To Build or Not to Build
November 5, 2009 9:25 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for a decent 4-bay (minimum) network server on the cheap.
I'm trying to set up a backup server for a video surveillance system. I am going to end up needing 8TB or so for file space (I won't need all of that to start, but I will over time, so being able to add drives to an existing system would be nice). Windows Home Server seems like the way to go since you can add drives and it puts them in a storage pool.
So here's my question: should I go for an existing product like this, or can I build one for cheaper? I have a license for Windows Home Server, so that's not an issue.
I've built systems before, but never one for the sole purpose of network storage, so any suggestions for a case that can hold at least 4 drives, a motherboard that can take 4 SATA drives, and a decent power supply would be much appreciated. Also, knowing how much RAM and processing power would be helpful (if that even matters...I'd imagine that serving up files wouldn't take up a great deal of system resources).
I'm trying to set up a backup server for a video surveillance system. I am going to end up needing 8TB or so for file space (I won't need all of that to start, but I will over time, so being able to add drives to an existing system would be nice). Windows Home Server seems like the way to go since you can add drives and it puts them in a storage pool.
So here's my question: should I go for an existing product like this, or can I build one for cheaper? I have a license for Windows Home Server, so that's not an issue.
I've built systems before, but never one for the sole purpose of network storage, so any suggestions for a case that can hold at least 4 drives, a motherboard that can take 4 SATA drives, and a decent power supply would be much appreciated. Also, knowing how much RAM and processing power would be helpful (if that even matters...I'd imagine that serving up files wouldn't take up a great deal of system resources).
Have been tinkering with this problem myself:
posted by Orb2069 at 9:54 AM on November 5, 2009
- If size is an issue, Chenbro's ES34069 holds 4 SATA hotswaps and a mini-ITX board.
- If you can go bigger on your case, and can find one with four front-facing bays, Athena Power makes some nice drive enclosures that hotswap and have good airflow.
- Personally, If I figured that I needed four drives, I'd go for five bays, so I could have a hot spare - Usually a good idea in a setting where there may not be someone standing right there to swap drives.
- I was thinking of going with FreeNAS mainly because of the small install size (I'm putting it on CF), user interface and it's supporting ZFS, but I can see using WHS, if that's what you like.
posted by Orb2069 at 9:54 AM on November 5, 2009
I have a 6 year old system running a Raid5 array. You can get by with super-cheap hardware if you're running CentOS or another linux variant... I have a feeling that WindowsHomeServer requires quite a bit more.
Too bad you already have a license of WHS, as I don't think it will be of any benefit to you. A simple pooling RAID from any free OS will provide the cheapest solution for what you need. Don't get me wrong, WHS has a ton of features you won't get running linux, but it doesn't sound like you need any of them. Of course, I'd recommend a RAID-5 setup over a pooling/linear setup, as it'll keep your data safer.
Using any of the many guides on the internet, you can buy the cheapest desktop you can find with enough drive bays ($300 new on Newegg, but you can find way cheaper on Craigslist), and add in the storage as you need it...
Take a look at craigslist... I just found this gem, which would be exactly what you want for $100. More likely, you'll be able to find an old 4U server for sale, which will give you plenty of space and power, like this one, already loaded up with Ubuntu.
$150 - System
$30 - 4xSATA card, if the system doesn't have SATA built in
$120 x 3 (1.5 tb drives, which starts your RAID at 3TB)
= $510 for the entire system, which can be expanded as long as you have spare PCI slots.
For more info on setting up 'Software RAID' in Linux, see:
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-RAID-HOWTO.html
or
http://www.gagme.com/greg/linux/raid-lvm.php
It comes down to: are you willing to spend the extra $300-400 in order to have WHS instead of linux. If you want WHS, might as well buy the HP.
posted by hatsix at 9:58 AM on November 5, 2009
Too bad you already have a license of WHS, as I don't think it will be of any benefit to you. A simple pooling RAID from any free OS will provide the cheapest solution for what you need. Don't get me wrong, WHS has a ton of features you won't get running linux, but it doesn't sound like you need any of them. Of course, I'd recommend a RAID-5 setup over a pooling/linear setup, as it'll keep your data safer.
Using any of the many guides on the internet, you can buy the cheapest desktop you can find with enough drive bays ($300 new on Newegg, but you can find way cheaper on Craigslist), and add in the storage as you need it...
Take a look at craigslist... I just found this gem, which would be exactly what you want for $100. More likely, you'll be able to find an old 4U server for sale, which will give you plenty of space and power, like this one, already loaded up with Ubuntu.
$150 - System
$30 - 4xSATA card, if the system doesn't have SATA built in
$120 x 3 (1.5 tb drives, which starts your RAID at 3TB)
= $510 for the entire system, which can be expanded as long as you have spare PCI slots.
