20+TB Build Started - Questions inside regarding component selection

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doofoo

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Aug 1, 2006
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I have started my 20+TB build and just finishing up picking all the components and would appreciate a little help.

I will be running Open Solaris 11 Express + napp-it or OpenIndiana. ZFS is my friend for vmware backup snapshots and clones..

Some things I already have and will be using:
Adaptec 2405 4 Port SATA/SAS Controller
8x2TB Seagate Drives
4x1TB WD Drives

Components I am ordering:
Case: Norco RPC-4224 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219038
MB: Supermicro MBD-X9SCA-O - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182256
Processor: Intel Xeon E3-1240 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115082
Memory: Kingston 16GB (4 x 4GB) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139262
Additional Controller: Intel SASU8I - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816117157
Power Supply: Unknown - Still haven't decided, but I need something that supports a lot of 4 pin molex power connectors for the backplane on the RPC-4224. Any suggestions?

With the setup above I will have 18 SATA ports including the 6 On Board (4x3Gb/s, 2x6Gb/s).

My plan was to utilize the on-board SATA with 2 x Laptop Drives mounted internally for the boot OS.

Then Utilize the Adaptec 2405 to handle 1 backplane, the Intel to handle 2 additional blades, and finally use a Norco SFF-8087 Reverse breakout cable to handle 4 additional to the on-board SATA.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816133033


My questions I still have are what SFF-8087 cable do I need to go from the Intel and Adaptec to the backplane's? I want to make sure I get the right cables. Also, does anyone have any suggestions with enough molex/power output for the backplane power - and enough to handle the full 24 drives when I scale up?

My goal for this server is to serve up both home videos, photos, and DVD/Blu-Ray backups, as well as serve NFS/iSCSI to my VMWare ESX Farm (R610 2xE5620, R5400 Workstation running ESX and 2 x 2950 2xQC).

I am replacing my MD3000i and QNAP TS-809 with this setup, looking to save space, power and have expandability to storage.

** Update - Also, anyone who has worked with this chassis, if you could link some of the cable's and lengths you used I would appreciate it. I want to order as much as possible so I can get it built asap. ***
 
doofoo said:
Power Supply: Unknown - Still haven't decided, but I need something that supports a lot of 4 pin molex power connectors for the backplane on the RPC-4224. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Your best approach for a Norco RPC-4220/4224 would be to purchase a modular PSU and custom make your own cables to distribute power. Its cleaner and you'll have more pride in the end result. Buy the wire and "vampire" Molex connectors, spread them out the same distance apart as the backplanes and make yourself a perfect fit. Get some sleaving and shrink-wrap to finish it off...beauty!

I used a quiet Corsair (HX-650) and made two cable runs to power the two rows of backplane connectors. Its complete overkill...only one connector each is required to power the backplanes and the second one is there for redundant PSU confiugrations. The PSU is (effectively) single rail, so no problem with power imbalance to worry about. But it just looks prettier with both sets of plugs filled up. And the neatly sleaved, perfect length cables make me smile every time I open up the case.
 
PigLover said:
Your best approach for a Norco RPC-4220/4224 would be to purchase a modular PSU and custom make your own cables to distribute power. Its cleaner and you'll have more pride in the end result. Buy the wire and "vampire" Molex connectors, spread them out the same distance apart as the backplanes and make yourself a perfect fit. Get some sleaving and shrink-wrap to finish it off...beauty!

I used a quiet Corsair (HX-650) and make two cable runs to power the two rows of backplane connectors. Its complete overkill...only one connector each is required to power the backplanes and the second one is there for redundant PSU confiugrations. The PSU is (effectively) single rail, so no problem with power imbalance to worry about. But it just looks prettier with both sets of plugs filled up. And the neatly sleaved, perfect length cables make me smile every time I open up the case.
Click to expand...

Did you power each row from one up-link molex connectors from the power supply? So basically just 1 power cable from the power supply powering the entire backplane?

If so - do you have all 20 or 24 drives populated and does it handle it okay?

How many 4 pin Molex does the Corsair HX-650 have? Trying to find specs on it.

I found this so far:
1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 8-Pin EPS/ATX12V
8 x Peripheral
9 x SATA
2 x Floppy
4 x PCI-E

Is the 8 x Peripheral the 4 pin molex? Or would I need to use some sort of SATA to 4 pin converters?
 
