Externally connectable drive case?

[axeman]

I'm looking for a case like the Norco 4220 ... that I can use to house drives. My current ESXi + UnRaid machine is filled to the gills on storage, but is fine otherwise for at least another 3 years (it's an i7-960 with 24GB ram).

 

What do I need to make this happen? My guess is that I will need a 2 to 3 SAS-SATA expander cards?

 

Without including the cost of the drives, can I manage to get this done under $600?

[Radagast]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816133047

 

Or a much cheaper option would be to just buy whatever case you want and use a controller in your main case to run an expander like the Intel, HP or Chenbro cards in the second case.  The Chenbro's like a CK23601 have external SFF-8088 connectors which would work perfectly here.  Will require a slight mod to get a PSU running in the second case without a mobo, or you could throw any old mobo in their just to make the PSU run.

[axeman]

EEP! that's exactly it! but ouch on that price.

 

The chenbro type suggestion is probably what i'll go with. as for getting the psu working i'm guessing the old paperclip trick would do it - but like the idea of having an old mobo in there. would be nice if i can force that machine to power on before unraid and shutdown after unraid.

 

thanks - next step. finding a rack to put this all in. lol

[Ford Prefect]

The chenbro type suggestion is probably what i'll go with. as for getting the psu working i'm guessing the old paperclip trick would do it

 

...for power up a DAS box with a normal PSU use something like this: http://www.servethehome.com/supermicro-cse-ptjbod-cb1-jbod-power-board-diy-jbod-chassis-made-easy/

[axeman]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816133047

 

Or a much cheaper option would be to just buy whatever case you want and use a controller in your main case to run an expander like the Intel, HP or Chenbro cards in the second case.  The Chenbro's like a CK23601 have external SFF-8088 connectors which would work perfectly here.  Will require a slight mod to get a PSU running in the second case without a mobo, or you could throw any old mobo in their just to make the PSU run.

 

hi - so this is probably what i'm going to do... i'm using an IBM BR10i right now... how would i connect that to the expander? http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?seq=1&format=2&p_id=8197&CAWELAID=1329456273&catargetid=320013720000011275&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CMrK4dfB6rkCFQ6k4AodUDcAJQ

 

what does that do to speed/performance?

[axeman]

found this: http://www.servethehome.com/external-sassata-disk-chassis-wiring-part-1/

 

2) Use a RAID card or a Host Bus Adapter with internal SFF-8087 ports, converting them to external SFF-8088 ports.

 

 

so something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-port-Internal-SFF-8087-to-External-8088-PCI-mini-SAS-26P-Adapter-SAS-RAID/261255693840