New to this with some serious equipment..

[Largen]

hey everyone, like the title says I am entirely new to this and servers in general. But the other day I got one hell of a server given to me that I want to play with!
It's a Dell Poweredge R710, Dual 6 core Processors @2.93 GHz, and around 180gbs of ram...
I need to pick up a raid controller for it and some hard drive trays but otherwise got her booted up today with no issues!
So I plan on picking the brains here for some basic NAS setup and more if none has any good ideas to use this beast for!

 

[anodos]

For info about HBA, see here: https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/hardware-recommendations-read-this-first.23069/

Short version: you don't want a raid card.

 

[Largen]

For info about HBA, see here: https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/hardware-recommendations-read-this-first.23069/

Short version: you don't want a raid card.

See that's interesting... Because from my severely limited knowledge I thought I actually *Needed* a Perc controller for this unit to be able to even use on board drives. Perhaps more research is needed...

 

[anodos]

See that's interesting... Because from my severely limited knowledge I thought I actually *Needed* a Perc controller for this unit to be able to even use on board drives. Perhaps more research is needed...

I'm relatively sure that an H200 can flashed to IT mode. I don't have much experience with Dell hardware. I think @HoneyBadger is our resident Dell junkie.

 

[Mirfster]

See that's interesting... Because from my severely limited knowledge I thought I actually *Needed* a Perc controller for this unit to be able to even use on board drives. Perhaps more research is needed...

As anodos stated, RAID CARD = BAD. Could grab a H200 and flash it to IT Mode for ~$60.00 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-RAID-H...933459?hash=item280d9ab0d3:g:JAgAAOSwxN5Wa1wt). Just make sure that the backplane works with it as well (think it should).

Of course I believe that model also has an integrated slot that can be used as well, just not sure if there is a H200 option for this model though.

Looking at the picture, you seem to have a couple cards in there as well. Care to let us know what they are (don't think that they are HBAs, but just curious)?

 

[HoneyBadger]

I think @HoneyBadger is our resident Dell junkie.

Aww shucks.

The H200 can indeed be flashed to IT firmware. I've linked offsite before but @sactobob wrote an excellent how-to on the process that we have hosted right here on the forums:

https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/how-to-flashing-a-dell-h200-with-a-dell-r610.32919/

Please note that you'll actually want to substitute the "P20" firmware if you're running 9.3.1 as it's required there, and your updated URL for downloading is:

http://www.avagotech.com/products/server-storage/host-bus-adapters/sas-9211-8i#downloads

Expand the "Firmware" option and grab the "9211_8i_Package_P20_IR_IT_Firmware_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows" zip. You'll also need to grab the latest firmware for the "6Gbps SAS HBA" card from Dell's support site.

 

[HoneyBadger]

Of course I believe that model also has an integrated slot that can be used as well, just not sure if there is a H200 option for this model though.

While there is a mezz card slot on some Dells, I don't suggest using those as they're proprietary and if your system gets uppity about a "non-Dell storage adapter" being present, you can't throw it in another system to finish the reflash process. Too easy to brick 'em.

Looking at the picture, you seem to have a couple cards in there as well. Care to let us know what they are (don't think that they are HBAs, but just curious)?

I see a QLogic FC HBA on the left, and probably an Intel X520-DA2 on the right. Not sure what's under it.

 

[Jailer]

Nice score, it looks.....loud

 

[Fuganater]

Nice score, it looks.....loud

Not at all. I have 2 of them in my rack and they are very nice.