Low power consumption selfbuild Server

[Bengele]

Hello Community,

i want to build a low power consumption NAS and i need feedback about my hardware choices.

Now i will hit you with a big data sheet and the explanation for what i want to use my Server .

I hope i will not overrun you with a truck of informations.

 

 

Programms:

-Teamspeakserver for ca 10 People (32/64 Bit Architecture requirement, means no ARM)

-Seafile Server (aka a Dropbox wich is hosted on your private Server)

-FDP Server

-VM's explanation later

 

Hardware:

Mainboard+CPU ASRock N3700-ITX

 CPU :N3700 CPU 6W TDP 4Cores with 1600 - 2400 MHz

4 SATA Ports (Start with 2 HDD maybe i will go to 4 HDD later)

Fortron FSP 150-50TNF (FANLESS) 150W

16GB G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3L-1600 SO-DIMM CL9 Dual Kit

2x Seagate Archive HDD 8TB SATA (For Storage Raid 1 + Data of the Seafile Server/FTP)

3x SanDisk Extreme CZ80 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive (1. For VM Host Operating System and 2. Guest VM Openmediavault 3. Guest VM Teamspeak)

The Reason why i use a flashdrive is to save a Sata Ports

 

Usage:

-Server runs 24h

-Teamspeak up to 10 People

-VM Software Setup:

HostOS: Hypervisor

GuestOS1: Openmediavault for Raid 1 (Harddrives are passed trough VM) / FDP / Seafileserver

GuestOS2: Teamspeak with a minimum install of Debian 

 

 

Do you think this Build could work with the low Power CPU?

I think its a nice Price/Value/Power comsuption Setup. If i get transferrates of 50MB/s i would be happy and if the teamspeak still runs stable.

The reason why i want to use Virualisation is that i can take spanshots before i make changes to the system.

I also want to control the Resurces of the Server how much Ram and Cores teamspeak get and how much the FDP/Seafile server gets.

For me the Teamspeak have to work fluently and would be happy if the fileserver reaches about 50MB/s while the Teamserver is running.

 

I think its a nice Price/Value/Power comsuption Setup.

The software installation is not the problem for me but im not sure if the hardware can stand that much.

i would be happy if you give me Feedback or if you have questions feel free to ask.

 

Regards 

Bengele

 

 

 

 

 

[Elerek]

Might want to look into containers as they can separate out your programs with less overhead and still accomplish all the same things. Only real limitation is that everything has to be able to run on the same os.

[Bengele]

Thank you for your fast answer. 

Well the same OS shouldnt be the problem. But im not that much into container.

The Problem would be that seafile gets Updates and they are for a normal Linux OS. Then it need a time until a container is finished. So it needs longer for Fixxes and Security Patches to arrive.

 

Regards Bengele

[PixelHat]

TBH, I don't have any experience with teamspeak. However, I would image that trying to run cloud hosting software (usually not resource friendly), teamspeak with 10 people (your internet will fell the BURN), and other various odds and ends, you're going to want more than 4 cores.

 

The clock speed is important, but ~2.4 should be good enough.

 

You've also got to think about data bottlenecks. Some of which I've listed below:

• NETWORK:
  • You'll probz want GIGABIT ethernet, not your standard CAT5 cable, but a CAT6 cable and correct ports on your computer/router.
  • Your home internet connection will feel slow if people are syncing to Seafile AND trying to talk on teamspeak.
• DATA:
  • You need fast data storage it will help keep everything snappy.
  • NEVER RUN AN OS FROM A FLASH DRIVE (save VERY few exceptions like manditory portability). Flash drives die quickly and are slow. Using one as your boot drive just to save a SATA port won't be worth it in the long run. I promise.
    • If you want to run multiple OSs, then look into UnRAID and multiple partitions on your SSD.
  • At least a tiny 120gb SSD for the boot drive. Those go on eBay for around $60. The drives Seafile uses won't need to be insane, normal HDDs will work (RAID 1 ofc)
  • Lots of RAM is a must for any server. 16 gb should do fine, but consider 32gb or even (probably  not) 64gb in the future.

