Setting up file server

R

Rusty4560

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
1,131
I am setting up a file server with some extra parts I have.
E6750, 4gb of DDR2 667, 3-5 500gb, 650watt PSU.

Questions.

Has anyone had luck with raid 5 using the onboard raid controller?

Can anyone suggest a good mobo that has at least 4sata ports (preferably 6) and can support raid 5?
 
Well all the sata raid cards are ridiculously expensive. So I figured why not use the integrated raid on the motherboard. I know my asus p5q and striker extreme motherboards supports raid configs but I never played around with it.
 
Do you have a spare video card?
What OS are you planning on using?
What's your max budget for a new motherboard?

Also, do note that Intel's onboard RAID only about supports 4 drives (maybe 6 I think) in RAID 5 and does not support Online Capacity Expansion, a feature that lets you expand the RAID 5 array without losing the data on the RAID 5 array.
 
Video Card: EVGA 8800GTS
OS: Not sure, I want to be able to connect my xbox to this so 7 pro or if I can get a hold of server 03/08
Budget: Would like to keep it under $150 if possible.

I have 5 500gb. I can use 3 for the raid and have 2 spares for any problems. 1TB should be enough for what I'm doing.

170GB or music ( I dj ) and prolly 300+ gig of shows at the moment.
 
Rusty4560 said:
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately for you, there's really no options available if you're looking to buy brand new. Of the 113 socket 775 motherboards on Newegg right now, only two of those motherboards have an onboard RAID controller. However, both use DDR3 RAM exclusively and costs quite a bit of money.

So unless you're willing to buy used, if you're looking for a new socket 775 mobo with onboard RAID, you're SOL.
 
Yea I intended on buying it used or from ebay. But what do you think about using the onboard raid controller?
 
I would do it with Linux but I want to be able to have my xbox connect to it. So windows 7 / server 2k8. Not sure yet.

The drives are WD or Seagate. I can't remember off the top of my head, I've had them for a while.
 
Rusty4560 said:
I would do it with Linux but I want to be able to have my xbox connect to it. So windows 7 / server 2k8. Not sure yet.
Click to expand...
Actually you can connect use Linux to serve up data to a Xbox 360L
http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-Turn-Linux-Into-a-PS3-or-Xbox-360-Media-Server-102831.shtml
http://www.ehow.com/how_5006460_connect-xbox-linux-pc.html
http://liamm.com/tech/how-toxbox-360-media-server-in-linux
http://www.rbgrn.net/content/21-how-to-choose-dlna-media-server-windows-mac-os-x-or-linux

If Windows, you're looking at pretty low write speeds and probably a bit of constant CPU usage if using the ICH9R.
Rusty4560 said:
The drives are WD or Seagate. I can't remember off the top of my head, I've had them for a while.
Click to expand...

Might be some issues due to possible TLER related issues with those drives in a RAID 5 array and the ICH9R.
 
They're drives are out of another server so I'm hoping there won't be any issues. As for the OS, I haven't used linux in quite some time so what distro would you suggest I use?
 
I want to be able to access music and videos from the file serer while on my xbox. So that I may stream videos and said music on the tv.
 
Rusty4560 said:
They're drives are out of another server so I'm hoping there won't be any issues.
Click to expand...
That wouldn't be the issue even if they were brand new drives. The problem is that if you have Western Digital or Seagate drives, they may not work with a RAID 5 or RAID 10 array due to TLER related issues.
Rusty4560 said:
As for the OS, I haven't used linux in quite some time so what distro would you suggest I use?
Click to expand...
I recommend Ubuntu Server

Adidas4275 said:
He might mean media center in the xbox

Not sure
Click to expand...
No actually I meant a using a Linux Media server that'll be able to serve content to the Xbox 360.
 
So do you suggest using the onboard raid controller sense a sata raid card is so expensive?
 
Rusty4560 said:
So do you suggest using the onboard raid controller sense a sata raid card is so expensive?
Click to expand...
f you're fine with slow write speeds (10MB/s to 20MB/s give or take) and using Windows, then go for it. If using Linux or any other non-Windows OS, then use the software RAID engine that's made for those OSes.
Rusty4560 said:
I found this board that is possibly in stock.

http://directron.com/boxdq45cb.html
Click to expand...

Waay too much for that mobo. IIRC, that mobo was only $106 back in the days of C2D dominance. So yeah waay overpriced.
 
Rusty4560 said:
The only other option I have is to buy used or ebay.
Click to expand...

Then look for a P45 chipset motherboard with the ICH9R or ICH10R south bridge. They should not cost more than $50 or so. Also hit up our For Sale For Trade subforum as well.
 
Rusty4560 said:
I want to be able to access music and videos from the file serer while on my xbox. So that I may stream videos and said music on the tv.
Click to expand...

in that case, you don't need the performance (and the price it costs) of hardware raid. Check out unRAID, it's what I use for my media server and I love it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top