Cheers,

 

This is my first unraid box..  My priorities are, in no particular order:

 

• Future-proof / expandable / reusable components
  
• Quiet
  
• Inexpensive entry
  
• energy efficient
  

 

Here is the newegg list.  After combo deals that aren't listed on the wishlist, the total is $883 with two 1.5TB drives. 

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=9814126

 

I am not picking up any hard drive enclosures at this time - I will do that later when I have more disks.

 

The only thing left is a cheapo pci video card.  I couldn't find one laying around my place - any suggestions?

 

Thanks for the feedback,

 

drue

 

PCI Video cards @ geeks.com

 

http://search.geeks.com/?SH=A%3dpci+video%7eB%3dpci+video%7eG%3d1983%5e2%7eK%3d4%7eL%3d1%7eM%3d1%7eN%3d2%7e&SI=d8127197-3b2c-41d4-911a-2e5bb497a71e&LAP=0&SRM=0&Action=10&Grid=0

 

I like that case, with the right removables, you could expand up to 20 drives.

I like that case, with the right removables, you could expand up to 20 drives.

 

Doesn't the Antec 1200 have the little feet/placeholders for the drive bays? If you want to put in 5-in-3 drive cages, you'd either have to bend or remove the feet...

ilovejedd,

 

Good point.  Here's some good pictures:

 

http://www.cluboc.net/reviews/cases/antec/twelvehundred/page4.asp

 

There is a small rail that would have to be removed.  It looks like the bays themselves are removable, maybe that makes a difference.  I've never used the 5-in-3 modules so i'm not certain how they work. 

 

I might favor the versatility of the twelve hundred anyway, since i'm unlikely to want more than 12 drives.  Which case would you recommend instead, i'm curious?

 

drue

There is a small rail that would have to be removed.  It looks like the bays themselves are removable, maybe that makes a difference.  I've never used the 5-in-3 modules so i'm not certain how they work. 

 

A lil nibbler can chop off those edges. Or removables like this can support the edge tabs.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817998036

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816215082

 

 

since i'm unlikely to want more than 12 drives.

That's what they all say. LOL!!!!1

 

I might favor the versatility of the twelve hundred anyway, since i'm unlikely to want more than 12 drives.  Which case would you recommend instead, i'm curious?

 

*sigh* I used to think that way, but now, I have come to the conclusion that you can never have too much storage. As for case choices, I'm looking at the Cooler Master Stacker 810. It only has 11 5.25" drive bays, one less than the Antec 1200, but with current drive limits, it looks perfect for unRAID.

 

Cooler Master Stacker 810, $120

iStarUSA T-5-SA, $15 x2 = $30

iStarUSA BPN-350SAS-Black, $90 x3 = $270

 

I'm thinking parity and cache drive can go in the single iStarUSA mobile racks (2x5.25" drive bays), 15 storage drives go in the 5-in-3's (9x5.25" drive bays). Total of 11 drive bays. Much more expensive than the Norco RPC-4020, definitely, but if you only have space for a tower, then it's a pretty decent price. Oh, the mobile racks are trayless so I consider that a plus.

I haven't used unRAID yet, but I read in the official documentation the procedure for adding and replacing drives is to power down first.  Is that true?  If you have to power down to swap in new drives, what's the point of investing in hot-swap hardware?  It makes the swap a bit easier, sure, but if you have to power down anyway, you might as well save $300 and spend an extra 5 minutes swapping drives.

ne less than the Antec 1200, but with current drive limits, it looks perfect for unRAID.

 

Those limits may be lifted soon. 

The Antec will house 4 5in3's along with having the power button on the front.

I have the CM Stacker, if I had a choice right now, I might swing towards the Antec.

One good thing about my stacker is I can remove the front power and gain an extra slot, so I'll expand to 20 internal drives.

Another plus with my version of the stacker.. it's the two power supply version. so I can top mount the power supply and do some rigging on the bottom to mount a few extra drives near the bottm 80mm exhaust fans..

(I'm probably going to put in a few solid state drives for NFS access).

 

if you have to power down anyway, you might as well save $300 and spend an extra 5 minutes swapping drives.

 

It's never an extra 5 minutes LOL!!!

 

With the internal 4in3 units you will need to remove the bracket and unscrew the hard drive. Insuring you have the right one.

Then there are the possible conditions of a slipped cable as you put it back in place and screw it in.

 

I would go with the trayless even though it cost extra money. I've been swapping drives for so many years, I'm tired of screwing them in. With the trayless units,  upgrades and replacements are like swapping floppies. I love these units. They've been worth every penny for me. (personally).  The time i save with them lets me spend that time doing the consulting work which puts money in my pocket.

 

 

WeeboTech,

 

They may indeed be worth it, I just wanted to clarify whether a power down was still necessary (it sounds like it is).

 

What kind of consulting do you do?  I also am in that game

 

drue

They may indeed be worth it, I just wanted to clarify whether a power down was still necessary (it sounds like it is).

 

Power down is necessary in order to re-initialize the software layer, or at least it makes it easier.

I suppose if the hardware supported the hotswap, then it could be done by stopping the software layer.

I.E. emhttp and md layer

then restarting them manually.

 

What kind of consulting do you do?  I also am in that game

 

Sysadmin, operational automation and tech support.

Thanks for all of the help.  I just placed the order.

 

I'm standardizing my network on antec 900 and 1200 cases, so that's 90% of the reason for my choice.  I think they will be great all-around cases to build some infrastructure around.  I've had server hardware in the past, but as I move my infrastructure back home (from the data center), I really value low noise.  No 1U's here

 

drue

ne less than the Antec 1200, but with current drive limits, it looks perfect for unRAID.

 

Those limits may be lifted soon. 

 

True, but with the new limits at 30+2 drives, I think I'll probably look for other cases (most likely rackmount) to maximize the unRAID array. 20 drives isn't going to cut it.