New NAS using old server hardware (another)

[fede.97]

Hi all, I would like to know your opinion about this hardware and ask if would it be fitting for a modest home NAS application

• Supermicro MBD-X7DBE-X-O
• 2 x XEON E5410
• 16 Gb ram M395T5663QZ4-CE66 (ECC)

I could get this set for 230€ (European writing). Do you think these 'd do the job? I'm willing to use 5/6 x 2Tb WD RED drives in RAIDZ mostly for file storage. No particular tasks will be done on the server since I've got a good PC which I can use for resource consuming stuff like encoding or so.

Bear with me and my English

 

[Dice]

Check this chart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors

In general the forum usually advices to find a CPU that does not rely on FSB (front side bus). Older Xeons do. Newer don't. To find out, have a look around in the link. I searched for "E5410" and found it has FSB. Not a good choice. Look for a later model.


/ Cheers

 

[nightshade00013]

Agreed while it should work, it is quite old and chips that use a FSB are not really recommended.

You may want to look at an Atom based board if you are not planning on running a lot of jails (especially Plex with any transcoding) or at least get into the 5500 or 5600 series of Xeon's.

 

[fede.97]

Thanks a lot guys, that's the exact reason I wanted to ask prior buying anything I'd regret soon :)
I've found a Dell PowerEdge T20 mounting a Xeon e3-1225 v3. Seems quite good but I'd have to add a ram stick, not a problem though.
Any opinion on this one? I saw some here are using it and it seems to work, after all

 

[Mirfster]

I'm willing to use 5/6 x 2Tb WD RED drives in RAIDZ mostly for file storage.

I've found a Dell PowerEdge T20 mounting a Xeon e3-1225 v3. Seems quite good but I'd have to add a ram stick, not a problem though.

Might want to make sure that it can house that many drives in the case. Search the forums for "T20" and member name "Robert Trevellyan"; I defer to him regarding all things T20 related.
@Robert Trevellyan , your expertise is requested. :)

 

[fede.97]

I saw it has just 6 SATA ports and only 4 3,5" disk cages, but finding a place for the remaining disks shouldn't be a problem. After all I was thinking about building my own wooden case for the other motherboard waiting for a proper one ;)

 

[Mirfster]

Yeah, I think there are ways to get more drives in there. May want to see what Robert says.. I think that he may have more than 4 drives in his (using a couple 2.5"); but again defer to him on specifics.

 

[fede.97]

Good, thanks for pointing me out to a guy who could help me

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

I wouldn't buy a T20 if you plan to install more than four 3.5" drives. The machine is designed to house up to four 3.5" drives and up to two 2.5" drives, which is does very nicely. In many boxes you can repurpose the optical drive bay, but in the T20 the optical drive bay is half-height (it's where the 2.5" drives go, side by side). Even if you fabricated a solution elsewhere in the box, you'd be struggling for adequate ventilation.

 

[fede.97]

You're pointing out just an housing problem if I'm not mistaken. That'd be easily solvable changing the case and I actually haven't found any better option in this price range :(

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

That'd be easily solvable changing the case

If you change the case, you might also need new wiring. I suggest you watch some of the official Dell videos for the T20 if you're seriously considering it, especially if you plan to modify it.

 

[fede.97]

Physically accomplishing the task wouldn't be a problem, I have some experience in building PCs. If you guys tell me that the T20 with Xeon is a good performer freenas-wise I'll seriously think about buying it :)
PS I remind you to bear with my english, once again.

 

[gpsguy]

Your command of the English language is excellent.

We do have an Italian section on the forum - https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?forums/italian-italiano.30/

I do realize that there's more activity in the English language sections, so if someone has some proficiency (and yours is excellent) in English, they are likely to get more answers/faster, than in one of the foreign language sections.

PS I remind you to bear with my english, once again.

By the way, welcome to the forums!

 

[fede.97]

Thanks @gpsguy for your welcome, I always post in English sections as generally they're more active as you said :)
I just found out I've been an idiot. The T20 has only 4 SATA ports on the motherboard. I've been fooled by Dell's website where I read "Supports up to 4 3,5" disks + 2 2,5" disks"

 

[gpsguy]

Dell (or anyone else) sells a StarTech PEXSAT32 PCI/e contoller for an extra 2 SATA ports. And, then you'd need SATA power splitters. You'd need to be careful with the latter, since poorly made ones have been known to melt, etc.

You aren't an idiot, I'm sure a lot of people have been fooled.

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

If you guys tell me that the T20 with Xeon is a good performer freenas-wise I'll seriously think about buying it

I'm very happy with mine, and it only has a G3220. If yours will have a Xeon, so much the better.

The T20 has only 4 SATA ports on the motherboard

True.

StarTech PEXSAT32 PCI/e contoller for an extra 2 SATA ports

Right, and there are alternatives. I've been testing a HighPoint Rocket 640L in mine for a while now, with StarTech power splitters. Haven't lost any data or magic smoke yet.

There's no reason you couldn't upgrade to something like an M1015 HBA at some point, after rehousing the system.