[olug] Server Motherboard Recomendations.

[Jesse Regier]

Jeff Hinrichs - DM&T wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 9:52 PM, Phil Brutsche <phil at brutsche.us> wrote:
>   
>> Will Langford wrote:
>>     
>>> Dell perc4/dc's are relatively cheap (being a few generations old), get
>>> around 20mb/sec write speed sustained or so, 128mb bbu.
>>>       
>> Caveat: those are SCSI RAID controllers.
>>
>> Used SCSI drives can be iffy, new SCSI drives - if you can find them -
>> are $$$$.
>>
>> Incidentally those controllers are identical to a LSI Logic MegaRAID 320-2.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Phil Brutsche
>> phil at brutsche.us
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>>
>>     
> Now I'm not arguing against what has been said here but most of it is
> conventional wisdom.  However, If I had to support a server that far
> away and possibly out in the sticks of a foreign country -- I'd be
> leaning towards a machine that can easily be replaced or re-parted
> locally.  High end parts with big $$ values are going to be expensive
> to get in to Brazil.  No,  I never lived there but I work for a
> company that ships products there.  If the total invoice is above X,
> you pay a hefty sum for bringing it in to the country.
>
> This is a samba server and I haven't seen any one ask how many clients
> it was going to be serving.  Only the OP knows that currently -- but
> really, does it really take a high end RAID card, SCSI drives and a
> bad a$$ server board to serve smb to 5 - 10 people.  A desktop with a
> gig and software mirrored sata drives might be all that is required
> but most of the specs floated seem more appropriate for conagra or
> first data then for a small missionary radio set up.  The flash drive
> for boot, with a second that can be used as a fall back for a failed
> upgrade might be just the ticket.
>
> Along that line, something like FreeNAS or the like might be more
> appropriate -- they are already set up to boot from flash or cd and
> store settings on flash.  Sending down a new boot cd is a lot less
> hassle when upgrading.
>
> Also, if bugs and dust are a real concern, building a box out of cheap
> furnace filters and duct tape works pretty well too and can be easily
> maintained by remote users.  Each filter is a side of the box, duct
> tape them together.  They don't even need to crack the box open to
> change filtering mechanism.
>
> Just thinking out loud...
>
> Regards,
>
> Jeff
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>
>   
Yes this is a small network.  They have about 10 machines now.  Only 2-3 
office type machines, a proxy server, 3 "on-air"/ audio editing, and 
some "news gathering"/web browsing machines.   It remains to be seen if 
the "on-air' machines will play music and programs from there or just 
keep backups to there.  Probably just keep backup.

Jesse


Jesse