Hi.

 

I have been toying with the idea of building a media server for all my data for about a year, and now I am commited to do it, so here I am asking for help/advices.

 

Since I have read the post from Rajahal I am trying to have some order in my post, hope to do it right:

 

What is your budget?

 

About 1000€, I only have to buy two drives since I have 11 2TB drives and 2 3 TB drives with all my data, I plan to buy a 4TB data to use it as parity drive then add the other one, move the data from one of my drives to the blank one and when it is empty add it, and repeat until all my data is in the server.

 

How many drives do you want your server to be able to support and how much capacity do you need?

 

I want it to support 22 or 24 drives, about the capacity, well, as much as possible, but not from the beginning... just planning to buy 4TB drives from now on.

 

Is expandability important to you?  If so, what's your long term goal?

 

Yes, it is, I think I have it covered in my initial design, but feel free to suggest anything you think can improve my design.

 

Are you interested in running any unRAID Add Ons (see here)?  If so, which ones?  Be specific.

 

Short answer: No

Long answer: I am not familiar with the add ons yet, maybe I can find something that I want to add in the future.

 

Do you want to run green/low power drives or faster 7200 rpm drives?  If you don't have a specific need for 7200 rpm drives, then choose green drives.

 

I have mixed drives now, but in the future I am looking to green drives, even if is not mandatory since I don´t plan on having the server working 24/7, just when it is needed.

 

Do you have any spare parts laying around that you would like to apply towards your build?  This includes drives.

 

Yes, I do, more about that in a few lines.

 

If you already have parts in mind, please oh pretty please post links to them so that we don't have to look them up.

 

I will do my best.

 

Ok, now move on to the parts section:

 

Spare parts I already have:

 

- Athlon x2 Regor

 

- M4A78LT-M LE: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M4A78LTM_LE/

 

I know this motherboard is not the best option and that eventually I will need a gigabit network card since unraid doesn´t play weel with atheros nics

 

- 4 GB of ram, not sure about the brand, not sure if that matters but the mainboard has been working ok in windows with it to this day.

 

- A mixture of 2TB WD and Seagate drives, green and not green to a total of 11

- 2 Seagate 3TB Drives.

 

Parts I am planning on buying:

 

Case:

 

I have two options and have not decided yet, it depends more on availability than price:

 

Option one: Lian Li PC-D8000 http://www.alternate.es/Lian_Li/Lian_Li+PC-D8000/html/product/1015541/?

 

We all know this case, it can hold 20 drives for itself and go to 28 with enclosures.

 

Option two: Chieftec BA-01B-B-B http://www.alternate.es/Chieftec/Chieftec+BA-01B-B-B/html/product/254544/? and two Icy Dock MB155SP-B http://www.alternate.es/Icy_Dock/Icy_Dock+MB155SP-B/html/product/1090973/?

 

This option can only hold up to 20 Drives by itself but can go up to 24 with some modding to use the space left on top of the Power Supply, I am more inclined to this option because it needs less space to place the case, but the fact also is that it is less ventilated.

 

Controller:

 

Given the fact that my motherboard only has one pcie x8 and 6 sata ports if I want to add up to 20 drives I need a controller card that can hold up to 16 drives, after looking I have two options:

 

LSI Logic LSI SAS 9201-16i http://www.alternate.es/LSI_Logic/LSI_Logic+LSI_SAS_9201-16i/html/product/1021692/?

 

HighPoint RocketRAID 2740 http://www.alternate.es/HighPoint/HighPoint+RocketRAID_2740/html/product/808718/?

 

I think the best option is the LSI, I have read about it on this same board and it seems to just work with unraid and support drives bigger than 2 TB (and that is an important point).

 

Power supply:

 

Not totally sure about it, I have tried to find one of the recommended ones but due to the mixture of drives I have I am not totally sure if the most powerfull ones recommended are enought for my config so I am looking in the 850-1200 range of the recommended manufacturers so far my best option is:

 

Corsair HX1050 http://www.alternate.es/Corsair/Corsair+HX1050/html/product/1022466/?

