Wondering if this server can run FeeNAS

[Wilbertcr]

I was thinking on getting this baby, do you think freenas can run on it?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-PROLIANT...-CS24-SC-/131098842299?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

 

[Lordadmiral Drake]

Not totally ideal, but it should run. Could say more if there were more info though

 

[jgreco]

Comments:

1) Yes, FreeNAS should run on it

2) You'd be better off without one of those processors. FreeNAS will have difficulty making use of more than four cores, and you're just talking watt-burn then.

3) On the other hand, 16GB may be the limit for that platform and you may need both processors to get there. Harpertown's kind of old.

4) There's no mention of what sort of controller is in there. Be aware that older LSI SATA/SAS controllers (3Gbps) have a 2TB drive size limit. You might end up needing to replace a controller.

It may end up costing you more than you save, and it isn't going to be particularly fast.

 

[Z300M]

Comments:

2) You'd be better off without one of those processors. FreeNAS will have difficulty making use of more than four cores, and you're just talking watt-burn then.

So, when I build my own, there is no advantage in getting a quad-core CPU with hyperthreading vs. one without hyperthreading? E.g., E3-1230V3 vs. E3-1220V3?

 

[jgreco]

I have no idea how you got that out of what I said.

Hyperthreading allows an OS to make better use of the available cores by making a second set of pretend-cores's. Fundamentally the 1220 and 1230 ought to be able to perform similarly but the 1230 can handle some types of workloads much better due to the hyperthreading. Since they take about the same amount of power and cost about the same amount of money, why WOULDN'T you get the much better option for just a few more bucks?

The point I was making is that this fellow is considering a server with a second whole CPU that even though it might occasionally be slightly useful, will be burning watts for the lifetime of the server. Mid-2000-era CPU's were not efficient and so you have to consider whether burning maybe 40 extra watts is desirable. 40 watts * 24 hours * 30 days * 5 years * 14c/kWh = $243 in electric cost, for example.

 

[Lordadmiral Drake]

If its Harpertown then its a 5000 series chipset. These have either 32 or 64 GB of maximum RAM.
In this generation the memory is still connected to the Chipset and not the CPU. So it should be possible to use all of it with just one

 

[jgreco]

Ah, yes! I think that's correct. And it leads in to the other downside ... it's all DDR2. And they probably got to 16 by stuffing all the slots with lower priced lower density modules, so upgrades may well be impossible without getting rid of some of the existing memory.

I should be prohibited from commenting without sufficient coffee.

 

[Wilbertcr]

Thank you so much for the feedback guys. I think we should put things into perspective though.
I am currently using NAS to back up information and it pretty much gets connection from one single machine at a time. Furthermore I am currently running it on this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_2133_Mini-Note_PC

I mean, I am currently getting transfer rates of about 2 to 3 MB/s, 4MB/s if I am lucky, do you think getting that would improve things? Any estimates?

 

[jgreco]

"It'll work a lot better than THAT."

Enough perspective? :)

 

[Wilbertcr]

I thought you'd say that, its pretty lame right now hehe

 

[Wilbertcr]

Comments:
3) On the other hand, 16GB may be the limit for that platform and you may need both processors to get there. Harpertown's kind of old.

That wouldn't be an issue, as I am currently sitting at 2GB, it would still be a big leap for the money.

4) There's no mention of what sort of controller is in there. Be aware that older LSI SATA/SAS controllers (3Gbps) have a 2TB drive size limit. You might end up needing to replace a controller.

If that were the case, that's 2TB per bay/tray right? Or are we talking about max storage capacity for the entire thing?

 

[jgreco]

Per drive. See the LSI guide in the hardware section for more info.

 

[Wilbertcr]

Oh ok, that's more than fine with me. I just need it to back up my back up lol!

Finally, do you have any suggestions on something better among the same price range? Say up to $200 total cost?

 

[Wilbertcr]

Ended up going for this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-CS24-S...rg=20140107083349&rk=2&rkt=10&sd=131098842299

 

[jgreco]

Heh, Elk Grove Village. Probably came out of DFT or one of the other data centers in the area.

 

[cyberjock]

I've been to that Elk Grove Village vendor. Bought a server from them and it arrived broken. Since I was going to be in their area a week later I stopped by and did a swap. Nice guys and stuff. Very good customer service.

 

[gardenman]

Ended up going for this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-CS24-SC-Server-2x-Intel-L5420-Quad-Core-Xeon-2-5-GHz-16GB-4x146GB-1U-Server/141170843387?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid=222005&algo=SIC.PROD&ao=1&asc=20140107083349&meid=4513550779845280279&pid=100011&prg=20140107083349&rk=2&rkt=10&sd=131098842299

I am curious how it worked out for you. I am considering the same server for my home freenas with 16Gb RAM