Buying A Server, What To Get?

[lazyfortress]

I recently got a $100 Visa Gift Card as an early Chistmas gift, and I've decided to buy a cheap server.  I found a few on ebay for less than $100.  Some don't include a hard drive.  I want a server that's complete.  Would it be possible to get one rack server and use it to access files remotely?  What is better, HP, IBM, or Dell for servers?  I want something that's energy efficient and can host a website.  

 

I do not want to buy a server that doesn't come with hard drives.  It seems as if 75% of the ones I find don't come with a HDD or OS.  And that's another question.  How do I install an operating system on my server?

 

And how am I supposed to hook up my server when I get it so that I can access it remotely from a computer?  What do I do when I first get it?  I was thinking about putting it in my closet, but what do I connect it to in order to put it online?  I'm so confused.  What OS should I put on it?  What do I have to do in order to allow remote file access?  I don't know what I'm supposed to connect.

 

So I found this server: 

Does it have everything I need in order to host a website or access files remotely?  Would this be a good server?

• Dell PowerEdge 1950 Gen 3 1U Server
• 2x Intel Xeon E5430 2.66GHz Quad Core Processors
• 16GB RAM (8x2GB)
• PERC 6/i RAID Controller
• 2x 146GB 15k RPM 3.5" SAS Hard Drives
• DRAC
• Does not include rail kit
• Includes faceplate

[lazyfortress]

I just need some help with being able to access my server remotely.  How can I install the operating system on it?  What OS would be good for my needs?  I just want to be able to put some FSX files on it, or even host my little website on it.  So how can I do this?  Do I connect it to my router via ethernet or something in order to access it remotely from my gaming computer?  How do I put it online, and how does it get its own IP address (the server's IP)?

[MarieKirya]

What do you plan to do with it, keep in mind that 1U is going to sound like a jet and will be horribly inefficient on your energy bill. If you're going for a NAS, there are other options.

 

On 12/17/2016 at 1:37 PM, lazyfortress said:

I just need some help with being able to access my server remotely.  How can I install the operating system on it?  What OS would be good for my needs?  I just want to be able to put some FSX files on it, or even host my little website on it.  So how can I do this?  Do I connect it to my router via ethernet or something in order to access it remotely from my gaming computer?  How do I put it online, and how does it get its own IP address (the server's IP)?

I would recommend barebones Debian or CentOS. 
I would follow one of DigitalOceans wonderful tutorials on server setup. 

Then you may want to look into how to port forward and what that is.

 

[Inrix]

7 minutes ago, lazyfortress said:

-snip-

Yes its possible.

There isnt really a better brand generally.

If your getting a older or 2nd hand rack server its probably not all that energy efficient. 

As for the os, you will need to make a install drive for whatever os you need, google is your friend.

For remote, if you decide linux use ssh, for windows use remote desktop.

For beginner stuff you might want to go **EDIT** Windows though as it would be the easiest.

 

I don't recommend a 1U or that server, its pretty shitty for just a nas and as @MarieKirya just said its going to sound horrendously loud. Make a cheap desktop with a i5 or i3 and buy some hdds, it will work MUCH better for you and give you a bit more upgradability and flexibility than any rack server would.

 

[lazyfortress]

I don't mind the noise.  I may unplug it once or twice a week.  It's gonna be in my closet.  I'm planning on accessing files from it remotely.

[ProdigyzMined]

1 minute ago, MarieKirya said:

What do you plan to do with it, keep in mind that 1U is going to sound like a jet and will be horribly inefficient on your energy bill. If you're going for a NAS, there are other options.

I can confirm the first part, owning two 1U servers myself. Mine really aren't too inefficient though, they only pull about 150W from the wall each under load.

[MarieKirya]

1 minute ago, lazyfortress said:

I don't mind the noise.  I may unplug it once or twice a week.  It's gonna be in my closet.  I'm planning on accessing files from it remotely.

It's not something you can just... shove in the closet to make it quieter.

[lazyfortress]

What's a NAS?  I've decided that I just want to access it remotely from my gaming computer.  And I really want to own a dedicated server, not a plain old desktop.

[MarieKirya]

1 minute ago, lazyfortress said:

What's a NAS?  I've decided that I just want to access it remotely from my gaming computer.  And I really want to own a dedicated server, not a plain old desktop.

Network Attached Storage or NAS. Is what you're trying to setup for files. All dedicated servers are, are custom chassis for mounting in a data center and custom hardware RAID that you can add to your own machine. Optionally some are multisocketted in terms of CPU, but a file/web/game server will make no use of that.

[Inrix]

4 minutes ago, MarieKirya said:

It's not something you can just... shove in the closet to make it quieter.

I think that this is a bit more accurate  

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

3 minutes ago, lazyfortress said:

I don't mind the noise.  I may unplug it once or twice a week.  It's gonna be in my closet.  I'm planning on accessing files from it remotely.

This is gonna be loud. Also with the dual 771 stuff it uses lots power power and will increase your powerbill by about 30 a month.

 

Also they don't come with drives and they don't know what you are are going to do with it, so no drives.

 

For os install, its like any other x86 pc, normally just use install from the network or a usb/cd/floppy.

 

Id suggest getting a older tower like a dell t210 or a newer dual 1366 server like a dell c2100 or r710.

 

If you just want a file server, id get a small nas from someone like synology

 

[MrKickkiller]

4 minutes ago, lazyfortress said:

What's a NAS?  I've decided that I just want to access it remotely from my gaming computer.  And I really want to own a dedicated server, not a plain old desktop.