 

Things I am not sure of:

 

The cables, not sure wich connectors I need for those controllers, also not sure of what cables I do exactly need or how to notice the difference between one and other kinds of cables, asking and taking any advice you can give on this topic.

 

The gigabit card, I will need it to be just PCI, so please feel free to suggest any one you thik will work.

 

Ok, so this are my ideas, asking for any advice, thanks in advance.

 

 

I'd be inclined to go with the RocketRAID ... possibly even the RocketRAID 2760A, which would let you put all your drives on the same controller.    There's an excellent writeup about it in this thread:

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=27460.0

 

I wouldn't bother replacing the NIC until you confirm whether or not it works okay with v5.0

If it doesn't, then get an Intel PCI adapter ... e.g. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106122

 

As for the case, that's a personal choice, but IMHO the D8000 is by far the best choice.

 

Your motherboard and CPU are just fine.

 

Have you considered using a HBA + SAS expander combo instead of one larger HBA?  Because the expanders only require power from a PCI-E port, you could use a PCI-E x1 to PCI-E x16 riser (or whatever is available, I got a x16 off ebay) for the HP expander, or in the case of the Intel & Chenbro expanders, they have onboard Molex connections for power.  I found that going this route was cheaper and more expandable than the single large controller.

...comparing the pricetags, I'd rather go for the LSI HBA instead of the HighPoint.

Edit: although the LSI being more expensive, I consider this brand to deliver the more stable technology and higher quality.

 

Besides that, upgrade of mobo (plus DDR3 memory, if you don't have any left) and going for 2x M1015 might be cheaper (at least equal) than the 16/24-port cards.

Edit: Just see that this mobo already supports DDR3...going with an AM3+ board with more sockets should do the trick.

If you choose an ASUS with ECC support, you could upgrade to that and still re-use your CPU (not that it would save much from the total bill).

 

For connecting the drives to the card you want SFF-8087 "forward breakout" cables, like: http://www.amazon.com/3WARE-Cable-Multi-lane-Internal-SFF-8087/dp/B000FBYS2U

I don't know what length will suit for your case...60cm should be fine in most cases...don't go over 90cm, since this might be pushing total length over the specs if here are any backplanes involved.

 

As for the PSU, I think the 1050W is way too powerful, even for 24 drives.

How many of your existing drives will pull over 2A at startup? A 750W unit should be up to the task, I think.

...comparing the pricetags, I'd rather go for the LSI HBA instead of the HighPoint.

 

??  You did notice that the Highpoint is the cheaper of the two cards, right?    [The 2760 I suggested costs more; but of the two cards he listed the Highpoint is less expensive.]

 

I would not, however, let price be the deciding factor here.  You're building a high-quality fault-tolerant server that is going to host all of your data, and that you're going to put a few thousand dollars worth of drives in.  I'd hardly worry about a few hundred $ (or € ) difference in the basic hardware. 

I'll expand a bit on why I said the D8000 was a far better option for your case ...

 

First, you indicated you were leaning towards the other choice because "... I am more inclined to this option because it needs less space to place the case, but the fact also is that it is less ventilated."  ==>  Ventilation is GOOD !!  You WANT your drives to have excellent airflow across them; and nothing will do that better than the D8000.

 

If you add the BP3 backplanes so you can easily install/remove drives when needed, it's difficult to imagine a better case for UnRAID.    That will keep the drives cooler than almost any rack-mount solution, and do it at a MUCH lower noise level.    The ONLY downside to a D8000 is that is IS big.  But then any case that holds 24 drives and has good internal ventilation is not exactly going to be small 

 

??  You did notice that the Highpoint is the cheaper of the two cards, right?    [The 2760 I suggested costs more; but of the two cards he listed the Highpoint is less expensive.]

Yes, i've been to lazy with that...my recommendation is not based on the price-tag...see my edit...sorry for that.

