Fitting Dell R410 inside Norco RPC-4224 possible?

[Plexxie]

Hi,

I've been lurking around the forum for some time getting ideas to build my FreeNAS for my Plex server.

I bought a Norco RPC-4224 to use with my 24x 8TB shucked from BestBuy easystore. I'd probably go with RAIDZ2 for this setup.

Now I need some help with the idea that I have: buy a Dell R410 and move everything (motherboard/CPUs/ECC-RAM modules...) to a Norco RPC-4224 case. Is this possible? Because I looked at the motherboard images of a Dell R410 and it looks quite small https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CDIAAOSwOA1aOqps/s-l1600.jpg
so I think it may fit inside Norco RPC-4224 case.

Can somebody confirm this? (if you owned R410)

I also looked at motherboards of Dell R910 or HP Proliant DL360p G8 but they are huge so I'm pretty sure they won't fit inside Norco RPC-4224 case.


The reason I want to go this way is to save some money (around $200-$300) with the build of 128GB RAM for FreeNAS.

This is the Dell R410 server with 128GB RAM that I'm looking at for $543.60 + tax + shipping totaling about $620 or so
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Power...-8-Cores-128GB-RAM-SAS6i-4-Trays/192607971359

I also bought these HBAs and I'm pretty sure that they are compatible, but just checking to make sure
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LSI-SAS-92...-SATA-6Gb-s-SAS-low-LSI00301-OEM/131835285562


Please let me know your thoughts, or any other setup that you'd recommend for 128GB ECC DDR3 (64GB is ok too but I preferred 128GB).

Your input is very much appreciated!

Regards,
Plexxie

 

[kdragon75]

Your looking at building all new mounting hardware for every component including the motherboard and then it likely won't line up well with the case PCI slots. Not to mention hacking a PSU to work. Look into just getting a ds4246 and a matching external SAS card like the Dell H200 crossflash. That would give you the R410 +24 bays and an easy way to add more as you need.

 

[kdragon75]

I'm looking at doing something similar with SSDs and a ds2246.

 

[Chris Moore]

The Norco RPC-4224 is pretty easy to turn into a JBOD.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

 

[kdragon75]

The Norco RPC-4224 is pretty easy to turn into a JBOD.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

True but you still need to get an expander and cables. I haven't priced something like that out yet but I would think these second hand NetApp shelves are close to the same price for a ready to use and proven design.

 

[Chris Moore]

True but you still need to get an expander and cables. I haven't priced something like that out yet but I would think these second hand NetApp shelves are close to the same price for a ready to use and proven design.

No argument, but the OP said, "I bought a Norco RPC-4224", so I was trying to come up with a solution that worked with what he already has.

 

[kdragon75]

Good point

 

[Chris Moore]

Can somebody confirm this? (if you owned R410)

I wouldn't try putting the Dell system board into a different chassis because there are too many compatibility issues you will run into. First one that comes to my mind is all those fans. The small fans like that run at a high RPM and Dell uses a proprietary connector. You will have a hard time fooling the BIOS into letting you run the system with anything else. It really is more trouble than you realize. I tried it years ago with one of their workstation boards. I spent days trying to get it right and it was always a pain.

This is the Dell R410 server with 128GB RAM that I'm looking at for $543.60 + tax + shipping totaling about $620 or so

I don't see anything wrong with that system if you use it as is and connect the Norco chassis as an external JBOD, but you could probably get a system board, processor and RAM that would fit inside your Norco for about the same money, maybe a little more and have a newer system with more capability... The Dell R410 is a Socket 1366 generation system board which is actually quite old. You could go with something like this, that is newer:

Intel Super Micro X9DRD-7LN4F Motherboard LGA 2011 Socket R I/O Shield Warranty
https://www.ebay.com/itm/162822914526
$199.00 + $15.00 shipping

Intel Xeon E5-2630 v2 2.6GHz SR1AM Processor Socket LGA2011 HEXA QTY 14 AVAIL
https://www.ebay.com/itm/123176294777
$64 each X 2 = $128.00 free shipping

SAMSUNG 16GB PC3L-12800R DDR3-1600 ECC Registered 1.35V RDIMM M393B2G70QH0-YK0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/302606459277
$54.95 each X 8 for 128GB = $439.60 free shipping

total ~ 782

 

[Chris Moore]

If you want to build a JBOD with external SAS cabling, this is an ideal card for it:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-SAS-Expander-CARD-DELL-PN-5R10N-010141900-000-G/372129423450
The three external connectors can be two in and one out so you can cascade to another enclosure and it has internal connectors for as many as 24 drives.

