Hi all,

I am running out of space on my current file server. The goal is to upgrade/expand the hardware config, and change the OS to unRAID to allow for disks of different capacity.

I am currently using a 6 disks RAID5 using the motherboard controller. I'd like to expand the number of drives to at least 15.

 

This is a list of the hardware that I currently have that I'd like to re-use:

 

case: Antec 900

motherboard: ASUS P5QC

CPU: E8400

RAM: 4GB Corsair PC2-6400 2048 x2

Video: nVidia 8500GT

PSU: PCPower & Cooling 750

Drives: x6 WD 640GB, x4 WD 1TB

USB flash: Patriot 4GB mini

 

First of all, is this hardware compatible with unRAID?

I am using a couple of coolermaster 4 in 3 bays, but I'd like to move to hot swappable. I was thinking of getting 3 Supermicro 5-in-3 CSE-M35T-1B, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere I looked (I am in Canada) - alternatives? And is this a cost effective way to go anyway, or should I bite the bullet and look at server cases (Norco)?

 

Where I really need help is in choosing the SATA controller(s). As it is I have 3 free PCI-e x1 slots available on the motherboard. Does an x1 slot provide enough bandwidth, or do I need to replace the mobo with one that integrates video and use the x16 slot? I am not looking to squeeze the last bit od speed out of this build, OTOH I would not like the controller to cripple the system.

 

Any advice really appreciated. 

Hi all,

I am running out of space on my current file server. The goal is to upgrade/expand the hardware config, and change the OS to unRAID to allow for disks of different capacity.

I am currently using a 6 disks RAID5 using the motherboard controller. I'd like to expand the number of drives to at least 15.

 

This is a list of the hardware that I currently have that I'd like to re-use:

 

case: Antec 900

motherboard: ASUS P5QC

CPU: E8400

RAM: 4GB Corsair PC2-6400 2048 x2

Video: nVidia 8500GT

PSU: PCPower & Cooling 750

Drives: x6 WD 640GB, x4 WD 1TB

USB flash: Patriot 4GB mini

 

First of all, is this hardware compatible with unRAID?

I am using a couple of coolermaster 4 in 3 bays, but I'd like to move to hot swappable. I was thinking of getting 3 Supermicro 5-in-3 CSE-M35T-1B, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere I looked (I am in Canada) - alternatives? And is this a cost effective way to go anyway, or should I bite the bullet and look at server cases (Norco)?

 

Where I really need help is in choosing the SATA controller(s). As it is I have 3 free PCI-e x1 slots available on the motherboard. Does an x1 slot provide enough bandwidth, or do I need to replace the mobo with one that integrates video and use the x16 slot? I am not looking to squeeze the last bit od speed out of this build, OTOH I would not like the controller to cripple the system.

 

Any advice really appreciated. 

 

The hardware should be more then enough to run unRAID so you will have no problem there.  The on thing to check is what the kind of onboard NIC it has.  The intel NIC tend to be better supported but in general most NIC's work just fine.

 

You can go with the backplanes if you want but in general they can be the source of a lot of problems.  If one dies it could take the whole array with it.  Also, you can NOT hotswap under unRAID so that functionality would be largely unused.

 

As for the PCI-e x1 cards check out the Hardware Compatibility Page and see what cards are known to be working.

 

The hardware should be more then enough to run unRAID so you will have no problem there.  The on thing to check is what the kind of onboard NIC it has.  The intel NIC tend to be better supported but in general most NIC's work just fine.

 

You can go with the backplanes if you want but in general they can be the source of a lot of problems.  If one dies it could take the whole array with it.  Also, you can NOT hotswap under unRAID so that functionality would be largely unused.

 

As for the PCI-e x1 cards check out the Hardware Compatibility Page and see what cards are known to be working.

 

Thanks for replying. Good point on the onboard nic: it looks as though the chipset (Atheros) is not supported. I do not mind powering the server down occasionally to replace or add a drive, still it would be very nice to have easy access to the drives. Backplanes: I'd really like to lean toward reliability, what solution would you recommend?

 

I was looking at x1 cards... 2 highpoint 4 channel (2300) x1 cards are about $160 Canadian, x 2 = $320. I could get a Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 x4 with 8 channels instead for $120. This sounds like a better choice, the $200 I "save" I can get easily a motherboard with integrated video and a supported nic. Thoughts?

I was looking at x1 cards... 2 highpoint 4 channel (2300) x1 cards are about $160 Canadian, x 2 = $320. I could get a Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 x4 with 8 channels instead for $120. This sounds like a better choice, the $200 I "save" I can get easily a motherboard with integrated video and a supported nic. Thoughts?

 

I don't know if the highpoint cards are compatible without recompiling the kernel.  I would search the forums for that card.

I believe this card would provide a higher degree of compatibility and supports port multipliers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124027

 

If this is going to be a file server I would probably dump that video card in favor of saving electricity and go with a cheap PCI video card

I would probably re-purpose that nice CPU in favor of something more power saving.

I would check if that X-16 port can support a controller in that port and use the RC-218 card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816132018

 

The $200 I "save" I can get easily a motherboard with integrated video and a supported nic. Thoughts?

 

All in all, That's a pretty nice fast desktop system. I might consider the sale of some parts and going with something that has allot more controllers and port growth capability.

 

 

I was looking at x1 cards... 2 highpoint 4 channel (2300) x1 cards are about $160 Canadian, x 2 = $320. I could get a Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 x4 with 8 channels instead for $120. This sounds like a better choice, the $200 I "save" I can get easily a motherboard with integrated video and a supported nic. Thoughts?

