Storage Server case Questions

[lotus503]

A while ago I decided to split out my computing needs to achieve my personal Nirvana.

I currently have a Shuttle with around a terabyte of storage. Im looking to build a storage server that I want to put in my garage on a wireless network. Then Last a PVR.

The goal is to have a gaming rig, A PVR and a storage server sharing space.

I currently have my old Lian Li V-2000 case and my 850 watt PC&C power supply

I am trying to be as cost effective in building this out as possible but dont really feel the Lian Li is good for the task.

I have considered a stacker or the rm414 following, problem is I dont really want to dump more cash on another Power supply.

http://www.kricomputer.com/shop/index.p...4/588/829ae92ec36588e203b2ef7c5cfcd9d3

Anyone out there have a storage server setup with 8 or more drives?

Anyone using the stacker as storage?

I currently have

8 300 gig maxtors a few 400 gig WD RE's and have a line on 20 maxtor 250 sata.

A coupel 3 ware 8 port controllers.

Im really just trying to figure out the case setup.

Insights anyone?

 

[b064r]

check this product link..

3 U chassis with 16 SATA hotswaps

4U chassis with 16 SATA hotswap

4U chassis with 14 SATA hotswap

 

[EatSpam]

The problem with the V2000 is that the PSU bay is too small for a big PSU and there's really no option for 2 PSUs. You could hack your PSU to make it fit, but that'll void your warranty for sure.

I have a storage server built around the older CMStacker. Its a big case with lots of drive bays. The dual PSU option is nice. However, that top PSU bay is too small for a big PSU. I ended up dremelling it out so my Zippy 700w PSU could fit.

Currently, I have 16 250gb hard drives in two RAID 5 arrays plus 2 36gb Raptors in a RAID 1 array. It all works, but the cabling is extremely messy. If you're going to have a lot of drives, the hotswap bays are worth the money. They make it very easy to route all your cables to the same place, plus you'll need less power connectors overall.

Overall, I like the Stacker. Its a big case with a lot of room. If you don't mind ghetto modifications and no DVDROM , you could fit 22 drives in it. Otherwise, 16 or so drives is about the limit.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: EatSpam
The problem with the V2000 is that the PSU bay is too small for a big PSU and there's really no option for 2 PSUs. You could hack your PSU to make it fit, but that'll void your warranty for sure.

I have a storage server built around the older CMStacker. Its a big case with lots of drive bays. The dual PSU option is nice. However, that top PSU bay is too small for a big PSU. I ended up dremelling it out so my Zippy 700w PSU could fit.

Currently, I have 16 250gb hard drives in two RAID 5 arrays plus 2 36gb Raptors in a RAID 1 array. It all works, but the cabling is extremely messy. If you're going to have a lot of drives, the hotswap bays are worth the money. They make it very easy to route all your cables to the same place, plus you'll need less power connectors overall.

Overall, I like the Stacker. Its a big case with a lot of room. If you don't mind ghetto modifications and no DVDROM , you could fit 22 drives in it. Otherwise, 16 or so drives is about the limit.

I actually fit my PCP&C 850 watt in my V2000,

I leaning towards the stacker I can start off with 8 drives and figure with two of those 3:4 drive cages it should fit nice.

I just did a 32 bay hot swap setup at work and let just say I wish we had gone Multilane.

I figure the 850watt in the stacker should be enough to power up a low end Mobo, CPU with the drives staggered?




Your thoughts?

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: S0Lstice

I figure the 850watt in the stacker should be enough to power up a low end Mobo, CPU with the drives staggered?

Your thoughts?

Easily. My 700w Zippy powers up 18 drives plus the Celeron 2400 and MB without breaking a sweat. The drives all spin up at the same time, too.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: S0Lstice

I figure the 850watt in the stacker should be enough to power up a low end Mobo, CPU with the drives staggered?

Your thoughts?

Easily. My 700w Zippy powers up 18 drives plus the Celeron 2400 and MB without breaking a sweat. The drives all spin up at the same time, too.

What controller are you using? I have a 3ware 9500s its a 64 bit card but its supposed to run in 32 bit slots too. Since this is just storage speed really isnt a big deal. And going 32 bit would open up a lot of options I dont have now.

 

[Madwand1]

If you have a bit of a flasher / voyeur in you then maybe you could use one of the large Thermaltakes for this, but they're not really cheap.

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/kandalf/va9000bws.asp

Can handle 9 drives in the front with iCage cooling (have to buy 2 more of these). Other 2 front slots for optical and optional floppy + necessary power control. Has another slot in the back for up to 3 3.5" drives with a smaller exhaust fan.

