New to server hardware

[Riptide0]

I recently picked up a server on Craigslist. Being new to servers I thought the $40 price tag was excellent considering it’s condition. Only one problem, it came with no hard drive trays and the seller could give me no info on them. I have no idea what kind or model tray I’m looking for. Nor do I know what kind of connector this is(pic related). If anyone knows what kind of connector this is or how I can find out what kind of hard drive trays I’d be looking for it would be much appreciated as I have no clue

[WereCatf]

That's an SCSI-connector.

 

EDIT: I'm not very familiar with SCSI, but I think it's an 80-pin SCSI.

EDIT2: As far as I know, pretty much all servers use proprietary hard-drive cages, so you need to look for cages for the specific model of server you have. You didn't say which model it is, so can't help you there.

[NelizMastr]

This is Wide Ultra SCSI, the connector is called SCA-80 and is used most commonly by Ultra2, Ultra3, Ultra160 and Ultra320 SCSI disks. Disk trays or caddies rather are server specific, there is no universal carrier. So is this a custom server or OEM?

[Hugs12343]

8 minutes ago, WereCatf said:

That's an SCSI-connector.

Yes it's a SCSI plug. If you want to use them, you need to buy SCSI drives. If you want to use SATA drives instead, buy a SATA raid card

[WereCatf]

2 minutes ago, Hugs12343 said:

buy a SATA raid card

SAS is also an option; you can use SATA-drives in a SAS-controller if you buy a splitter-cable. (Can't use SAS-drives with a SATA-controller, though)

[Hugs12343]

3 minutes ago, WereCatf said:

SAS is also an option; you can use SATA-drives in a SAS-controller if you buy a splitter-cable. (Can't use SAS-drives with a SATA-controller, though)

Good idea

[NelizMastr]

4 minutes ago, WereCatf said:

SAS is also an option; you can use SATA-drives in a SAS-controller if you buy a splitter-cable. (Can't use SAS-drives with a SATA-controller, though)

Yes, one problem, though. In a server you don't get to choose where the drives go. The backplane dictates where you put them. If OP won't use SCSI, he'd best look for a SAS backplane for this model of server. I know HP and Dell offered many servers in both configurations, so the parts are out there to just do a swap  

[WereCatf]

7 minutes ago, NelizMastr said:

Yes, one problem, though. In a server you don't get to choose where the drives go. The backplane dictates where you put them. If OP won't use SCSI, he'd best look for a SAS backplane for this model of server. I know HP and Dell offered many servers in both configurations, so the parts are out there to just do a swap  

Can't say much about that, I have zero experience with this kind of server-hardware and I don't really know how all the backplane-stuff works. I wish I did, but I just can't afford to buy a server and I ain't got no rich friends to leech used hardware off of.

[NelizMastr]

3 minutes ago, WereCatf said:

Can't say much about that, I have zero experience with this kind of server-hardware and I don't really know how all the backplane-stuff works. I wish I did, but I just can't afford to buy a server and I ain't got no rich friends to leech used hardware off of.

Haha no problem mate. 

[leadeater]

1 hour ago, NelizMastr said:

Yes, one problem, though. In a server you don't get to choose where the drives go. The backplane dictates where you put them. If OP won't use SCSI, he'd best look for a SAS backplane for this model of server. I know HP and Dell offered many servers in both configurations, so the parts are out there to just do a swap  

Probably the only workable solution would be to remove the backplane and direct cable the HDDs, getting the exact right parts can be hard and if it's not a common server chassis near as much impossible. HDD caddies that would fit will be easy enough, particularly if you don't have the backplane so mount depth isn't an issue.

[NelizMastr]

35 minutes ago, leadeater said:

Probably the only workable solution would be to remove the backplane and direct cable the HDDs, getting the exact right parts can be hard and if it's not a common server chassis near as much impossible. HDD caddies that would fit will be easy enough, particularly if you don't have the backplane so mount depth isn't an issue.

Yep. I suppose that's the easiest solution. Certainly better than finding serviceable U320 SCSI disks these days. I mean, I have a few in storage somewhere (badum tss) but they really aren't common anymore.