This supermicro power supply controller board even gives you an IPMI port so you can remote in to turn the unit on or off and monitor the fan speeds and temperatures:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Supermicro-CSE-PTJBOD-CB3-JBOD-Power-Board-Rev-1-02/282960648501

 

[Plexxie]

Thanks kdragon75 and Chris for your inputs. I really appreciate it!

I like to mod stuffs so I was thinking about modding the Norco RPC-4224 so it will fit the R410 motherboard, but in the end it might be too much work involved so I will probably go with the system Chris advised. Thanks again Chris!

I also have a Norco RPC-4220. Actually I bought it first, but later I got a great deal with brand new Norco RPC-4224 so I bought it too. In the future I will use the 4220 as a JBOD to connect to the 4224.


So below is the proposed system. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm experienced with PC side but new to the server motherboard and SAS side.

1x Intel Super Micro X9DRD-7LN4F Motherboard LGA 2011 Socket R I/O Shield Warranty
https://www.ebay.com/itm/162822914526

2x Intel Xeon E5-2630 v2 2.6GHz SR1AM Processor Socket LGA2011 HEXA QTY 14 AVAIL
https://www.ebay.com/itm/123176294777

8x SAMSUNG 16GB PC3L-12800R DDR3-1600 ECC Registered 1.35V RDIMM M393B2G70QH0-YK0
(maybe 16x for 256GB ECC RAM since the TBs are getting huge in the near future, and the motherboard X9DRD-7LN4F supports 512GB max)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/302606459277


4x SATA from the motherboard to the 4224 backplane with 1x reverse breakout cable (something like this right? please verify it for me, thanks
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Internal-Breakout-SFF-8087/dp/B018YHS9GM)

1x SATA for SSD boot drive
1x SATA spare, no problem

1 HBA that I already have
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LSI-SAS-92...-SATA-6Gb-s-SAS-low-LSI00301-OEM/131835285562

This HBA will connect to the DELL SAS Expander CARD DELL PN 5R10N - 010141900-000-G for the 20 drives using 5 cables like this right?
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-30AWG-Internal-36-Pin-SFF-8087/dp/B008VLHOR2/

The other SAS port of the HBA will connect to the card DELL SAS Expander CARD DELL PN 5R10N - 010141900-000-G inside Norco RPC-4220 for the 20 drive JBOD expansion in the near future

So I will need to buy 2 of this card DELL SAS Expander CARD DELL PN 5R10N - 010141900-000-G
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-SAS-Expander-CARD-DELL-PN-5R10N-010141900-000-G/372129423450


Please review the plan that I have and recommend/change any errors that I might have. Thanks again! You guys rock!

 

[Chris Moore]

So I will need to buy 2 of this card DELL SAS Expander CARD DELL PN 5R10N - 010141900-000-G
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-SAS-Expander-CARD-DELL-PN-5R10N-010141900-000-G/372129423450

Not exactly. That component was to use with the JBOD.
You might want to use two SAS expanders like this one inside the Norco RPC-4224:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-46M0997-ServeRAID-Expansion-Adapter-16-Port-SAS-Expander/292396656286
I have two of those in my 24 bay NAS and connect one output from the SAS controller to an input on each card, then connect three of the outputs from each of the expander cards to the backplanes, so I end up with 12 drives on each expander card.

When it comes time to connect the external JBOD, you wold want an adapter like this to take the internal SAS cable to external:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-port-Int...CI-mini-SAS-26P-Adapter-SAS-RAID/251634449763
Then cables like this to go between the NAS and the JBOD:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Molex-SFF-...o-mini-SAS-Cable-1FT-DELL-00TFC6/323225853295
Although, maybe longer than this example because it is only 1 ft.