It's an EATX case, and should be able to handle extra-deep but otherwise standard-sized power supplies -- though you probably have to give up on the top-mounted exhaust fan for this.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: S0Lstice

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: S0Lstice

I figure the 850watt in the stacker should be enough to power up a low end Mobo, CPU with the drives staggered?

Your thoughts?

Easily. My 700w Zippy powers up 18 drives plus the Celeron 2400 and MB without breaking a sweat. The drives all spin up at the same time, too.

What controller are you using? I have a 3ware 9500s its a 64 bit card but its supposed to run in 32 bit slots too. Since this is just storage speed really isnt a big deal. And going 32 bit would open up a lot of options I dont have now.

I'm using SuperMicro DAC-SATA-MV8 cards. They're basically dumb 8 port SATA cards that sit on the PCI-X bus. I use Linux Software RAID 5 to tie the drives together.

The 3ware cards are excellent, but they'll be terribly slow in a 32-bit slot... why not get a motherboard with a PCI-X slot? There's a few out there that are quite reasonable in price.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: S0Lstice

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: S0Lstice

I figure the 850watt in the stacker should be enough to power up a low end Mobo, CPU with the drives staggered?

Your thoughts?

Easily. My 700w Zippy powers up 18 drives plus the Celeron 2400 and MB without breaking a sweat. The drives all spin up at the same time, too.

What controller are you using? I have a 3ware 9500s its a 64 bit card but its supposed to run in 32 bit slots too. Since this is just storage speed really isnt a big deal. And going 32 bit would open up a lot of options I dont have now.

I'm using SuperMicro DAC-SATA-MV8 cards. They're basically dumb 8 port SATA cards that sit on the PCI-X bus. I use Linux Software RAID 5 to tie the drives together.

The 3ware cards are excellent, but they'll be terribly slow in a 32-bit slot... why not get a motherboard with a PCI-X slot? There's a few out there that are quite reasonable in price.

Well I was going to get a mobo with 64 bit pci slots, issues is most are dual CPU and take ECC ram, so its starts to get pricey. Do you know of any boards with the 64bit slots that are single CPU or non ecc?

 

[Zepper]

I'd suggest the Codegen S101. Very roomy, not too expensive, easy to rig for dualie, redundant or oversized PSUs with no problem. And it comes with wheels...

Also take a look at http://www.buildtoorderservers.com They have several tower cases with lots of drive space.

.bh.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: S0Lstice
Well I was going to get a mobo with 64 bit pci slots, issues is most are dual CPU and take ECC ram, so its starts to get pricey. Do you know of any boards with the 64bit slots that are single CPU or non ecc?

Socket 478/PC3200 DDR RAM: SuperMicro P4SCi $199

Socket T/DDR2 RAM: Asus P5MT $269

Socket 939/PC3200 DDR RAM: SuperMicro H8SSL-i $235

I have the P4SCi with a Celeron 2400, very stable and it uses non ECC/Reg memory. As far as my searches reveal, the other two don't require it as well.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: S0Lstice
Well I was going to get a mobo with 64 bit pci slots, issues is most are dual CPU and take ECC ram, so its starts to get pricey. Do you know of any boards with the 64bit slots that are single CPU or non ecc?

Socket 478/PC3200 DDR RAM: SuperMicro P4SCi $199

Socket T/DDR2 RAM: Asus P5MT $269

Socket 939/PC3200 DDR RAM: SuperMicro H8SSL-i $235

I have the P4SCi with a Celeron 2400, very stable and it uses non ECC/Reg memory. As far as my searches reveal, the other two don't require it as well.

Hey man thanks a ton for the links, just what I needed something reasonable but new.

Think Ill grab one today and get the ball rolling

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Socket 939/PC3200 DDR RAM: SuperMicro H8SSL-i $235

Thanks for the link. I didn't know that a socket 939 PCI-X MB existed. Maybe it didn't when I last looked. Anyhow, your search skills > mine.

In case anyone else is interested, there are several versions, a couple with single 939, one of which also has on-board RAID, and they take 939 Athlons too.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: Madwand1

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Socket 939/PC3200 DDR RAM: SuperMicro H8SSL-i $235

Thanks for the link. I didn't know that a socket 939 PCI-X MB existed. Maybe it didn't when I last looked. Anyhow, your search skills > mine.

In case anyone else is interested, there are several versions, a couple with single 939, one of which also has on-board RAID, and they take 939 Athlons too.

As far as I know, that's the only Socket 939 with PCI-X that's readily available. Abit had a board that was Socket 939 with PCI-X, but I never was able to locate a retailer.