Current 24+ drive MoBo suggestions (and maybe CPU)

[spall]

Hey everyone!

 

I built my first unRAID in March of 2010. It has (and I hope I don't jinx myself here) run flawlessly until 3 minutes after this post.   I'm currently running v5.0.5 and the hardware listed in my sig.

 

Right now the server is used primarily for media storage and some light data backup. Before upgrading to 6.x, I'd like to build a new server around a Norco 4224, format with the new filesystems, and migrate the media and my 4TB drives over to the new box. I plan on leaving any drive <4TB in the old server and use it primarily for heavier data backup, possibly my own cloud stuff, and any media overflow that God help me will eventually happen because this is an illness..

 

The new server will continue to store media, but I also want to set up some Dockers (and possibly VMs, I need to look more into this, but I don't think so). I need to run MySQL (light duty), Calibre, possibly Sickbeard, _maybe_ a Mumble server.

 

So the core of the question is: What's the current suggested motherboard list to eventually fully pop the 24 bays in the Norco plus an extra cache drive mounted inside the case? (I believe that takes me to the Pro license wall). The Norco can handle ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. Adding some controller cards as I have in my current system is pretty much expected.

 

So what seems to be the current golden setup for that case? Also, anyone have any opinion on which CPU might be a good pairing for my needs?

 

I don't have solid budget numbers, but I'm not overly concerned about the cost as I don't expect it to enter the realm of ridiculous..  I get that I'm looking at probably ~$100 per controller card needed and probably in the ~$200-300 range for a CPU.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

[HellDiverUK]

Getting a board with 24 ports on it is not possible, so you need a board that'll take 2 or 3 HBAs like the M1015. 

 

My favourite board for that is the Supermicro X10SLM-F.  http://www.supermicro.co.uk/products/motherboard/Xeon/C220/X10SLM-F.cfm  It is uATX, but it has the best set of slots for running 3x M1015 cards.

 

Stick in an i3 or even a Pentium, 16GB of ECC RAM and you've got a great base for an UnRAID box.  Probably an i3-4130 or a Pentium G3430 are good choices. 

[spall]

Thanks for the quick response!

 

In your opinion, is there an advantage to going with the M1015 (or equivalent from said manufacturer) vs the SuperMicro controllers like I have in my current build (or the newer 6G versions)?

 

Related to that, is there a benefit of putting all the drives on HBAs over finding a board with as many SATA ports as possible and filling the rest with HBAs?

 

Thanks for your advice.. (and any others than want to chime in)

 

 

[JonathanM]

I'm using the board referenced in this thread.

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=27800.0

14 SATA on the motherboard with one less PCIE slot.

[bennymundz]

Getting a board with 24 ports on it is not possible, so you need a board that'll take 2 or 3 HBAs like the M1015. 

 

My favourite board for that is the Supermicro X10SLM-F.  http://www.supermicro.co.uk/products/motherboard/Xeon/C220/X10SLM-F.cfm  It is uATX, but it has the best set of slots for running 3x M1015 cards.

 

Stick in an i3 or even a Pentium, 16GB of ECC RAM and you've got a great base for an UnRAID box.  Probably an i3-4130 or a Pentium G3430 are good choices.

 

I have the board suggested in this link. It is outstanding. A friend of mine also runs this board with over 20drives and no issues. (Obviously he runs a SAS card to achieve additional headers required). I run only 5 drives so I utilise the onboard  headers. Neither of us have any dramas.

 

We both run Xeon processors and the required ECC ram.

 

Correction we run this aboard which is basically the same thing

http://www.supermicro.co.uk/products/motherboard/Xeon/C220/X10SLH-F.cfm

[spall]

Good stuff so far. Thanks guys. Maybe I need to look closer at the delta between the C222, C224, and C226 chipsets. We just covered the range here, it seems.

[HellDiverUK]

I only recommended the M1015 (and the LSI version) because I have one myself.  It's pretty much the HBA version of an Intel NIC, it works with just about everything.  MY M1015 is actually a real LSI board, a 9240-8i.  Flashed to IT mode, so it's a pure HBA.

[spall]

Appreciate the feedback guys..

 

Looks like I'm either going to do a X10SL7-F and 2 HBAs or a X10SLH-F and 2 HBAs.

 

And then either the M1015s or the SuperMicro SAS2LP-MV8s..

 

Gotta check prices and availability

[HellDiverUK]

I got my genuine LSI via eBay straight from China.  Full retail box, sealed, complete with high and low profile brackets, for less than I could get a used M1015.