final setup for the system unless there are incompatibilities which if there are, PLEASE tell me.

This server will funtion as a database server will that will store and select many chunks of small data at very high speeds. The hard drives will be in a raid 5 configuration with both the OS and the database being on the array. The OS will not be used too much but it will be on a redundant array along with the database.

The server needs to have hot swappable drives so I am going to buy the SCSI chasis with SAF-TE
The Adaptec controller also has support for SAF-TE

The PSU is a redundant one because shutting down/rebooting this machine will be avoided at all costs. It is a mission critical server.

The OS will be SUSE 64-bit running mysql 64bit binaries.

I would be very gratful if you guys please review over the components and give me the OK to buy?
I will make sure to get good PC 3200 ECC REGISTERED RAM but if you guys have any good links, please link me

When I assemble this PC I will be sure to post PICS on this forum.
Thank you!



Chasis: Enlight EN-8950 ATX Tower

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_...ch=Enlight%20EN%208950%20/ut=185a7e32ad42cdef



CPU: 2x AMD Opteron 244 Processor

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_...asterid=783373&isbn=&pid=&ut=185a7e32ad42cdef



Power Supply: Zippy MRW-6400P 400W EPS12V Redundant Power Supply

http://www.stayonline.com/redundant_power_supplies/8908.asp



Motherboard: TYAN 8131 K8 DP PGA940 MAX-16GB DDR 4PCI-X VGA 2BGE 3LAN SATA-R EATX

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=1358527/search=S2882/ut=185a7e32ad42cdef




Hard Drive: 4x Fujitsu MAS3367NC Series 36.7 GB
http://fujitsu.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=700989/ut=185a7e32ad42cdef



Hard Drive Chasis
Supermicro 5 Bay SCSI HDD Enclosure
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=690013/search=CSE-M35S/ut=185a7e32ad42cdef



Controller: Adaptec SCSI RAID 2120 Kit 64 bit/66MHz Ultra 320 RAID
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=610367/found=1/ut=185a7e32ad42cdef



CDROM:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-120-501&depa=0



Floppy:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-103-202&depa=0

RAM: Will find 4GB of ECC REGISTERED

 

[sharkeeper]

I am going to use Raid 5 for the database. Since the OS will really not be in use, I might just put the OS on that as well.

Big mistake there! RAID10 would be much better if you plan to use a single logical drive.

Also, avoid Adaptec HBA's like the plague. Go with LSi MR 320-2X or Intel SRCU42X. (they are identical and the Intel fully supports 1GB cache!) You will not have any problems (speed or otherwise) with that set up. I have several higher end (Itanium) servers running these at 40% load 24/7 (16GB RAM, 1GB HBA cache) and NO problems whatsoever.

EDIT: Crucial 1GB PC3200 REG ECC P/N CT12872Y40B should work with your board.


Cheers!

 

[MatthewMaes]

you need fast storage what about a RAM DRIVE? i like those!
load up your server with 16GB!

 

[mikecel79]

It is a mission critical server

Whenever I hear these words I would go right for one of the Tier 1 server manufacturers instead of piecing together a server from parts. HP, Sun, Dell, IBM. It may not be a Opteron server but if it's IS mission critical reliability and support come before performance. Bad PSU fries a motherboard, they'll be there within 4 hours to replace the board.

If management told me this were to be a mission ciritcal server I would look into clustering 2 or 3 smaller boxes together instead of one big box.

 

[Cerb]

HP, Sun (in a couple months), and IBM do offer Opteron servers

 

[mikecel79]

Originally posted by: Cerb
HP, Sun (in a couple months), and IBM do offer Opteron servers

Yes but all are rack mount servers. Looks like he wants a tower model.

 

[hytek369]

i got a similar setup to yours OP. i have 2GB of Corsair XMS3200 Reg ECC ram.

 

[sparks]

I agree with mikecel79. Everything in our organization that we deem mission critical is either clustered or load balanced and from Dell. If the business depends on absolute up-time then clustering is the only way to go. The 4 hour rapid response times of the tier 1 venders also is a Tums saver.