10+ Bay Server Build

[suppaduppax]

I built a freenas machine using a Dell T3600 workstation with 8gb ECC ram, and 3x1tb in raidz1. That configuration did its job for a while but now I'm running out of space. I have a lot of 1tb hdds I can use for a new server and was thinking of getting a 12 bay LFF server to take advantage of it. I see a lot of cheap server parts on ebay but they are in the USA and it's definitely not as viable with the added shipping in Canada to find the parts/used servers. I'm leaning towards a Dell Poweredge R510 12 bay but I've only ever seen 1 used one that got snatched up before I was able to get it. I can only seem to find the 8 bay models here.

I've seen some parts to make my own server but that gets really expensive fast. My budget is around $500 but I'm not looking for anything too crazy. The R510 was good because it was inexpensive and I can quadruple my current storage.

I've been playing around with the idea of just transplanting my T3600 into a 4U case or something but I've done a lot of research telling me it'll be a bad idea especially with all the proprietary stuff. That idea still creeps back every few days or so. I just recently got my hands on a Dell H310 that I can use.

I was also looking at making a DAS but that can be even more expensive than getting/building a new server.

I was looking at getting some used parts and whiteboxing my own starting with a Rosewill RSV-L4500 4U for $75 CAD. The parts seem to get really expensive when getting them individually tho. If anyone is in the GTA who has had some experience piecing together servers, or finding your own used server I'd greatly appreciate some guidance. If there's another route I'm not exploring let me know!

*Edit:
I wanted to clarify what I'm using it for. For movies and shows and to back up my pictures/files. No real need for virtualization but it would be fun to play around with it.

Thanks!

 

[Chris Moore]

You could just add an external SAS connected disk enclosure like this to your existing system:
https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-70F10000UX-THINKSERVER-ATTACHED-HOT-SWAP/dp/B00LSQOY6G
Use a SAS controller like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LSI-9207-8...TA-External-ZFS-JBOD-IT-Mode-HBA/162563989119
The ZFS / IT mode version.
Then you need a cable like this to connect them:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Molex-SFF-...o-mini-SAS-Cable-1FT-DELL-00TFC6/323225853295

 

[Chris Moore]

There is also this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4U-Supermi...JBOD-CB2-with-Rails-AND-SAS-CARD/132962855576

You are going to have a hard time finding things that you don't get from the US.

 

[suppaduppax]

I was afraid you’d say that. It’s so hard to find affordable equipment in Canada. That supermicro jbod looks interesting but the price tag leaves little room for any additional cards and cables.

Hopefully another 12bay R510 pops up in the classifieds

 

[rvassar]

Keep in mind some of the traditional tower cases can handle 10 3.5" drives. I have a Cooler Master HAF 912 "gamer case" with 7 disks in it, room for 3 more, and 2x2.5 inch SSD's for boot devices. If I went for one of the 5 in 3x5-1/4 drive cages, I could push to 12+2...

 

[suppaduppax]

I have also been looking at towers. The only problem is that sourcing new/used parts gets expensive really quickly as opposed to finding a fully built used server.

 

[Chris Moore]

I have also been looking at towers. The only problem is that sourcing new/used parts gets expensive really quickly as opposed to finding a fully built used server.

You might want to take a look at this, it is the same chassis I am using for my primary NAS at home. It holds plenty of drives and is pretty quiet for a rack mount chassis. I really like the one I have. The only problem with the ones this person is selling is that you will need to find drive trays for the drives you put in it. Have a look though:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SuperMicro...s-NR40700-Emac-MTW-5820V-P-S-NEW/163444574100

 

[suppaduppax]

I potentially found a potential used server:

Dell R515
Dual Opteron 4284, 8 cores
64gb (8x8gb) ecc ram PC3L 10600R
2x 750w PSV, 5/5fans
H700 Raid Card
Riser with H200e card
4x1 gb ethernet
no hard drives/caddies
2 Sas back planes
untested
boots up.

$250 CAD

Is that worth the price?

Any advice?

 

[suppaduppax]

Thanks for the link Chris! Looks interesting and I'll definitely consider it. What do you think of the used R515 I posted?

 

[Chris Moore]

Dual Opteron 4284, 8 cores

Those are really old and use a lot of power / generate a lot of heat.

H700 Raid Card

Not for use with FreeNAS.

Riser with H200e card

That is a fine SAS HBA card.

$250 CAD

Is that worth the price?

