Video Storage Recorder (NVR) Server Build

A

Amedeo

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Feb 22, 2009
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All,

New to this forum and have found some of the posts and replies to be very informative. Thanks to the contributors for all the great info.

I am tasked with building a Large Video Storage Server (NVR) to handle large volumes of video from 20 plus H.264 based 2 megapixel IP video surveillance cameras. Efforts will be made to record only during motion but at 24fps and 2 megapixel, hard disk space will be chewed up rapidly. I also need to keep the data for at least 30 days, 60 would be optimal. Initial estimates are that I will need someware between 5TB and 10TB of final disk space depending on activity. Using RAID6 to minimize the possibility of downtime means that I will need anywhere from 10TB to 20TB of storage. I know this is a significant range but I am fairly comfortable with anything between those two numbers.

I initially looked at purchasing an HP Server like the DL185 G5 or the DL320S, but after doing some research I think I may be better off building my own from both a performance and a cost perspective. As far as budget goes, I would like to be under 10k all in.

Here are my initial thoughts after minimal research;

-RAID Controller: Areca ARC-1280ML. I assume the ML will make it easier to connect as there will be less SATA cables on 1 end then the 1280?
-Hard Drives: 21 x WD RE3 or Seagate ST31000340NS. 20 Live 1 Hotswap. This should cover my top end requirements. (Input on this would be great).
-Boot Hard Drive: I assume this is a good idea. Was thinking of a WD VelociRaptor 300GB
-Enclosure: Norco RPC 4020 (Input would be great)
-Cooling: Do I need to make any other provisions other than the Norco Enclosure
-Power: Do I need to make any other provisions other than the Norco Enclosure
-Motherboard: Was looking into some of the TYAN and ASUS models. (Input Very Much Appreciated)
-RAM: 8GB PC2100 Registered ECC, This should be enough?
-Video Controller: Nvidia? Need something that will output to 2-4 analog monitors plus 1 Digital. I need the analog outputs for integration into another system.
-O/S: Windows Server 2003 R2

Anything I'm overlooking? I'm sure I am, just can't think of it right now.

I live in Ontario, Canada and can purchase from Newegg.ca which has all of the items I've listed above.

I really appreciate any input you guys can provide. I need to build this unit in the next two weeks.

Thanks,

Amedeo
 
This for work, group hobby, or yourself? I ask for budgeting reasons. I'm all about cheap homebuilt whitebox, but I also know from various work environments that sometimes buying full systems (HP, Dell, IBM, Sun) is worth the money in support alone. Unless your job makes it a priority to know, understand, and admin these systems, it's something to think about.

Good luck, you're asking questions to a good group of people :)
 
There are many more people here that know more than I do about large RAID arrays, so I'll leave comment on those to them.

The Norco 4020 is a great case, however, it does not come with a power supply. (I can't tell from your post above if you were aware of this or not.) The stock cooling in the 4020 is adequate if you can handle the noise - the stock fans are screamers. If noise is a concern, replace the stock fans with Panaflo's. The 4020 can only hold 21 HDD's max, unless you mod something - 20 in the hot swap bays and one mounted internally. Your post leads to 22 = 20 + 1 hot spare + 1 boot. That's not going to work in the 4020.

As croakz mentioned, if support is a concern, I'd go with a pre-built system.
 
Thanks for the replies croakz and epimetheous.

Regarding drives, guess I'll have to make it 19 + 1. Not too concerned as I am well with my minimum requirements.

Regarding power, I guess I'll have to source a good power supply. I would like to go redundant. Is this possible with that case? Maybe 2 x 750's?

Anybody else have any input on all the other items? Was really hoping to get some solid feedback so I could make a decision this week sometime.

Thanks in advance!

Amedeo
 
I believe you can put a redundant PSU in the 4020, I can't really say myself as I've never had one. The 4020 does have a backet for the PSU to downsize it to the standard consumer PSU. I think the fullsize opening is for a standard redundant server PSU.
 
Have you considered a Supermicro case like the SC846? 24 bays, redundant psu, better build quality than the norco, and probably not much louder than those HP DLs you mentioned before :)

I really like jschuricht's build:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1033752228#post1033752228

Is this a production level system? Looks like you can put in mirrored boot drives in the SC846, and more bays means you can do something like raid10 for something faster but semi safe and still be over 10TB.
 
