Linux Server (NAS)

[aidanjt]

Best price I could find was: 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F1 SATA2 7200RPM 32MB cache

That's a pretty good deal. Nice catch.

[oimi]

3 x 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F1 SATA2 7200RPM 32MB cache = £235.35.

That's hardware and data storage sorted, now for the rest...

Please recommend a suitable motherboard.

[aidanjt]

There's 8 ports on this board: http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...tcode=IPMBAP5Q

[oimi]

Thanks, I am checking it out now.

They cancelled my order for that case, so I've hadto look for the next cheapest alternative retailer (Play.com).

Cooler Master Dominator 690 PC Case With Window / Black (Play.com) @ £67.99.

[oimi]

There's 8 ports on this board: http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...tcode=IPMBAP5Q

Ordered it from the source you recommended!

[mycarsavw]

You mentioned CCTV

Before you go balls out along the path you've chosen, perhaps you'd give this thread a look;

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...sed-other.html

I ended up going for a DS408 in the end - they're pricey, but they'll do everything you're looking to do in one purpose built unit. Drop down the levels to find one that suits you then max it out with your chosen HDDs.

Have a look at the spec sheets on each unit - http://synology.com/enu/products/index.php

[oimi]

You mentioned CCTV

Before you go balls out along the path you've chosen, perhaps you'd give this thread a look;

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...sed-other.html

I ended up going for a DS408 in the end - they're pricey, but they'll do everything you're looking to do in one purpose built unit. Drop down the levels to find one that suits you then max it out with your chosen HDDs.

Have a look at the spec sheets on each unit - http://synology.com/enu/products/index.php

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've already started ordering bits and pieces and would much rather build my own PC NAS.

Recommendations on all hardware that fits this board please, based on how energy efficient it is and how well it will work for the specified jobs it will have to perform.

[oimi]

Ordered it from the source you recommended!

Seems that I am unable to order this motherboard from the website mentioned. Can anyone spot the cheapest alternative for this board please?

[aidanjt]

List of prices here: http://www.google.co.uk/products/cat...g=p#ps-sellers

[oimi]

List of prices here: http://www.google.co.uk/products/cat...g=p#ps-sellers

Thank you for this list.

Could I please ask why you recommended that particular motherboard over any other? Such as http://www.stuff-uk.net/?s=ST-90-MIB4L0-G0EAY00Z for instance.

[aidanjt]

Thank you for this list.

Could I please ask why you recommended that particular motherboard over any other? Such as http://www.stuff-uk.net/?s=ST-90-MIB4L0-G0EAY00Z for instance.

Purely on number of SATA ports. You could go with that too if you don't think you'd have need of more than 6 disks.

[Singh400]

The mobo is a bit overkill considering it's going to be for server use only, and not a main workstation. P5QL-CM or something similar would be fine for a server role.

If you want the maximum number of SATA ports then the MSI P43 NEO3-FR has eight!

[aidanjt]

The mobo is a bit overkill considering it's going to be for server use only, and not a main workstation. P5QL-CM or something similar would be fine for a server role.

If you want the maximum number of SATA ports then the MSI P43 NEO3-FR has eight!

That would work. But I'm not sure about MSI reliability.

[oimi]

That would work. But I'm not sure about MSI reliability.

Yes, you are right. Reliability is key here too.

[oimi]

I'd be connecting at least 4 HDDs (three 1TB drives and one 500GB) and a DVD-RW drive.

That would leave me with one spare drive, although as time progresses the number of drives required to hold the same amount of data will go down so theoretically I should not need any more than that?

So what's the best deal on the most reliable motherboard which provides Wi/fi and LAN, 6 SATA connectors, support for the latest RAID configurations, support for booting from USB devices, support for at least 8GB RAM, support for processor upgrades in the future (although as I stated previously I just want the most important hardware to be top-notch - for the pupose built reasons of file transfer, hd encoding, energy efficiency etc).

[aidanjt]

If all you need is 6 SATA ports, then an Abit IP35 Pro XE can be had for £69. And another £16 will net you a PCI wireless card.