Because of the Optron processors, I would say no.
Take a look at this:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Opteron+4284&id=1862&cpuCount=2
It takes two of those processors to get as much of a score as a single Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 @ 3.30GHz.

I know you don't want to import but you might want to take a look at these parts:

Intel Xeon E3-1230V2 SR0P4 3.30GHz Processor
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SR0P4-Inte...d-Core-CM8063701098101-Processor/202572624908
US $74.00

Super Micro X9SCM-F, LGA 1155, Intel C204, Micro ATX server motherboard
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-SuperM...rd-Accessoreis-are-not-included-/352358089215
US $77.77

16GB 2X8GB Memory RAM Intel Xeon E3 ONLY DDR3, 1600MHz, ECC, CL11, 2R, X8, 1.5V, Unbuffered, DIMM, 240-pin
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16GB-2X8GB...-CMT-SFF-Intel-Xeon-E3-ONLY-B89-/301855376261
US $126.00

Dell H310 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9211-8i P20 IT Mode
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-H310-...-IT-Mode-for-ZFS-FreeNAS-unRAID-/162834659601
US $56.55

1M Mini SAS 4i SFF-8087 36-Pin Male to 4 SATA 7-Pin Splitter Adapter Cable NEW
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1M-Mini-SA...7-Pin-Splitter-Adapter-Cable-NEW/272098511869
US $7.39

 

[Chris Moore]

PS. Those parts I listed, I know they will work great with FreeNAS because that is the kind of hardware I was using before I upgraded to what I am using now. I just upgraded at the beginning of 2018 because I wanted more RAM.

 

[rvassar]

Not a lot of Opterons in use here on the Forums... Those were produced when AMD was in a bit of a funk... Probably best to avoid.

Super Micro X9SCM-F, LGA 1155, Intel C204, Micro ATX server motherboard
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-SuperM...rd-Accessoreis-are-not-included-/352358089215
US $77.77

I run the little brother of this board, the X9SCL with a i3-2120 CPU, and I run iSCSI & NFS on 10GbE... The only difference is one less PCIe slot. It can be found used/tested for maybe $50 USD these days.

 

[Chris Moore]

Not a lot of Opterons in use here on the Forums... Those were produced when AMD was in a bit of a funk... Probably best to avoid.

I feel bad about it, because it isn't that they don't work. The problem is that they are relatively weak processors and generate a lot of heat and take a lot of electricity for what little work they do. Part of that is down to the age, but they were never really good.

 

[suppaduppax]

I see what you mean. Importing seems to really be above my budget. I'm wondering tho, is it possible to frankenstein a R510 into an R515? Maybe i can even get the R510 down to $100 and then find an 8 bay R510 and swap it around? I've seen the 8bay r510 for around $200. all in all it would be only $300 CAD. Or are they drastically different and it won't work?

 

[Chris Moore]

Dell does a lot of custom hardware. That is why they are hard to modify. I can't say what you might be able to cobble together with some creativity and maybe some duck tape .

 

[Elliot Dierksen]

I can't say what you might be able to cobble together with some creativity and maybe some duck tape .

That is a funny picture. Kind of reminds me of a way back time when the motherboard in a tower machine of mine failed. It had several hard drive plus 3.5", 5.25", and a couple different tape drives in it and I didn't have another motherboard that fit the case, so left the drives there and balanced the new motherboard on top of the case. It looked horrible with all the cables coming out of it, but it worked. I have never seen a case made of pegboard before!

 

[rvassar]

I remember when the R515 came out, I was contracting at Dell at the time. It was slightly different from the R510 in a couple key areas, but not entirely. If you peruse the motherboard resale vendors pictures, the motherboards both appear to use the same power, riser, mounting, etc... layout. You might be able to Frankenstein one together, but I wouldn't want to try unless everything was free.

 

[suppaduppax]

Ok good to know rvassar. I’d be more tempted to just use the R515 as is but having no caddies really hurts.

 

[rvassar]

Ok good to know rvassar. I’d be more tempted to just use the R515 as is but having no caddies really hurts.

Those shouldn't be too hard to source. But I live biking distance from Dell HQ. ;)

How about:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-SAS-SA...=item5445437c4b:g:xmIAAOSwgZ1XsuAr:rk:13:pf:0

Seller ships to US & Canada.

 

[suppaduppax]

Oh sweet thanks. I might just get the R515. I’m using a Dell T3600 workstation for my freenas box and it just doesn’t have the room I need for more drives. That and the fact that it only has 8gb of ram.