fundamentalman
New Around Here
It's been a while since I built my own computer and I am a little grey on the hardware side. (I am actually A+ certified but when I was certified it was on DOS/Win 3.1!) I have taken a lot of time off.
My goal is to eliminate some of the hodgepodge equipment I have with an actual NAS. I have decided to build instead of buy to get more bang for the buck and to have more expandability and flexibility.
I am thinking about Linux or with the software controlling the RAID. This way if any hardware fails, I can swap or mix and match without too much problem. Windows Home Server is also an option.
I am thinking about the following parts:
NORCO RPC-4020 4U Rackmount Server Case $289 (20 hot swap bays!)
newegg norco pics
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard $115
newegg
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core
I am a little grey as to other hardware.
Do memory chips still need to be run in pairs? IE can I just buy one 2GB chip and be done?
I am not attached to the MB/processor if you have other ideas. I have thought about ATOM processors (for the power savings) but the lack of expandability on those tiny boards has me concerned.
I think the case is a little over kill. I mean I don't think that I will actually run 20 drives. I will start with 3-6. I can't imagine running more that 12 but for the money I haven't found one with +/-12 hot swap trays that costs less. I am open to other cases if you have any ideas.
This however opens up other problems. A power supply calc sugessets a 950 watt power supply if I decide to use all 20 of the drive spaces. 950 watts! Ouch. I am planning a 80+ power supply to save electricity costs but at this level I am a little nervous. Even at 12 drives it says 665 and I hate to not plan ahead. Again I am open to suggestions.
But now my biggest head scratcher. How do I control all of these drives? The MB has room for 8 SATA drives. Again I can't picture more than 12 actual drives but how do guys with 20 drives actually control them? I am planning for software RAID so I don't think that I need an expensive RAID controller. The reviews on newegg are mixed as to whether the case actually comes with SAS on the backpane. Here is where I am a little grey. SAS would allow SATA drives to be daisy chained? The advantage would be that I just need an SAS controller? If the backpane does not have it, I need to plan for 12/20 independent cables and drives and controller(s), right?
I am a little embarrassed to be asking such naive questions but I want to get it right the first time.
Thanks for your help.
My goal is to eliminate some of the hodgepodge equipment I have with an actual NAS. I have decided to build instead of buy to get more bang for the buck and to have more expandability and flexibility.
I am thinking about Linux or with the software controlling the RAID. This way if any hardware fails, I can swap or mix and match without too much problem. Windows Home Server is also an option.
I am thinking about the following parts:
NORCO RPC-4020 4U Rackmount Server Case $289 (20 hot swap bays!)
newegg norco pics
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard $115
newegg
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core
I am a little grey as to other hardware.
Do memory chips still need to be run in pairs? IE can I just buy one 2GB chip and be done?
I am not attached to the MB/processor if you have other ideas. I have thought about ATOM processors (for the power savings) but the lack of expandability on those tiny boards has me concerned.
I think the case is a little over kill. I mean I don't think that I will actually run 20 drives. I will start with 3-6. I can't imagine running more that 12 but for the money I haven't found one with +/-12 hot swap trays that costs less. I am open to other cases if you have any ideas.
This however opens up other problems. A power supply calc sugessets a 950 watt power supply if I decide to use all 20 of the drive spaces. 950 watts! Ouch. I am planning a 80+ power supply to save electricity costs but at this level I am a little nervous. Even at 12 drives it says 665 and I hate to not plan ahead. Again I am open to suggestions.
But now my biggest head scratcher. How do I control all of these drives? The MB has room for 8 SATA drives. Again I can't picture more than 12 actual drives but how do guys with 20 drives actually control them? I am planning for software RAID so I don't think that I need an expensive RAID controller. The reviews on newegg are mixed as to whether the case actually comes with SAS on the backpane. Here is where I am a little grey. SAS would allow SATA drives to be daisy chained? The advantage would be that I just need an SAS controller? If the backpane does not have it, I need to plan for 12/20 independent cables and drives and controller(s), right?
I am a little embarrassed to be asking such naive questions but I want to get it right the first time.
Thanks for your help.