[burnttoastnice]

The CPU should be able to handle all of that. I haven't got any experience with Teamspeak but you shouldn't have any problems. As long as the motherboard has a gigabit port, you'll be able to reach data transfer speeds around 80MB/s on the network (I have done so on my laptop several times) provided your router has gigabit ports. The CPU might struggle a bit with the VMs if they're taxing it simultaneously, but that's unlikely to happen considering the use scenario. I wouldn't recommend using archive hard drives in the server though, they're designed to be stored away for the majority of their lifetime. Apart from that your config is all good.

 

1 minute ago, PixelHat said:

 

NEVER RUN AN OS FROM A FLASH DRIVE (save VERY few exceptions like manditory portability). Flash drives die quickly and are slow. Using one as your boot drive just to save a SATA port won't be worth it in the long run. I promise

I've been doing this for the longest while, and only had 1 error, which was the CUPS folder getting corrupted and unreadable. I successfully recovered all my data and migrated to another flash drive, and have been making image backups each time I change system settings.

I have purposefully killed a 4GB flash drive in the past by using it as a DVR, and it held up for a very long time (around 6 months constant writing and overwriting) before finally dying in a read-only state.

As long as OP isn't constantly writing logfiles etc. to his flash drive, it should last him a very long time.

[PixelHat]

1 minute ago, burnttoastnice said:

The CPU should be able to handle all of that. I haven't got any experience with Teamspeak but you shouldn't have any problems. As long as the motherboard has a gigabit port, you'll be able to reach data transfer speeds around 80MB/s on the network (I have done so on my laptop several times) provided your router has gigabit ports. The CPU might struggle a bit with the VMs if they're taxing it simultaneously, but that's unlikely to happen considering the use scenario. I wouldn't recommend using archive hard drives in the server though, they're designed to be stored away for the majority of their lifetime. Apart from that your config is all good.

 

I've been doing this for the longest while, and only had 1 error, which was the CUPS folder getting corrupted and unreadable. I successfully recovered all my data and migrated to another flash drive, and have been making image backups each time I change system settings.

I have purposefully killed a 4GB flash drive in the past by using it as a DVR, and it held up for a very long time (around 6 months constant writing and overwriting) before finally dying in a read-only state.

As long as OP isn't constantly writing logfiles etc. to his flash drive, it should last him a very long time.

I agree... *gah* I really wouldn't recommend it though if it can be avoided

[Bengele]

Hello, 

thank you for your feedback.

 

Flashdrives:

well i tought the same thing about the flashdrives i could also use usb3 to sata adapters as workaround.

But i would also make a backup of each of them. If one dies i will replace it that shoulnd be the issue.

the server dont needs to be online 365 days the year.

A another idea would be to use the Samsung Portable SSD drives (USB 3.0) wich are showing a good performance (running windows 10 to go on it)

 

Network:

the gigabit network is already set. But that is not what the topic is about but thank you.

also the bandwith to the internet is good enough for teamspeak because i want to use the seafile/ftp only in my local network.

The mainbord got a 1Gigabit Lan connection and if needed i could use a pic express lancard if the ftp server takes all bandwith away to make 2 gigabit lan connections.

More isnt needed because only i will access the ftp with 1 gigabit lan connection.

 

Arcive Drives:

well its more like a backupdrive that will mostly do nothing. It will write some dates like daly >5MB(Seafile) and Montly a Backup about 1GB (ftp) so i think they will fit my needs.

 

CPU:

well what i extremly like about that cpu is the low power comsuption and i dont know other cpus with that performance and the low powercomsuptions. The cpu will hande about most of the time only teamspeak.

If you know other setups that can compare feel free to tell me about them but it needs to be a x86 architecture cpu not a ARM because ts dont run on it.

 

Memory:

sadly 16gb of ram is already the maximum that can be installed on that mainboard

 

 

regards and thanks 

bengele

 

 

 

[Bengele]

i will look in this threat tomorrow again need to slepp for work 

i aprenciate more feedback

 

Regards 

Bengele

[Bengele]

what would you use for os:

-usb 3flashdrive

-usb 3 sata adapter with ssd

-USB 3 Samsung SSD Portable

 

i tend to usb to sata adapters