 

I would not, however, let price be the deciding factor here.  You're building a high-quality fault-tolerant server that is going to host all of your data, and that you're going to put a few thousand dollars worth of drives in.  I'd hardly worry about a few hundred $ (or € ) difference in the basic hardware.

A few hundred ?  ...meaning what...2, 3, ..5 hundred?

Well, then I would not recommend to repurpose any old hardware...at least not a desktop model mobo, when you can get a server grade one  incl. CPU + RAM for 250EUR or less.

Wow!, lots of replies, lots of info to process, let me reread and try to answer/assimilate the info:

 

garycase:

 

I like the 2760A, the problem is availability in Spain and also price, it costs almost double the price of the 2740.

 

Also having 24 ports in just one card is not a priority, In fact if I understand how unraid works it can go up to 24 drives and I think I can achieve the same number of drives with the options I am considering and another pciex1 card, am I wrong?

 

Another possible problem is that I need some conditions from the controller card I choose:

 

- It has to support drives of more than 2TB

- Supporting 16 drives (or more in an affordable price rank)

- Being supported in unraid.

 

Do we know if the 2740 accomplishes all those conditions?, I have not been able to determine it reading the board... if it does the price difference is to be considered.

 

Radagast:

 

Did't think about using HBA and expanders until now, that is a good option, but again availability and price could be an issue, do you have a link for me to get informed about the advantages/dissadvantages of each option?

 

Ford Perfect:

 

My first idea was buying two M1015, the problem is availability in Spain, buying them through ebay usually will mean no price difference between those and the ones I suggested due to importation taxes.

 

Ayway my first option is the LSI, for what I have read it does support drives of more than 2 TB and is well supported by unraid, even if I have to update the firmware to make it support those drives I mentioned.

 

garycase again: Yes, I am REALLY more inclined to de D8000, but first I need to accomodate it, I can assure that if I get an excuse to buy it I TOTALLY will.

 

 

Well, this is Europe after all....you can buy in another country in the EU and no additional taxes or customs-fees would apply (for personal use).

Shipping costs will be higher, but you could still save.

See: http://geizhals.at/de/ibm-serveraid-m1015-90y4556-a815389.html

The first shop "Klarsicht-IT" ships to Europe for EUR28,- (up to 5 kilos weight...enough for 6-10 pcs. M1015  )

with a price for a brand new M1015 of EUR119 (inkl. all taxes).

The 2740 should work just fine -- it's basically a 16-port version of the 2760 

The 2740 should work just fine -- it's basically a 16-port version of the 2760 

 

Are you totally sure about that?, not doubting, just wanted to be totally sure about that. Will it support drives of more than 2TB?

...this will also do: http://www.alternate.es/LSI_Logic/LSI_Logic+LSI_SAS_9201-16i/html/product/1021692/?

Basically 2x 9211-8i in one.

...here is one M1015, sitting in Austria, shipping to Spain for 8.80EUR: http://www.ebay.de/itm/IBM-46M0831-46M0861-ServeRAID-M1015-SAS-SATA-Controller-NEU-/130985720855?pt=Controller&hash=item1e7f5b7c17#shId

The 2740 should work just fine -- it's basically a 16-port version of the 2760 

 

Are you totally sure about that?, not doubting, just wanted to be totally sure about that. Will it support drives of more than 2TB?

 

Yes.

 

...here is one M1015, sitting in Austria, shipping to Spain for 8.80EUR: http://www.ebay.de/itm/IBM-46M0831-46M0861-ServeRAID-M1015-SAS-SATA-Controller-NEU-/130985720855?pt=Controller&hash=item1e7f5b7c17#shId

 

I have it in my list since yesterday

Regarding your question about green drives, for the kind of use you describe you should be totally fine.  I chose some WD Red drives for my configuration since it's fairly active, but green drives would have been fine too.  You said you only need it occasionally, so that is a good choice.  If you have your system optimally configured and you're not actively accessing it, all of your drives should end up spun down perhaps for days at a time automatically until you fetch a file from it again.  That makes your system really green. 

