Where to buy server hardware in Dallas?

October 27, 2009 9:17 AM

I need to buy a custom 1U server in or around Dallas. Tomorrow.

I need to buy a 1U rack server to install in a collocation facility in Dallas. Tomorrow I will be flying to Dallas and I need to buy the server once I'm there.

Ideally, the place where I can buy this server has the items in stock so that I can cherry-pick the hardware I need.

Linux will be installed on the server, in case it matters.

Thanks for any suggestions.

posted by edmz to computers & internet (20 comments total)

Try Fry's. Call them first, but they usually stock a fair selection of servers and network equipment.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:24 AM on October 27, 2009

Note that there are four Fry's (Arlington, Dallas (Garland - way out on the east side of town), Plano, and Irving). The Irving is right by the airport, but any of the other three may be near where you're going (if your colo is one of the ones in/near downtown, Irving is the only one close to being on the way).

I heard a rumor that they started taking American Express, but that used to be a real problem for me when our only company CC was Amex. Check on that, if it will be an issue for you.

I'm not sure who else has walk-in server equipment. Check Alltex. Microcenter doesn't appear to have rack servers.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:33 AM on October 27, 2009

(I should say the Irving store is close to DFW, and is on the way if you leave the airport via 635. It's probably still the closest to Love Field as well.)
posted by Lyn Never at 9:34 AM on October 27, 2009

Burhanistan Lyn,

does Fry's carry more selection on their stores than what they have on their website? Either they don't show those items on their site or I'm sucking at finding them.
posted by edmz at 9:37 AM on October 27, 2009

Fry's will be terrible for something like this. Call Supermicro and ask them about retailers in Dallas. Alternatively, you could order something from Dell or the like and have it overnighted.
posted by rhizome at 9:39 AM on October 27, 2009

Also, you could ask the colo people. I'm sure they would know some sources.
posted by rhizome at 9:40 AM on October 27, 2009

I found a few 1u server units available for in-store pickup at Fry's. Try zip code of 75063 to search the Irving store Lyn mentioned.

This site is the best place to see what's on sale in their weekly print ads.
posted by LeiaS at 9:48 AM on October 27, 2009

What spec and what datacenter you going with?
posted by rus at 9:49 AM on October 27, 2009

rus,

we need a 1u intel xeon sata server, we will install it on the Infomart.
posted by edmz at 10:19 AM on October 27, 2009

I think the suggestion to have Dell overnight you what you need is pretty good. Even if you don't already have a business account with them, it shouldn't take very long to do that via credit card.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:21 AM on October 27, 2009

Have Dell overnight it, or talk to your sales rep at Infomart and tell them what you need and ask them who they would get to supply it. They may have something that they can put in place for you or a supplier that they can call on immediately.

Fry's will carry a limited number of components (I once built a dual-opteron server to 'fix' a hardware failure) but some of them may have problems -- with the Fry's, in particular, the first CPU I got had a *bent* pin and was obviously a return repackaged as new.
posted by SpecialK at 10:28 AM on October 27, 2009

Fry's is weird on a lot of levels (their website being one of them), which is why a phone call is absolutely vital because you can't assume they have anything. They may not, and it's getting late in the day for shipping if they don't.

Even in a dire emergency, my company overnights from Dell, and I suspect if it was a huge emergency and we wanted to pay the premium, we would be able to get one brought in from the local service center.

Your colo ought to be able to help with this, but then again it's kind of odd that they're not ordering and racking it for you in the first place.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:54 AM on October 27, 2009

According to the Dell representative, custom servers take about a week to build. So, that is not an option.
posted by edmz at 11:18 AM on October 27, 2009

How "custom" is custom? What specs are you looking for exactly? I'm making some inquiries.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:35 AM on October 27, 2009

edmz: How about a refurb unit?
posted by Burhanistan at 11:36 AM on October 27, 2009

Check your MeFi Mail also, I had some more specific questions.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:38 AM on October 27, 2009

Lyn Never: Your colo ought to be able to help with this, but then again it's kind of odd that they're not ordering and racking it for you in the first place.

If edmz is using a place that works like Colo4Dallas does, then they have open rack space that's available for lease where the customer either brings or ships the server and has it installed in the rack. It sounds like that's what edmz's doing, or has leased a bunch of rack space and is managing it standalone.

That said, edmz, I've personally seen (and been with people who bought) rack-capable equipment at the Irving and Plano Fry's locations. Between Fry's and MicroCenter--who doesn't sell rack chassis but has a whole host of other parts--you should be able to get the parts you need. In addition, there are several colo providers in the Infomart, so if you come up flat empty, swing by (hi Softlayer) one of them and ask if they have any servers they'd like to sell. Several of those companies order more than they need and keep the extras "just in case," but if you're not a direct competitor they might can help you out.
posted by fireoyster at 12:16 PM on October 27, 2009

fireoyster,

what we have (and I might be a little misinformed here since I'm not really the hardware guy), is basically a cage we rent. We put in it whatever we need/want. All the racks and hardware that is inside our cage is owned by us, this includes the racks.
posted by edmz at 12:40 PM on October 27, 2009

Throwing in my 2 cents: I recently dealt with aventissystems.com, out of Marietta GA for some discounted refurb 1u's - call 'em, they might be able to do a 1u quick for your needs and shipping from Marietta GA can probably make it to Dallas Texas if you hurry.
posted by bhance at 4:49 PM on October 27, 2009

Thanks a lot for your help, we ended up ordering one from a local (to Dallas) company that sells servers. I found a bunch of companies but most of them didn't have stock or weren't willing to order something overnight. These guys did. Hopefully it will work out fine.

(Anyway, we had to delay our trip one day to wait for the server because when we found this provider, it was already past the time for ordering next day.)
posted by edmz at 9:44 AM on October 28, 2009