The SC846 is going to be a better fit for your needs than the Norco 4020 IMO.


You are going to find yourself spending a lot of money which will start comparing your system to a Dell Outlet system for example. I would rather go the Dell outlet route especially if this is going to be used for a business.
 
Thanks for the replies...

I did some research on the SC846 case. Looks great, ok I'm in. What about the supermicro motherboards? Anyone have any pro or cons on them? Or is a matching set the way to go here? Any other motherboard recommendations?

I'd like to stick with the Areca 1280ML as it seems to be the best all around card for what I am looking for.

Ockie, Dell Outlet has a ton more selection in the US then it does in Canada. Doesn't appear to be anything suitable on the dell.ca site although I have never purchased Dell products and am not familiar with them at all.

Regarding this being a production box, it is not.

Please keep the comments comming.

Amedeo
 
After a little more consideration and some input from forum members, I am begining to narrow down the components for the server build;

Case - Supermicro SC846E1-R900B
Power Supply - Supermicro Redundant 900w
Motherboard - Still Researching. I need a PCIe x16 slot + a PCIe x8 slot
Processor - 2X - Intel Xeon Quad Core 5400 Series
HeatSink - ????
Memory - 4X - 4GB Crucial Registered ECC DDR2-800
RAID Controller - Areca ARC-1280ML
Boot Drives - 2X - WD 300GB VelociRaptor
Drive Array - 21X - WD RE3 1TB RAID 6
Hot Swap - 1X - WD RE3 1TB
Video Board - NVIDIA Quadro NVS 440 x16
OS - Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise X64

Still under 10k and a good amount of redundancy :D.

Comments welcome!

Amedeo

Edited: To add Video board choice and indicate requirements for motherboard selection.
 
I think the SC846 is 24 hotswap bays + 2 more internal bays for the mirrored boot drives? So you mine as well get 24 x 1TB drives ;)

Anyone got comments on raid10 vs raid6 for his video needs?
 
croakz said:
Anyone got comments on raid10 vs raid6 for his video needs?
Click to expand...

Although R10 provides more redundancy, they both provide plenty of redundancy, IMO.
So it really depends on whats more important, Speed or Space?
 
"20 plus H.264 based 2 megapixel IP video surveillance cameras". Potentially a good amount of writing.
 
One small step forward and another step back. Found a Video card that will give the 4 analog video outputs I need, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 440 x16. Problem is that it requires a PCIe x16 slot and the Supermicro X7DWN+ motherboard doesn't have one. Only comes with x8.

So still looking for some rec's on the motherboard side.

Amedeo
 
Nitrobase24,

The X7DWA-N Supermicro motherboard has only 2 x16 PCI Express slots and no x8 slots. It is my understanding that when x16 slots are paired up on a motherboard like this, they either are a) reserved for graphics cards b) can not support an x8 card in one of the slots while the other slot is occupied by and x16 card or c) drop the bandwidth of the x8 card plugged into the x16 slot down to x1 (I think this is called unplugging). All of which are bad in my case as my x16 card is my graphics card and my x8 card is my RAID controller. This is why I would like a motherboard that specifically supports an x16 slot and an x8 slot. I am not too fussed if the x16 card gets reduced to x8 when both slots are populated as I am not using this system for gaming and highly doubt I would fill even the x8 pipe.

Hope my info is accurate, if not, please let me know.

Amedeo
 
Amedeo said:
One small step forward and another step back. Found a Video card that will give the 4 analog video outputs I need, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 440 x16. Problem is that it requires a PCIe x16 slot and the Supermicro X7DWN+ motherboard doesn't have one. Only comes with x8.

So still looking for some rec's on the motherboard side.

Amedeo
Click to expand...

Are you sure it requires. Just because it can fit in a PCIe x16 doesn't mean you can't operate it in a x1. Actually Anandtech had a nice article showing the effects of reducing the effective lanes on a modern card.

Simple put...a x16 card better work in a x8 slot or it is violation of the PCIe spec.
 
You can run an x1 in an x16 lane.

Same goes for the other way. Lets says you have an x16 slot but its only x8 electrical, you can run an x16 video card it will just be reduced to x8 speeds.

Not reserved for graphics cards, they allow you to use graphics cards.

The reason I picked that one is because, you have an x16 for the NVS
and another for the RAID card.
 
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