Server build config, what would you do?
Hello, Can anyone recommend a solid motherboard for building a BSD server around? I would like at least a Core2Duo CPU, but would consider Xeon (single or dual CPU boards are fine). The server will be for file storage and general services like email, apache, etc. Not a ton of volume for either I plan to use a 3-Ware or Areca controller (4 port). Does one of those work better than the other? I have had pretty good luck with some 3-Ware cards so far with FreeBSD, but have heard good things about the Areca cards too. Heck, while we are at it, can anyone recommend some decent internal SATA enclosures with 5 or so slots? Thank you for your time, Eric ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Server build config, what would you do?
would like at least a Core2Duo CPU, but would consider Xeon (single or dual CPU boards are fine). The server will be for file storage and general services like email, apache, etc. Not a ton of volume for either so why at least core2duo. for your case 50$ used computer (possibly with larger disk) is enough. I plan to use a 3-Ware or Areca controller (4 port). Does one of those work better than the other? I have had pretty good luck with some 3-Ware cards so no special controller works best. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Server build config, what would you do?
Wojciech Puchar wrote: would like at least a Core2Duo CPU, but would consider Xeon (single or dual CPU boards are fine). The server will be for file storage and general services like email, apache, etc. Not a ton of volume for either so why at least core2duo. for your case 50$ used computer (possibly with larger disk) is enough. I plan to use a 3-Ware or Areca controller (4 port). Does one of those work better than the other? I have had pretty good luck with some 3-Ware cards so no special controller works best. I'd like a C2D to allow for future growth and the fact that it will be serving files for several people on my home network not to mention the other services on it. Why do you think no special controller works best? If that was the case, why would they even make hardware based RAID cards, or RAID cards at all? I have a solid backup plan in place, but why risk downtime when solutions are available? ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Server build config, what would you do?
I'd like a C2D to allow for future growth and the fact that it will be serving files for several people on my home network not to mention the other services on it. buying computers for future needs is nonsense - as their prices fall all the time. not mentioning that file serving isn't CPU intensive. Why do you think no special controller works best? If that was the case, why i don't just think. i'm sure. use gmirror/gstripe/gconcat/combination of them to get best performance. make sure to set -s 1048576 at least in gmirror, and huge stripes (like 512MB) in gstripe. would they even make hardware based RAID cards, or RAID cards at all? I have because there are people like you willing to pay for them :) ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Server build config, what would you do?
Hi Eric, I plan to use a 3-Ware or Areca controller (4 port). Does one of those work better than the other? I have had pretty good luck with some 3-Ware cards so far with FreeBSD, but have heard good things about the Areca cards too. I'm using 3-ware 9000 series in a few production boxes and they work really well. Hot swapping disks also works if you have a compatible power supply. Don't know about Areca, never used it. Cheers, Andrew -- accid.net ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Server build config, what would you do?
Wojciech Puchar wrote: I'd like a C2D to allow for future growth and the fact that it will be serving files for several people on my home network not to mention the other services on it. buying computers for future needs is nonsense - as their prices fall all the time. Particularly if your labor costs are effectively free, your maintenance windows particularly large, and your data collection not too big. I've been involved in situations where that planning mechanism would have led to a world of pain... (OK, so he mentioned several people and home network, so you have a point. ;-) The one thing that I can think of that I've not seen mentioned in this thread, which could actually start to make a difference to component choice, is whether those several people are all hoping to stream video and music off of this server. Other than that, I'd go for a Celeron on a dull, but stable, motherboard. One other thought on hardware RAID: If your RAID board itself dies you better hope you can get it repaired or acquire an exact replacement, down to the firmware version in some cases. If not, you'll have real trouble reading anything off of your disks. With software RAID, you at least stand a decent chance of recovering everything from nothing more than the (N-1) hard disks, a FreeBSD CD-ROM, and the components to build a new server around them. --Jon Radel smime.p7s Description: S/MIME Cryptographic Signature
Re: Server build config, what would you do?
The one thing that I can think of that I've not seen mentioned in this thread, which could actually start to make a difference to component choice, is whether those several people are all hoping to stream video and music off of this server. Other than that, I'd go for a Celeron on a dull, but stable, motherboard. that's much better. in such case i turn up WWW browser, run allegro.pl (polish equivalent of ebay.com) and get cheapest computer that would be enough for the task, BUT something like IBM, HP, Siemens, etc... There are lot of good-branded desktops, that are small, quite elegant, really cheap and they are STABLE. older are better than new in this - all that had to fail, already failed. FreeBSD is not windoze, 64-128MB RAM is enough for most server tasks, unless you use spamassassin then 192 at least. there is usually need to buy new disks or used, but larger, as existing are (is) too small, and 2 disks are good thing. 300$ for all, including disks, is enough. for STABLE system, that i'm sure about. It's actually much cheaper if you count less electricity used than todays systems multiplied by few years 24h/365d usage. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