The HX-650 is modular. The specs you posted here are based on the cables they ship with it. I'm suggesting that you buy the PSU, set aside most/all of the cables that came with it, and then make your own. This particular modular design has 6 outputs suitable for the standard Molex/SATA runs and 2 output suitable for +12v runs to the "extra" ATX connector and/or video cards. Other modular PSU designs may vary (in fact, I actually used an older Corsair 620HX that has been replaced by the HX-650 - but it didn't seem too useful to recommend a discontinued model).

Yes, all 20 slots on my 4220 are populated with drives. Yes, it handles it just fine. Yes, even a "theoretical" evaluation of max power draw (spin up power) simultaneously from all 20 drives is well below the specs for the PSU, cables and connectors with only a single Molex used on each backplane. Yes, it would still be OK with 24 drives in a 4224.

I'm not overly committed to recommending this particular PSU. But I'm all about recommending that you use modular PSU and make your own custom cable from the PSU to the backplanes that meets your needs exactly. For an RPC-4224, that would be a cable that plugs into the PSU on one end and then has 6 Molex connectors spaced to fit the backplane...all properly sleeved for tidyness, of course!

If you really want more detail on this particular PSU, see here: http://www.corsair.com/hx650w.html
 
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I agree with PigLover...

@PigLover: You also have to keep in mind if he's handy enough to make his own cables.

In general I agree with your as I ALWAYS make my own cables too. I prefer the look of tidy cables too ;)

I used the Corsair AX750 as the power supply for my additional server (based on the RPC-4224):

http://www.corsair.com/power-supplies/modular-psus/professional-series-gold-2/ax750w.html

I prefer the AX750 over the HX series because it is a fully modular PSU vs. a half modular aproach on the HX series. In addition the AX series has a slightly higher efficiency rating.

I'll post some pictures of my new server soon when I get the last cable finished (the 24pin ATX one). It only needs to be half as long as it comes from the factory.

@doofoo: I would suggest you look at getting the X9SCA-F version:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182255&cm_re=X9SCA-_-13-182-255-_-Product

It's well worth the extra few bucks to get the IPMI version!

You may also want to check out this controller instead of the Intel one since you listed a 3Gb/s controller:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101358&Tpk=aoc-saslp-mv8

It's cheaper and works quite well...
 
treadstone said:
I agree with PigLover...

@PigLover: You also have to keep in mind if he's handy enough to make his own cables.

In general I agree with your as I ALWAYS make my own cables too. I prefer the look of tidy cables too ;)

I used the Corsair AX750 as the power supply for my additional server (based on the RPC-4224):

http://www.corsair.com/power-supplies/modular-psus/professional-series-gold-2/ax750w.html

I prefer the AX750 over the HX series because it is a fully modular PSU vs. a half modular aproach on the HX series. In addition the AX series has a slightly higher efficiency rating.

I'll post some pictures of my new server soon when I get the last cable finished (the 24pin ATX one). It only needs to be half as long as it comes from the factory.

@doofoo: I would suggest you look at getting the X9SCA-F version:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182255&cm_re=X9SCA-_-13-182-255-_-Product

It's well worth the extra few bucks to get the IPMI version!
Click to expand...

That's actually the board I am getting. I copy/pasted the wrong URL. IPMI is a must for sure. :)

Where do you guys get the supplies to make the cables? I'm not afraid to get dirty, I just don't want to waste a ton of money on specialized tools needed to terminate anything. Is it a simple non-terminated/special tool process?

Are there any howto's or anything out there I can read up on by chance?

The AX750 looks awesome. I added that to my to-purchase list. I like the fully modular setup.

I think the only stuff left is the info about making my own cables, and then the SFF-8087 to SFF-8087 (from the Adaptec and Intel cards to the backplane). Does a simple SFF-8087 to SFF-8087 cable work? Like the one below:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=SFF-8087_to_SFF-8087-_-16-151-079-_-Product

Hopefully I can find them cheaper, I just need to figure out the distance for the run inside the case from the cards to the backplane.
 
Make sure you check the orientaion of the right angle connector on the SFF-8087 before you buy a cable like that. Remember that the cables require a bit of a bending radius since you can NOT bend them in a direct 90 degree angle (in case you need to bend any of the SFF-8087 cables!).

I happen to have all the crimp tools I need... I wouldn't suggest going out and buying them as they are expensive!

Alternatively, if you can get the pins and maybe a pin extraction tool (which isn't that expensive), you could always solder the pins onto the end of the cable instead of crimping them.

The only cable you can't really modify are the SFF-8087 type cables since they have molded connectors on each end of the cable, so you need to order the appropriate length cable for your setup.