 

I don't know if the highpoint cards are compatible without recompiling the kernel.  I would search the forums for that card.

I believe this card would provide a higher degree of compatibility and supports port multipliers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124027

 

If this is going to be a file server I would probably dump that video card in favor of saving electricity and go with a cheap PCI video card

I would probably re-purpose that nice CPU in favor of something more power saving.

I would check if that X-16 port can support a controller in that port and use the RC-218 card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816132018

 

The $200 I "save" I can get easily a motherboard with integrated video and a supported nic. Thoughts?

 

All in all, That's a pretty nice fast desktop system. I might consider the sale of some parts and going with something that has allot more controllers and port growth capability.

 

Thanks for the SATA card tip, the kind of info I'm looking for, but... Is the Supermicro card I mentioned not supported? It seems like a really good deal.

 

Motherboards: I don't seem to be able to find any ASUS P5B-VM DO nor intel D865GLCLK in stock. Can anyone recommend a compatible 775 board with video?

 

I am also wondering if I can squeeze 15 drives at all inside the Antec 900 without using backplanes. Do plain 5-in-3 bays (without backplanes) exist? If not, I'll have to start looking for a larger case, I suppose.

"I don't know if the highpoint cards are compatible without recompiling the kernel.  I would search the forums for that card.

I believe this card would provide a higher degree of compatibility and supports port multipliers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124027"

 

Is the card above confirmed to work with unRAID. The only thread I saw it was not working.

"I don't know if the highpoint cards are compatible without recompiling the kernel.  I would search the forums for that card.

I believe this card would provide a higher degree of compatibility and supports port multipliers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124027"

 

Is the card above confirmed to work with unRAID. The only thread I saw it was not working.

 

I have done quite a bit of much needed  reading, and I think I'm going to keep my P5QC / E8400 combo and use it for something different. So this is what I am thinking for my unRAID server:

 

Case: Antec 1200

 

drive cages (4-in-3):  CoolerMaster STB-3T4-E3-GP, x4

 

motherboard: Supermicro X7SBE-O (a little expensive, but a guess you get what you pay for) 

 

CPU: E6750 (gathering dust somewhere)

 

controllers: AOC-SAT2-MV8, x2

 

memory: 4GB  - would you go for ECC memory on this mobo?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have done quite a bit of much needed  reading, and I think I'm going to keep my P5QC / E8400 combo and use it for something different. So this is what I am thinking for my unRAID server:

 

Case: Antec 1200

 

drive cages (4-in-3):  CoolerMaster STB-3T4-E3-GP, x4

 

motherboard: Supermicro X7SBE-O (a little expensive, but a guess you get what you pay for) 

 

CPU: E6750 (gathering dust somewhere)

 

controllers: AOC-SAT2-MV8, x2

 

memory: 4GB  - would you go for ECC memory on this mobo?

 

I purchased the same mother board. (I have not installed it).

 

I have an e6700 in my current unRAID environment. If your's is gathering dust, use it.

on my E6700, I had it closed down to 1.6ghz and saw no difference in performance.

I plan to go with either an L3110 or an E8400 in the future.

But this is only because I plan to consolidate a few machines into Virtual machines.

 

Memory, if you are buying new and the price difference is small, go for the ECC.

The supermicro boards are rock solid, I've never had issue. But I also like the idea of a warning if memory is going bad.

On my new build I will reuse old memory, but if I order new memory, I'm going for ECC.

 

Case: I like that case, I would go for it if I were buying new.

 

If that case can support 4 modules of 4in3, have you considered using the supermicro removable drives?

You could get 20 drives going (in the future) with the 5in3 modules.

The 2 Supermicro cards (16) + 4 motherboard ports.

 

This is why I bought that particular motherboard.

 

With the extra 2 ports I was thinking of using a PCI Slot Rafter card with 2 SSD's and eliminate other drives on my network by using NFS.

(or putting my vmware machines onto the SSDs).

 

I purchased the same mother board. (I have not installed it).

 

I have an e6700 in my current unRAID environment. If your's is gathering dust, use it.

on my E6700, I had it closed down to 1.6ghz and saw no difference in performance.

I plan to go with either an L3110 or an E8400 in the future.

But this is only because I plan to consolidate a few machines into Virtual machines.

 

Memory, if you are buying new and the price difference is small, go for the ECC.

The supermicro boards are rock solid, I've never had issue. But I also like the idea of a warning if memory is going bad.

On my new build I will reuse old memory, but if I order new memory, I'm going for ECC.

 

Case: I like that case, I would go for it if I were buying new.

 

If that case can support 4 modules of 4in3, have you considered using the supermicro removable drives?

You could get 20 drives going (in the future) with the 5in3 modules.

The 2 Supermicro cards (16) + 4 motherboard ports.

 

This is why I bought that particular motherboard.

 

With the extra 2 ports I was thinking of using a PCI Slot Rafter card with 2 SSD's and eliminate other drives on my network by using NFS.

(or putting my vmware machines onto the SSDs).

 

I thought about going the backplanes route... I would gain room for 4 extra drives (20 vs 16), and the convenience of much easier access.

OTOH, I used the CM cages before and really like them. Most of all, I guess I was influenced by prostuff1 and other posts, though I admit that I cannot estimate how big the added risk involved in using backplanes is. Oh well, I figure that 16 drives, plus perhaps a couple of internal drives, should keep me happy for a while. 

Interesting idea with the SSD's, one step at the time.