Server Build Opinion

[NightFalcon]

Well I posted a few days back asking for help on picking out a case, still haven't resolved that issue 100%, but I found something that I kinda like so that's what I used for this one. Bellow I've posted all the components I'm currently thinking about getting. Would like some opinions on it. I'm building this to be primarily a file and mail server, but it'll also be performing a load of other stuff, just not as often. Please don't comment speed issues, I know that I don't need a 3.0E CPU for a home server, but this thing will need to last me for 5-6 years and over that time it'll be used for a wide range of things. The hard drives will be in RAID 5, so I'll start with 400GB, but I'm getting an 8-port SATA card so I can always add more when I run out. Same idea with RAM, start with 1GB, if I end up needing more I'll expand to 2GB.

What I do want some comments on is my choice of motherboard and raid card. I've never dealt with PCI-X interface before, the card states that it supports 64 bits, 133 MHz, but all motherboards that I've looked at say 64 bits, 66 MHz. Is that a potential problem or is that all right? Also, are there any special requirements on the power supply for a server board? Couldn't tell from the specs, so I figured that Antec one should be ok. Please let me know if you can see some compatibility problems or anything else. Would really appreciate it.

--- MOTHERBOARD ---
SUPERMICRO "Super P4SCi" E7210 Chipset Server Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-182-032&depa=0
$199.00 + $5.00

--- CPU ---
Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-116-171&depa=0
$189.00

--- RAM ---
CORSAIR 184-Pin 512MB ECC REG DDR PC-3200, Model CM72SD512RLP-3200 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=20-145-309&DEPA=0
$117.00 x2 = $234.00

--- HARD DRIVES ---
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model ST3200822AS, OEM Drive Only
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=22-148-033&depa=0
$118.00 x3 = $354.00

--- OPTICAL DRIVES ---
Lite-On 52X32X52 Internal EIDE CD-RW Drive Black, Model SOHR-5238S Black, OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=27-106-941&depa=0
$24.00 + $2.00

--- OTHER DRIVES ---
Samsung Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model SFD321B/LBL1, OEM Drive Only
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=21-103-203&depa=0
$6.50 + $3.99

--- PCI CARDS ---
Broadcom Serial ATA RAID Controller Model BC4852D - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=16-125-005&depa=0
$319.99 + $2.99

--- CASE ---
Lian-Li Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Case, Model "PC-V2100B" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=11-112-076&depa=0
$289.50 + $15.99

--- POWER SUPPLY ---
Antec 480W Power Supply,Model "TRUE480" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=17-103-909&DEPA=0
$87.50 + $6.99

--- Total ---
$1740.45

P.S. Yes, I love NewEgg

 

[NightFalcon]

No one?

 

[Zepper]

The Tech Support section is for "It's broke, help me fix it" type questions. Your topic is more for Gen Hardware or Cases & Cooling sections.
.bh.

:moon:

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: NightFalcon
No one?

I'd suggest a Compaq/HP or Dell box, but that's just me. For servers, that's (i.e. the brand name boxes) what you'll see in the real world. What is your overall objective in doing this?

 

[NuNuNYC]

Dell 400SC is a good server for $300

P4 2.8 Ghz HT
512 MB DDR 400
40 GB HD
Integrated 10/100 NIC
Integrated Sound
ATI RagePro XL
48X CD-ROM
Mouse
Keyboard

 

[NightFalcon]

Well I have worked quiet a bit with the Dell servers and the problem with them is that you're paying for the support and for their own solutions. If I ever wanted to replace say the heatsink on the CPU, the only thing that I could replace it with is a dell solution. They also lack in expandability options unless you get a huge case (no places to put a hot-swap hard drive rack for example). If I was to order a Dell server with 3 RAID 5 SATA drives then I wouldn't be able to attach another 4 or 5 without getting a replacement RAID card. All of those are just not something I want to deal with.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: NuNuNYC
Dell 400SC is a good server for $300

P4 2.8 Ghz HT
512 MB DDR 400
40 GB HD
Integrated 10/100 NIC
Integrated Sound
ATI RagePro XL
48X CD-ROM
Mouse
Keyboard

Agreed - this is a good, basic 'server' type setup. Yes, it's basic, lacks SCSI, isn't a real server motherboard, etc., but if you want to learn this stuff, you are best off learning Windows 2003, not fiddling with hardware. Your hardware support tech's going to do that for you anyway; Windows 2003 Server is where the money and skill is (unless, of course, you want to support hardware, in which case you're better off taking a Dell/HP/Compaq certified course rather than buying white-box hardware.)

