Linux Server (NAS)

[oimi]

Also, does anyone know of an intergrated PSU/UPS that fits into the standard place inside a compuer?

[Singh400]

So if I am looking for an Intel board, consensus is on the ASUS SKT-775 P5Q S/L 1600FSB?

This offers the most SATA ports, LAN any everything else specified... Is it an efficient motherboard?

I would say the P5QL-CM.

[oimi]

I would say the P5QL-CM.

For what reasons?

[oimi]

*bump*

[Singh400]

For what reasons?

6 sata ports, 1 gigabit port, on board video. matx form factor, on board sound (not needed though, it's a server). Works nicely with a cheapish E5200.

[oimi]

6 sata ports, 1 gigabit port, on board video. matx form factor, on board sound (not needed though, it's a server). Works nicely with a cheapish E5200.

Thank you very much for your response.

Do you mean P5QL-CM: http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...etcode=Z93492X OR http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...etcode=Z92439R ?

Also, is this the processor you were referring to? http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...etcode=Z89055Q

[Singh400]

Thank you very much for your response.

Do you mean P5QL-CM: http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...etcode=Z93492X OR http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...etcode=Z92439R ?

As far as I'm aware they are both same, can't figure why they are priced differently... Anyway, I got mine from here.

Also, is this the processor you were referring to? http://www.dacomputers.com/store.php...etcode=Z89055Q

Yeah thats the one. I got mine from here.

[oimi]

As far as I'm aware they are both same, can't figure why they are priced differently... Anyway, I got mine from here.

Yeah thats the one. I got mine from here.

Thank you for taking the time to provide me with links. Having reviewed that board, I notice how it only has 6 SATA ports when ideally I need 8 or more. Do you know of any similar boards with 8? Maybe built in wireless.

[strike-down]

Thank you for taking the time to provide me with links. Having reviewed that board, I notice how it only has 6 SATA ports when ideally I need 8 or more. Do you know of any similar boards with 8? Maybe built in wireless.

If its just a server and nothing else, your cpu aint gonna be doing too much so just get a cheap sata PCI card. Can pick them up for a couple of quid on fleabay

[Singh400]

Thank you for taking the time to provide me with links. Having reviewed that board, I notice how it only has 6 SATA ports when ideally I need 8 or more. Do you know of any similar boards with 8? Maybe built in wireless.

We are going round in circles here...

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).

You don't even need a DVD-RW drive 100% of the time. Just use an old one to install the main OS and then take it out. So you have 6 sata ports on the P5QL-CM. WD have 2TB drives out. Thats a total of 12TB storage space.

I've already mentioned an 8 sata port board here.

[oimi]

I'd rather get a motherboard with at least sata ports, please (similar to the one suggested above with 6 sata ports).

The MSI mentioned was frowned upon regarding reliability.

[Singh400]

I'd rather get a motherboard with at least sata ports, please (similar to the one suggested above with 6 sata ports).

The MSI mentioned was frowned upon regarding reliability.

And if someone frowned upon your chosen board...? Seriously dude, you've had lots of idea and every single one you've knocked back. Do you really intend to build a server? I think you need to go away asses your needs. Come back with a proper budget and what you want from the server.

[oimi]

And if someone frowned upon your chosen board...? Seriously dude, you've had lots of idea and every single one you've knocked back. Do you really intend to build a server? I think you need to go away asses your needs. Come back with a proper budget and what you want from the server.

I'm sorry if that is how I have come across, I really am...

My budget is £400 including RAM, CPU, PSU/USP, Motherboard, DVD-RW, SATA cables, HDDs, Case, Wireless card, LAN card, Gtaphics card (if required depending on motherboard).

Reliability, efficiency and power to specificity are most important.

As a central file hub, I will need to configure the system to have at least 2TB of usable space, whilst I would likely need that amount again to keep it backed up.

Thank you all for all your help thus far.

[strike-down]

My budget is £400 including RAM, CPU, PSU/USP, Motherboard, DVD-RW, SATA cables, HDDs, Case, Wireless card, LAN card, Gtaphics card (if required depending on motherboard).

Reliability, efficiency and power to specificity are most important.

As a central file hub, I will need to configure the system to have at least 2TB of usable space, whilst I would likely need that amount again to keep it backed up.

Thank you all for all your help thus far.

Ling singh said, wd have 2tb drives out now, and so one for the files, one for the backup. That uses 2 sata ports. Or if you were to go for the smaller 1.5 or 1tb drives, that will only use 4 sata ports. Dont see why you would need 8?????
Edit: You could just buy an IDE DVDrw drive if you're worried about that taking one of the sata ports.

[Singh400]

I'm sorry if that is how I have come across, I really am...

My budget is £400 including RAM, CPU, PSU/USP, Motherboard, DVD-RW, SATA cables, HDDs, Case, Wireless card, LAN card, Gtaphics card (if required depending on motherboard).

Reliability, efficiency and power to specificity are most important.

As a central file hub, I will need to configure the system to have at least 2TB of usable space, whilst I would likely need that amount again to keep it backed up.

Thank you all for all your help thus far.

In that case I'll refer you to post #6 in this thead...

Sure can.

I'm running:

Mobo: ASUS P5QL-CM (mATX)
CPU: E5200
PSU: Corsair 400W
Case: Antec NSK4000
HDD: 2x1TB, 1x80GB (all Samsung)
RAM: 2GB (Corsair)
OS: WHS

And I would suggest that you plug this into your router and access it wireless via that. Also you do realise your wireless speeds are going to be terrible right?

Now all that cost me around £555. Now considering you want more for less money, I think you still need to make some cuts.

Edit: You could just buy an IDE DVDrw drive if you're worried about that taking one of the sata ports.

Yup, he could do that too. Or just yank out any old DVD drive to use temporarily to install which ever OS to save some £££'s.

[oimi]

I'll be using 2 disc arrays for most effective backup.

Effectively, I want at least 2TB of working storage space so I will need to mirror that to ensure I do not lose anything in case of a HDD failure.

Now at the moment I have 4 x 1TB HDDs and 1 x 750GB HDD, so if I want that amount I just need to buy another 750GB HDD? That would be 6 SATA ports. The DVD-RW drive will then need to be external.

I suppose that isn't too much of a problem, but who really wants an external DVD-RW drive these days?

It has been suggested that I look for the following hardware by someone with experience building servers according to my specification:

8 SATA AMD Motherboard
AMD 64 CPU 4200 or 4400
Case with HDD Fan and Case Fan
Standard duty CPU Fan
350 watt Power Supply