I needed 40cm SFF-8087 / SFF-8087 cables for the RPC-4224 but they don't make them in that length. I can get them in 15.2cm, 22.5cm, 30cm, 33cm, 50cm, 60cm and 100cm. So I had to compromise and get the 50cm cables.
 
doofoo said:
Where do you guys get the supplies to make the cables? I'm not afraid to get dirty, I just don't want to waste a ton of money on specialized tools needed to terminate anything. Is it a simple non-terminated/special tool process?
Click to expand...
You don't need any specialized tools to work with Molex connecters for power cables. Proper crimpers help, but diagonal wire cutters, a stripper and large needle-nose pliers will do the job just fine. You probably already have everything you need (and if you don't you probably shouldn't be assembling your own server to start with!).

I buy from all over - but one of my favorite sources for Molex connecters is FrozenCPU.com. Decent selection and fast shipping. You can beat their prices, but why? Your only talking pennies anyway...

Start here: http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g51/Connectors.html

Here are one set of cables I made for an RPC4220. The longer cable extends to feed the two 2.5" SATA drives and a molex near the (currently unused) slim-DVD drive space. Sorry about the low quality, shadowy picture.

IMG_6254a.jpg
 
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@john4200: Thanks for the link. I forgot to mention that I get my SFF-8087 cables for less than half the price of the one you linked to, and they are high quality Molex cables!

@PigLover: You are correct, that you don't need crimp tools for the IDC style molex connectors you used to make that cable. I used those in my HTPC and they work quite well. I was referring to the type of 4-pin molex connector you have on the longer cable on the left hand side in your picture. I prefer using those and crimping the actual cables together.
 
treadstone said:
@john4200: Thanks for the link. I forgot to mention that I get my SFF-8087 cables for less than half the price of the one you linked to, and they are high quality Molex cables!

@PigLover: You are correct, that you don't need crimp tools for the IDC style molex connectors you used to make that cable. I used those in my HTPC and they work quite well. I was referring to the type of 4-pin molex connector you have on the longer cable on the left hand side in your picture. I prefer using those and crimping the actual cables together.
Click to expand...

I know. I prefer those too. But the layout of the Norco backplane power connectors makes the "vampire" style Molex work out really well - they just fit onto the straight runs of wire passing by the backplanes. It turns out very elegent in the cramped space behind the fan tray.

You actually don't have to have a special crimp tool even for the "normal" Molex connectors. If you are just doing a few of them then squeezing it with large needle nose pliers still works - it just takes a long time as you have to work it a bit to get a good crimp. Proper tools make it much easier...but might not be worth it to just do a few crimps.

Surprised you didn't notice that I 'recycled' manufactured SATA power connectors in that particular harness! I've got so many of those "Molex to SATA" thingy's you get with every retail box disk drive that it just drives me nuking futs.
 
I would recommend to sell the Adaptec and get the Intel SASUC8i and flash it with the LSI IT Firmware - for more ports you should maybe consider the HP SAS Expander - especially with so much backplane-ports :)
 
DieTa said:
I would recommend to sell the Adaptec and get the Intel SASUC8i and flash it with the LSI IT Firmware - for more ports you should maybe consider the HP SAS Expander - especially with so much backplane-ports :)
Click to expand...

I already plan on picking up a Intel (LSI) and flashing it to IT Firmware. I believe the Intel model I listed above is capable of being flashed to IT firmware, correct?

If I need more ports 4 (Adaptec), 8 from Intel, and 6 from on-board (let's just say 4 for that, since I'm using 2 for OS, internal disks)- Puts me at 16, I just need 8 more ports to fully populate the backplane, so I would just need 1 more Intel (LSI) to get me up to 24 ports.

The MB I picked has 3 PCI-Express slots 2 8x, 1 16x so I'm good. Then I'll probably throw in a Dual Gigabit Intel PCI card as well.

Can someone confirm the Intel card I listed is capable of being upgraded to IT firmware?
 
doofoo said:
I'm guessing IPASS is just some name supermicro uses for SFF-8087 to SFF-8087?
Click to expand...

IPASS is a brand name that can refer to multiple connector types. The Supermicro cable is not really well specified by calling it "IPASS", but I can vouch for the fact that particular Supermicro part number is indeed SFF-8087 on both ends. It also has the sidebands connected, which is probably irrelevant for Norco Chassis, but is useful for other chassis that use the sidebands for the identify LEDs on the hot-swap bays.

http://www.molex.com/molex/products...oducts&chanName=family&pageTitle=Introduction
 
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