New to server's

[Psittac]

I am at a point where I want a cheap home server.  The primary function will be NVR (surveillance) and beyond that I will make it a file server and what ever else I tinker with.

 

I'm at a total loss in either buying a used server or piecing together one on my own.  I had a build for about $500 with no drive's or raid card but it was a supermicro eeatx motherboard and I can't find a case for it.

 

What should I look for in spec's for my needs? My house will be run with cat6 soon and I need to put up camera's.

 

Should I get used? Where do I find them used?

 

Should I build a machine? what are some guidelines...... I run into $500 for just a mobo

 

Some direction would be nice, thanks 

[Psittac]

I might be better off simply using my previous gaming rig as a server, just get a new case for it and let it run 24/7 with some extra drives.

 

I have always thought that a server would be cool even though I haven't done much more than build OC machines and game with them. I just see all these video's about insane xeon chips for dirt cheap and figured hey..... could be a new hobby.  It has been a pipe dream until recently when I decided to look into poe surveillance, my new neighbors have new people over every week and there are often small arguments over money in the front lawn, about a week ago there was a huge argument and it got a little physical.  I kind of know them and they're good people, but when money get's tight people get desperate.  It's not really them that I'm worried about, it's the random cars of people that bother me.  I try to help out where I can (got a tire for one guy living in his car so he could get to work), but I'm worried that not everyone will be a good person like him or the family that lives there.

 

At any rate that's my story, so can I get an idea of where to go with this project?

[Lurick]

You don't need server grade parts to build a server. Just get a 2 or 3RU server case, a decent motherboard and maybe a i3 6100 or something along those lines. A few good drives, maybe a WD Purple for the cameras and then a couple WD Reds or something for file server stuff. Maybe 8GB of RAM total and toss Ubuntu or another linux server on there and be off to the races. You can build a decent server from the ground up for maybe $500 or less depending on if you go new or used.

[GDRRiley]

use wd purples for the cameras and Hitachi a7 2k drives

[samiscool51]

2 hours ago, Psittac said:

I might be better off simply using my previous gaming rig as a server

thats the best if you want to start off in the server world,

but if you don't want to lose your data get a RAID card or if your MB has a onboard RAID controller use that thats the best option if you don't to get one