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: NightFalcon
Well I have worked quiet a bit with the Dell servers and the problem with them is that you're paying for the support and for their own solutions. If I ever wanted to replace say the heatsink on the CPU, the only thing that I could replace it with is a dell solution. They also lack in expandability options unless you get a huge case (no places to put a hot-swap hard drive rack for example). If I was to order a Dell server with 3 RAID 5 SATA drives then I wouldn't be able to attach another 4 or 5 without getting a replacement RAID card. All of those are just not something I want to deal with.

I have 8 drives attached to a $300 Compaq Presario S6000Z. Just attach them externally or via USB and you can add plenty. By externally, I mean that I have a RAID card in the 6000Z, and it has 4 IDE ports. On each IDE port is attached a hard drive, and they're all hanging off of the computer's side. Works great - cheap and reliable too.

 

[NightFalcon]

I never said anything about wanting to learn this, getting certified, or anything about needing any support with hardware or software. I know Windows 2003 and that's what I'll be running on this. As for hardware I want to have full control over what I can do with it at the moment and in the future to put it short. Getting a dell does not fit into that category. I've worked with both PowerEdge 2600 and 700 servers and that is not what I want. Well... I wouldn't mind a 2600, but I've got no money for that.

As I've said in the previous post, companies like dell don't just sell you hardware, they sell you support. That is good when you're setting up a server for a corporation, not for a home server. So could we please get back to my original question... What do you think of the hardware I posted in my first post?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: NightFalcon
I never said anything about wanting to learn this, getting certified, or anything about needing any support with hardware or software. I know Windows 2003 and that's what I'll be running on this. As for hardware I want to have full control over what I can do with it at the moment and in the future to put it short. Getting a dell does not fit into that category. I've worked with both PowerEdge 2600 and 700 servers and that is not what I want. Well... I wouldn't mind a 2600, but I've got no money for that.

As I've said in the previous post, companies like dell don't just sell you hardware, they sell you support. That is good when you're setting up a server for a corporation, not for a home server. So could we please get back to my original question... What do you think of the hardware I posted in my first post?

It's nice hardware. If you're running the box with a few dozen people on it, it will be put to great use. If not, it's a lot of money to spend on a box that will be at 0-5% CPU usage 99% of the time. If speed is your objective, I'd focus on going GigE before worrying about the CPU, the motherboard, or most other things - it seems that you want a fileserver (given your RAID hardware, which, incidently, is pretty pricey), so the main constraint in your current setup would be network speeds, which crawl compared to even a single hard drive's speed, much less having 4 in a RAID5 setup.

Bear in mind that's an incredible amount of money for very little performance increase in typical single-user scenarios. So again, I ask, why do you want this hardware, aside from having full control of what you can do with it? What do you actually want to do with it?

 

[NightFalcon]

All right so here's a list of all the server functions in no particular order: file, mail, ftp, dns, PXE imaging, web, anti-virus, central back-up, possibly a Counter-Strike server once every few weeks. I think that list more then justifies having plenty of resources. And I said, it'll have to last for many many, so as developers care less and less about efficient use of resources I need something that won't age quiet as quickly.

As for GigE, that motherboard already supports it and so do all my workstations. I still have to get 2 or 3 GigE switches but that comes second. I realize that network will be the bottleneck for now, but at least that's the only thing I'll have to worry about later on. The number of users will start at 5 and later on will most likely increase to about 9 or 10.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: NightFalcon
All right so here's a list of all the server functions in no particular order: file, mail, ftp, dns, PXE imaging, web, anti-virus, central back-up, possibly a Counter-Strike server once every few weeks. I think that list more then justifies having plenty of resources. And I said, it'll have to last for many many, so as developers care less and less about efficient use of resources I need something that won't age quiet as quickly.

As for GigE, that motherboard already supports it and so do all my workstations. I still have to get 2 or 3 GigE switches but that comes second. I realize that network will be the bottleneck for now, but at least that's the only thing I'll have to worry about later on. The number of users will start at 5 and later on will most likely increase to about 9 or 10.

So for what you've listed above, for 5 people, you might get something like a generic 2.4 to 3.2 ghz PC with a drive or two in it ($300-$600 total), 1.0 to 1.5G of RAM ($200-$250 or so if you get a 1G stick), and Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 (with a 5 CAL license to start off with) ($600 or so), and then add whatever you need later, if you need it, when pricing goes down. You'll get e-mail (Exchange 2003, a great e-mail server), a PXE/RIS server, file, ftp, dns, print, web, and backup, and you can easily add the Counterstrike server yourself. Symantec AV Corporate Edition 9.0 is seen as a very competitive AV server product for the small network, and that would easily let you control how the AV software is used on your network; I'm not familiar with pricing for that product for 5 users.

You'll also probably want a backup tape drive or some sort of a backup unit - perhaps even a spare hard drive or two to use as a backup now that large drives are so cheap. RAID5 is not a backup scheme - it only protects against losing a hard drive, not against losing data, OS corruption, file corruption, and the like.