Server Build Help

[aubryscully]

Hey guys, I have been wanting to make myself a home server to function as both a file server and a virtualization playground. I have been looking into Dell R510s with dual hex core CPUs and 32-64GB RAM, but I just recently managed to score a Corsair 900D for $70 and so now I am shifting my focus to trying to build a server within the 900D.

 

For the file server, I plan on using Storage Spaces within Windows Server 2016 Datacenter (obtained through Imagine) to make a software RAID 5 of several WD Reds and a software RAID 1 of a couple of SSDs and then having the SSDs act as a cache for the larger array. I plan to utilize this speed by using 10GB NICs in both my PC and the server. This speed is necessary as I want to edit videos off of the server and need fast storage.

 

For virtualization, I don't have anything really set in stone, but I am wanting the ability to play around with some Linux distros, multiple instances of WS2016, etc. Nothing too extreme, but maybe 3-5 VMs running at a time.

 

I am wanting to keep this project as low cost as possible, so I have been looking into used parts on eBay and Craigslist, but I am unsure of what would be best for me. Any ideas for parts that I could use? I would love at least 8 physical cores along with 32GB of RAM. Thanks for the help!

[Electronics Wizardy]

4 minutes ago, aubryscully said:

Storage Spaces within Windows Server 2016 Datacenter (obtained through Imagine) to make a software RAID 5 of several WD Reds

Dis gonna be slow. Parity in storage spaces sucks.

 

Id install a hypervisor with linux and zfs(proxmox if you want it easy) and they run windows server in a vm. NO reason to run windows on metal

 

For low power and fairly fast, id get something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPERMICRO-X9SCL-F-Socket-LGA-1155-Motherboard-Tested-Warranty-N11-/132134922109?hash=item1ec3dae77d:g:3JQAAOSwzgBY0q8c

Put a usb in a instal the os on there.

 

THen get a xeon e3 1231(or 1230) v3 and put 32gb of used ddr3 ecc from ebay.

 

Its gonna be low power(less than 80w with drives idle) and quiet(just use the stock cooler). That cpu is faster than the dual quads in most of the r510 and much faster single threaded.

[aubryscully]

@Electronics Wizardy That seems like a pretty neat option. How would I go about accomplishing the goal of a redundant SSD cache on top of the HDD 'array' within ZFS?

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, aubryscully said:

@Electronics Wizardy That seems like a pretty neat option. How would I go about accomplishing the goal of a redundant SSD cache on top of the HDD 'array' within ZFS?

In zfs there are two types of cache.

 

l2arc - this is for reads.

 

slog- this is the write cache, so files get here instead of the hdds.

 

For your use, id probaly skip the ssd cache for now and see if io is a big problem. In mosts uses it won't help much and for network video editing won't help much at all. 

 

You also have the arc on ram, so there is already a cache 

[mineblaster]

i picked up a couple of these a few weeks ago

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-S2600CP2J-Motherboard-Dual-2011-Socket-Motherboard-/262952935988?

sometimes you can find some dual 2011 boards pretty cheap and get cpu for them are pretty easy and that theres a range of cpus you can get from the 2600 v1 and v2 range

2650 and 2670 are pretty popular and affordable