 

As for add-ons, if nothing is grabbing your attention, then don't worry about it.  They can always be added later, or you may find other ways to have additional applications outside of unRAID that suits you.  Regardless, the hardware you're putting together will have no problems handling several add-ons if you go down that path later (with the exception of a cache drive).

Ok, new questions.

 

I am almost totally locked on the Rocketraid controller http://www.alternate.es/HighPoint/HighPoint+RocketRAID_2740/html/product/808718/? since it is cheaper and everyone agrees that ir works in Unraid and supports drives of 3 or more TB.

 

Ok, now my doubt is about cables, here are the options I am considering/seeing (please be patient with me, I am not totally sure wich one are the connections I am searching so if some of them are not suitable for that controller just point that for me to be sure what to buy or if you think that some brand is better than some other).

 

Here are the options I am considering:

 

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+mini_SAS_36_Pin_zu_4x_SATA_%28SFF_8087__4x_SATA%29/html/product/517856/?

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+Cable_mini_SAS_36pin__4x_SATA_metal_%28SFF_8087__4x_SATA%29_50cm/html/product/520806/?

 

I think both of them have the kind of connectros I need, but correct me if I am wrong.

 

Another option is this:

 

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+SAS_mini_26pin__4x_eSATA/html/product/520890/?

 

Please, tell me that this one is not mandatory cause it is expensive as hell

 

Anothe option is this one, but looking at the connector on the controller side I am ALMOST sure this one is not the one I need for my controller:

 

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+SAS_32pin_zu_4x_SATA_Metall_%28SFF_8484_-_4x_SATA%29/html/product/520814/?

 

Again thanks a lot for your time and knowledge

I am almost totally locked on the Rocketraid controller http://www.alternate.es/HighPoint/HighPoint+RocketRAID_2740/html/product/808718/? since it is cheaper and everyone agrees that ir works in Unraid and supports drives of 3 or more TB.

...not trying to confuse you, but the LSI will as well support disks of any size.

Here are the options I am considering:

 

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+mini_SAS_36_Pin_zu_4x_SATA_%28SFF_8087__4x_SATA%29/html/product/517856/?

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+Cable_mini_SAS_36pin__4x_SATA_metal_%28SFF_8087__4x_SATA%29_50cm/html/product/520806/?

 

I think both of them have the kind of connectros I need, but correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, the Sff-8087 is for the side of the card/controller...the other is for the side of the disk.

I don't speak spanish, but what you want are "forward breakout" cables  ... I *think* this is indicated by the way these are listed in the shop "1 x SFF8087 > 4x SATA"

So it is the direction of the cables.

A reverse breakout will look the same but will connect 4x SATA ports of your mainboard to 1x SFF8087 connector of a backplane or expander.

I suspect these will be called/advertized as "4xSATA > 1xSFF8087", thus indicating the direction.

 

...so both of these cables you linked would do, to connect the controller to your disks.

The seconds has metal latches, which will lock the connector at the disk, so it cannot be removed/unlocked unintentionally/by accident.

I'd prefer the ones with latches.

 

Note that these are to connect to the disks directly.

It will depend on the type of your case...a 19" case normally comes with a SAS/SATA-backplane, that will use a 1x SFF8087 > 1x SFF8087 cable.

Another option is this:

 

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+SAS_mini_26pin__4x_eSATA/html/product/520890/?

 

Please, tell me that this one is not mandatory cause it is expensive as hell

No, this is for connecting to a 8088 slot, used for an external connection.

Anothe option is this one, but looking at the connector on the controller side I am ALMOST sure this one is not the one I need for my controller:

 

http://www.alternate.es/DeLOCK/DeLOCK+SAS_32pin_zu_4x_SATA_Metall_%28SFF_8484_-_4x_SATA%29/html/product/520814/?

nope, you can skip that...not of use.

 

I received everything this morning, now the server is Parity syncing... so far everything works like a charm.

 

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with a newbye like me, you all rock guys!.

You're most welcome.    That should be a VERY nice system