For more info on setting up 'Software RAID' in Linux, see:
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-RAID-HOWTO.html
or
http://www.gagme.com/greg/linux/raid-lvm.php
It comes down to: are you willing to spend the extra $300-400 in order to have WHS instead of linux. If you want WHS, might as well buy the HP.
posted by hatsix at 9:58 AM on November 5, 2009
Response by poster: Just to clarify, the issue with WHS is its higher system requirements, correct? Also, I didn't pay anything for my WHS license so it's no loss if I don't use it. A friend had tried to build a server with WHS and ended up using Linux, so he offered to give me his copy.
Also, with RAID5, is it possible to add drives on the fly to a pool of storage? I haven't had much experience with that and I just want to make sure it won't be a hassle to add more space in the future (since I likely won't be adding all of the drives to start).
posted by sciencemandan at 10:06 AM on November 5, 2009
Also, with RAID5, is it possible to add drives on the fly to a pool of storage? I haven't had much experience with that and I just want to make sure it won't be a hassle to add more space in the future (since I likely won't be adding all of the drives to start).
posted by sciencemandan at 10:06 AM on November 5, 2009
1) Windows in general requires more than Linux... and WHS will end up spending those resources on features you don't need/want. WHS also does not 'support' RAID arrays, it uses file-level duplication for redundancy, which requires a beefier processor and can be very inefficient.
2) Adding drives to RAID-5 is easy, and in searching for specific documentation, I've found a much more comprehensive site:
http://linux-raid.osdl.org/index.php/Main_Page.
Specifically, growing an array:
http://linux-raid.osdl.org/index.php/Growing
RAID-5 allows for one disk to fail and the filesystem to continue operating at full capacity. WHS uses file-level duplication(if enabled) rather than byte-level duplication... it's nowhere near as efficient or pervasive, however it does have one advantage: Adding a disk takes several minutes, whereas adding a disk to RAID-5 can take much longer (longest I've seen was 20 hours).
posted by hatsix at 11:14 AM on November 5, 2009
2) Adding drives to RAID-5 is easy, and in searching for specific documentation, I've found a much more comprehensive site:
http://linux-raid.osdl.org/index.php/Main_Page.
Specifically, growing an array:
http://linux-raid.osdl.org/index.php/Growing
RAID-5 allows for one disk to fail and the filesystem to continue operating at full capacity. WHS uses file-level duplication(if enabled) rather than byte-level duplication... it's nowhere near as efficient or pervasive, however it does have one advantage: Adding a disk takes several minutes, whereas adding a disk to RAID-5 can take much longer (longest I've seen was 20 hours).
posted by hatsix at 11:14 AM on November 5, 2009
Linux can solve your storage issues. One but of advice though: If you're going to expand your RAID, make sure you do a full backup first as messing with RAIDs can correct data. Remember that RAID is simply hardware redundancy- protection against hardware failure. It is not a substitute for backup.
posted by jmd82 at 1:09 PM on November 5, 2009
posted by jmd82 at 1:09 PM on November 5, 2009
If you're talking about a 4-bay NAS you will probably NOT find one on the cheap. You can expect at least 400$ for one that does not have disks.
posted by Napierzaza at 1:11 PM on November 5, 2009
posted by Napierzaza at 1:11 PM on November 5, 2009
This Acer server is cheaper than the HP server you linked to. I've got one and I love it.
Between 4 SATA bays and 5 USB 2 connections, 8 TB should be easy to achieve.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:48 PM on November 5, 2009
Between 4 SATA bays and 5 USB 2 connections, 8 TB should be easy to achieve.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:48 PM on November 5, 2009
4 bays isn't going to be enough if you want any sort of redundancy. If price is an issue, just build a cheap linux box with tons of SATA ports and run software RAID. If you need a smaller form factor and want to make things easy for yourself, buy a QNAP TD-639 and throw in 6 * 2TiB hard drives in RAID-6. If you need less space right now, you can start with just 4 drives and add more as you need it.
posted by turkeyphant at 8:40 AM on November 6, 2009
posted by turkeyphant at 8:40 AM on November 6, 2009
Response by poster: Well, I ended up going with this unit (priced at $150). I've been doing some research and it looks like it can run WHS without much difficulty.
For those who are interested, here's how I'm going to install WHS (since this unit doesn't have video). There's info in the comments on exactly how to do it with this unit. I'll be sure to post any updates.
posted by sciencemandan at 1:02 PM on November 17, 2009
For those who are interested, here's how I'm going to install WHS (since this unit doesn't have video). There's info in the comments on exactly how to do it with this unit. I'll be sure to post any updates.
posted by sciencemandan at 1:02 PM on November 17, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gregr at 9:49 AM on November 5, 2009