Server Death - need build advice (thinking Unraid)

[Taddeusz]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Whatever you decide to do just be sure to get something that has easy access to drives and good airflow. My friend bought that rosewill hot swap case and has issues with the hot swap bays. Some have never worked for him. I will say airflow is really good with those cases though.

I got one of the big norco cases (24 drives) and love it. When they say the case is huge and heavy, they aren't kidding. I have a rack in a closet so it fits just fine.

The thing about a good case is that you really shouldn't ever have to replace it.

The CPU coolers you listed look good.

Interesting. I have one of the Rosewill drive bays, the RSV-SATA-Cage-34, that comes with that case. I've never had problems with it. I only have 1 though. Was planning to get a couple more.

I ended up getting this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156269

Running a Supermicro X7DVL-E with 2 Xeon L5430's. A little tight in that case but it works ok.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by Taddeusz

Interesting. I have one of the Rosewill drive bays, the RSV-SATA-Cage-34, that comes with that case. I've never had problems with it. I only have 1 though. Was planning to get a couple more.

I ended up getting this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156269

Running a Supermicro X7DVL-E with 2 Xeon L5430's. A little tight in that case but it works ok.

I'm sure most people don't have issues. This just happened to be someone I know with that case so I thought I'd share. It looks like a great case and I have one similar, but with no hot swap bays.

[Taddeusz]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

I'm sure most people don't have issues. This just happened to be someone I know with that case so I thought I'd share. It looks like a great case and I have one similar, but with no hot swap bays.

It's a decent case. I got it because it was relatively cheap and was all 5 1/4 so I could fill it with drive cages.

[tmiranda]

Jees, I'm getting server envy looking through this thread

[Taddeusz]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

Jees, I'm getting server envy looking through this thread

Me too even with my current server. The dual 2nd gen Core Xeon octa core system even with it's lower clock speed would be pretty awesome.

[KarylFStein]

I bought a couple of these cases about 9 years ago:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811165069

What I like about them is that I've been able to select my hot-swap bays over time when things change, (e.g. moving to SATA-III, move some drives to 2.5" SSDs, etc.)

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

I bought a couple of these cases about 9 years ago:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811165069

What I like about them is that I've been able to select my hot-swap bays over time when things change, (e.g. moving to SATA-III, move some drives to 2.5" SSDs, etc.)

Yeah, this is one I'm looking at, mainly because of the filters on the front.

[KarylFStein]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Yeah, this is one I'm looking at, mainly because of the filters on the front.

You might be disappointed. The rear almost 1/3rd of the top panel is air holes without a filter. There are only 2 80mm rear fan mounts. While my front hot-swap bays have fans you can still feel airflow in through the top.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

You might be disappointed. The rear almost 1/3rd of the top panel is air holes without a filter. There are only 2 80mm rear fan mounts. While my front hot-swap bays have fans you can still feel airflow in through the top.

I've always sealed up my cases with foil tape to control those vents.

[Tomahawk51]

I bought this case tonight:
http://www.norcotek.com/product/rpc-470/
I will get started with it as is...but intend to find 2 5x3.5" hot swap cages to add to this.

I can't wait to build this thing as the parts are starting to arrive. My family has been living without Sage for too long!

I intend to post my results. I thank everyone for the discussion up to this point as it certainly informed my purchases.

[KarylFStein]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I've always sealed up my cases with foil tape to control those vents.

Another thing to note is if you intend to put a cage on the right (horizontal) side you don't have much clearance to open a drive cage door if it sticks out too much...

EDIT: If it opens right like I tried to do. I think an upside-down 5-in-3 cage would work...

[Tomahawk51]

Giving an update: I got all the parts, put the thing together and installed Unraid. I'm having Unraid issues, but will pursue those in another post.

All in all, I'm really happy I didn't spend more on the Motherboard/RAM as I might have and the Natex refurb parts seem to be working really well for me. There is just CPU and RAM abounding vs. my humble predecessor.

I enjoy having that modular PSU, a first for me. Super clean wiring now.

That case - it's HUGE. I measured, but darn these 4u cases are big. But, so is the SSI EEB motherboard, and it all fits appropriately. I'm glad it's in an unfinished closet in my basement. The included case fans were really loud, so I'll be doing something with those. I have minor regret I didn't get the Norco 24 bay unit mentioned here - even though I have no intent of running that many drives. For example, that case has an upgrade part for a 120mm fan wall that I wish I realized (though I'm checking to see if it may fit my Norco case). I think the case I have is great for my needs though, and was the best value. Getting a hot swap cage or 2 will make it feel even better.

All in all, I'm very happy to have made this server upgrade. It *feels* great running the server grade hardware too. Things just *feel* more solid. I'd do this purchase again, but maybe dig into case options more. Thanks again all for input.

Now, on to post about my Unraid SageTV roadblock...