Home Server Build

[Jimmypd]

Looking to update my current setup of a Rpi 2nd gen with a 2tb external drive to a more robust and powerful server without breaking the bank.

 

The server will be running FreeNAS or ubuntu server (can use different os if better suggestion) and will have transmission, sonarr, radarr and plex running for some media automation. Further, it will be used as a backup location in the near future and potentially be used to host files on my home network.

 

Looking at either a build centred around the Pentium G4560 3.5 GHz in a mATX format, I have created a build on pc part picker which is what I'm considering the storage is flexible potential going for the 4tb drive:

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/8gKhP6/intel-pentium-g4560-35ghz-dual-core-processor-bx80677g4560

 

However, searching eBay showed me this 2U rackmount server that looks very good considering the E5620 has a PassMark of 4860 and it has two of them. Also considerably cheaper, however, I didn't know how much more this would cost to run and how much louder this would be. eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Supermicro-2U-8-Bay-Storage-Server-8-Core-24GB-RAM-great-for-NAS-build/183258032710?hash=item2aab07aa46:g:dAAAAOSwIk9ahYpL

 

Not sure if it's relevant but whatever I build/buy will be run through PIA VPN and therefore i need the support to VM the PLEX server to allow this to have remote access without messing with IPtables etc.

 

Also, any other suggestions on builds new or preowned are welcome.

 

any suggestions/advice would be helpful thank you.

[Firewrath9]

just buy a prebuilt NAS, they are alot smaller and save a  lot of trouble. a DS218j or ds218+ with 2 WD reds is less than 500$.

[Jimmypd]

3 minutes ago, Firewrath9 said:

just buy a prebuilt NAS, they are alot smaller and save a  lot of trouble. a DS218j or ds218+ with 2 WD reds is less than 500$.

I had looked at these but didn't think something like this would be able to handle one potentially two 1080p transcodes for when I'm not local with plex

[Razor Blade]

Some things to keep in mind for rack mount enterprise grade hardware...

 

1. It will have a lot more fan noise.
2. It will not always take regular form factor replacement hardware (backplane is usually one piece, fans are modules, power supplies on 2U servers are not standard ATX form factor, etc.)
3. did I mention it will be loud?

I'm not discouraging you from getting a rack mount server... That era of server is super cheap and definitely a good work horse. But that E series CPU is kind of a low range CPU in that era and if that server is anything like the Dell R710 it will likely consume around 200-250W at idle - low loads. The benefits of going with enterprise grade hardware is redundancy as well as the fact it is actually designed to run 24 hours a day. One more thing to keep in mind is that if you do need replacement parts you will need to source OEM parts as server form factor varies wildly. compatibility and gotchas are enough to drive even patient people out of their damn mind...

[AT0MAC]

I have an old HP Z220 SFF I restored for dirt cheap, using an old Intel SSD for OS, a Hitachi Nas drive and a Seagate Ironwolf drive, both 4TB, as my home server. Running off a G2030 CPU and some ECC RAM. I run a very scaled down version of Windows 10 on it (NO metro apps, no browser, not many of the background processes left), as I needed it to run a few apps I could not find Linux or Nas related alternatives to.

 

Im really happy with it, and also a big part why I did not go for a NAS is that I can always fix the "engine" in a PC in case it breaks down, to fix a broken nas is a whole other story (see Gamers Nexus recent video to see what I mean)

[Jimmypd]

32 minutes ago, Razor Blade said:

Some things to keep in mind for rack mount enterprise grade hardware...

 

1. It will have a lot more fan noise.
2. It will not always take regular form factor replacement hardware (backplane is usually one piece, fans are modules, power supplies on 2U servers are not standard ATX form factor, etc.)
3. did I mention it will be loud?

I'm not discouraging you from getting a rack mount server... That era of server is super cheap and definitely a good work horse. But that E series CPU is kind of a low range CPU in that era and if that server is anything like the Dell R710 it will likely consume around 200-250W at idle - low loads. The benefits of going with enterprise grade hardware is redundancy as well as the fact it is actually designed to run 24 hours a day. One more thing to keep in mind is that if you do need replacement parts you will need to source OEM parts as server form factor varies wildly. compatibility and gotchas are enough to drive even patient people out of their damn mind...

Yeah the repairability and noise was a concern worked out the annual cost of 24/7 operation to quite a lot compared to a lower powered system so will probably build or buy a microserver

 

26 minutes ago, AT0MAC said:

I have an old HP Z220 SFF I restored for dirt cheap, using an old Intel SSD for OS, a Hitachi Nas drive and a Seagate Ironwolf drive, both 4TB, as my home server. Running off a G2030 CPU and some ECC RAM. I run a very scaled down version of Windows 10 on it (NO metro apps, no browser, not many of the background processes left), as I needed it to run a few apps I could not find Linux or Nas related alternatives to.

 

Im really happy with it, and also a big part why I did not go for a NAS is that I can always fix the "engine" in a PC in case it breaks down, to fix a broken nas is a whole other story (see Gamers Nexus recent video to see what I mean)

I'm going to have a search on eBay for ex-enterprise towers instead had completely forgotten about that segment of the market