Dedicated servers are nothing more than desktop that runs specific server grade tasks.

[MarieKirya]

Just now, Inrix said:

I think that this is a bit more accurate  

-video snip-

 

And that looks to be 2U as well.

[Electronics Wizardy]

5 minutes ago, lazyfortress said:

What's a NAS?  I've decided that I just want to access it remotely from my gaming computer.  And I really want to own a dedicated server, not a plain old desktop.

Id get something like this https://www.amazon.com/Synology-DiskStation-Diskless-Network-Attached/dp/B005YW7OLM

[Inrix]

6 minutes ago, lazyfortress said:

What's a NAS?  I've decided that I just want to access it remotely from my gaming computer.  And I really want to own a dedicated server, not a plain old desktop.

Dedicated server literally means little. Rackmount servers arent better in any way than a tower server or desktop server (Atleast for anything your doing) apart from being more compact and not caring about acoustics. I run a dedicated tower server personally and you can do the same or even better stuff with one than you can with a rackmount, not to mention that should you get the right hardware you have have it run completely sliently and VERY low power. My Server while running a few game servers and acting as a nas, webserver vpn etc and running a development vm isnt louder than my fridge and pulls a tiny amount of power. 

[lazyfortress]

I honestly don't mind the noise.  What's the difference between a tower server and those flat servers?

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, lazyfortress said:

I honestly don't mind the noise.  What's the difference between a tower server and those flat servers?

Tower is quieter and not designed for a rack. 

 

You will mind the noise.

 

Id just get a small nas.

[Inrix]

On 12/17/2016 at 1:52 PM, lazyfortress said:

I honestly don't mind the noise.  What's the difference between a tower server and those flat servers?

Thats complicated and depends on what server/kind of server your talking about specifically...

 

Mainly they probably have SAS compatibility which is useless for you.

Generally run server grade hardware with ECC memory and mobos designed for xeon cpu's

Theres alot more but its kinda complicated and theres no one size fits all description on the differences.

 

Really there just a louder more compact and different version of a computer. Thats it... You could run a identical hardware in a tower probably and have 0 performance difference

 

On 12/17/2016 at 1:53 PM, Electronics Wizardy said:

-snip-

 

On 12/17/2016 at 1:52 PM, lazyfortress said:

I honestly don't mind the noise.  What's the difference between a tower server and those flat servers?

^ To add a little perspective, my old rackmount server was loud after I had closed it in a closet, then closed the door to the room to that closet, then went to the other side of the lounge (As far away from that room as possible)... And also your not gonna want to be putting it in a closet anyway since those things will kick out heat.

[lazyfortress]

Trust me, I do not mind noise.  Well, should I get a tower or a regular flat server?

 

My main question is how am I supposed to run remote desktop.  How can I run CentOS and still be able to access the files on my computer remotely? 

 

I can put it in the basement if it's noisy.  I can put it in the big closet.

[Electronics Wizardy]

On 12/17/2016 at 1:55 PM, Inrix said:

Generally run server grade hardware with ECC memory and mobos designed for xeon cpu's

Theres alot more but its kinda complicated and theres no one size fits all description on the differences.

They normally have the same stuff inide, so ecc on all of them, sas on all. All that happens is that you get a bigger box, so its quieter. They also normally can fit in a 5u rack(but don't buy them to rack mount it)

 

On 12/17/2016 at 1:57 PM, lazyfortress said:

My main question is how am I supposed to run remote desktop.  How can I run CentOS and still be able to access the files on my computer remotely? 

Your using this as a nas right?

 

Buy something like this https://www.amazon.com/Synology-DiskStation-Diskless-Network-Attached/dp/B005YW7OLM 

Its a much better box for a nas

 

For linux remote control there is ssh, and for file transfer there is smb/cifs, nfs, and iscsi.

[Inrix]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

Your using this as a nas right?

 

Buy something like this https://www.amazon.com/Synology-DiskStation-Diskless-Network-Attached/dp/B005YW7OLM 

Its a much better box for a nas

 

For linux remote control there is ssh, and for file transfer there is smb/cifs, nfs, and iscsi.

^ If your only ever going to use it as a nas and nothing else (No expand ability) Probs cheaper but you get what you pay for... If your interested in hosting your own game servers or doing some kind of development id recommend a proper computer though...

[lazyfortress]

I also may host a small website on it too.  With 120GB, you an host up to 1,000 websites (OS takes up 20GB I believe.)

[Inrix]

Just now, lazyfortress said:

I also may host a small website on it too.  With 120GB, you an host up to 1,000 websites (OS takes up 20GB I believe.)

^ Thats not how it works, but yea if you got a small tower or something you could host a website.

[lazyfortress]

Whaddya mean that's not how it works?

 

 

I've made up my mind.  I'm getting that first server I mentioned.  And do servers come with graphics?  How am I supposed to install an OS without graphics?

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, lazyfortress said:

Whaddya mean that's not how it works?

 

WIth web servers you almost never limited by the amout of storage, you normally limited by the network speed of the speed of the drives.

1 minute ago, lazyfortress said:

I've made up my mind.  I'm getting that first server I mentioned.  And do servers come with graphics?  How am I supposed to install an OS without graphics?

It has a gpu, its shit, but has a vga output.

 

Id get this instead, much quieter, cheaper, lower power

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-PowerEdge-T110-Tower-X3430-2-4GHz-4GB-2x-250gb-hard-drive-/182390118948?hash=item2a774c5a24:g:ehUAAOSwa~BYUvOY