 

[Chris Moore]

4x SATA from the motherboard to the 4224 backplane with 1x reverse breakout cable (something like this right? please verify it for me, thanks
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Internal-Breakout-SFF-8087/dp/B018YHS9GM)

PS. You can connect all the storage drives to the SAS. There is no need to use any SATA ports, except for the boot drive.
Also, if I recall correctly, that system board has a SAS controller built in.

I checked. It is a Broadcom 2308 SAS controller on the system board. Probably needs cross-flashed to IT firmware and the latest version.

 

[Plexxie]

Ok so I bought this combo on eBay for $250
https://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232818228242?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l10137

It has:

• Super Micro X9DRD-7LN4F
• Xeon E5-2620 (X2)
• 16GB RAM
• Heatsinks
• IO Cover Main Board

For RAM, I'll just put the 16GB RAM with the combo to another server because I got a good deal with 12 sticks, 16GB each of M393B2G70DB0-YK0 for a total of 192GB
M393B2G70DB0-YK0 - Samsung 1x 16GB DDR3-1600 RDIMM PC3L-12800R Dual Rank x4 Module

Chris, the memory you listed is M393B2G70QH0-YK0
M393B2G70QH0-YK0 - Samsung 1x 16GB DDR3-1600 RDIMM PC3L-12800R Dual Rank x4 Module

I checked here https://memory.net/product-category...source_tax=product_cat&filter_kit-qty=1x-16gb

and it listed both M393B2G70DB0-YK0 & M393B2G70QH0-YK0 memory so I guess they're compatible with the X9DRD-7LN4F motherboard right?

I'm also getting 2x IBM 46M0997 ServeRAID Expansion Adapter 16-Port SAS Expander
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-46M0997-ServeRAID-Expansion-Adapter-16-Port-SAS-Expander/292396656286

I looked at the image of X9DRD-7LN4F and can't seem to find SAS port(s) for the Broadcom 2308 SAS controller that you mentioned? In the worst case scenario, I'll just use the HBA that I already have LSI SAS 9207-8i Storage controller

In terms of cables, I guess I'll have to buy 2x cable from 2 SAS ports to the 2x IBM 46M0997 ServeRAID Expansion Adapter. What cable is this? Please guide me here.

Also, I'll need 6x cables (3 each per IBM 46M0997 ServeRAID Expansion Adapter) to connect to the 6x Norco RPC-4224 backplane for my 24 drives. These are the cables https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-30AWG-Internal-36-Pin-SFF-8087/dp/B008VLHOR2 right? If not please let me know which one to buy. Thanks! Also, 6 of these will cost me around $80 so if anyone can point me to high quality cables with affordable price I'd really appreciate it!

For the JBOD expansion to the other Norco RPC-4220 I guess I will need 2x of this https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-port-Int...CI-mini-SAS-26P-Adapter-SAS-RAID/251634449763
1 for each Norco case, convert from Norco RPC-4224 internal to external <------ cables ------> external to internal of Norco RPC-4220

For power supply, I have EVGA G3 1000W and EVGA G3 650W that I bought last BF. I guess I will use the 1000W for 4224 and 650W for the 4220 JBOD?

Please review my ongoing plan and let me know any recommendations that you have. Thanks! I'm learning a lot here, and I really appreciate all your help!

 

[Chris Moore]

Xeon E5-2620 (X2)

Those CPUs are a little on the slow side, but you can always get faster ones later.

I checked here https://memory.net/product-category...source_tax=product_cat&filter_kit-qty=1x-16gb
and it listed both M393B2G70DB0-YK0 & M393B2G70QH0-YK0 memory so I guess they're compatible with the X9DRD-7LN4F motherboard right?

While they may both be compatible, for maximum reliability, I don't like to mix. Some systems will even have a problem with mixed memory where other systems can work with what you give them.

I looked at the image of X9DRD-7LN4F and can't seem to find SAS port(s) for the Broadcom 2308 SAS controller that you mentioned? In the worst case scenario, I'll just use the HBA that I already have LSI SAS 9207-8i Storage controller

In terms of cables, I guess I'll have to buy 2x cable from 2 SAS ports to the 2x IBM 46M0997 ServeRAID Expansion Adapter. What cable is this? Please guide me here.

This is the kind of cable you are looking for to go from the controller to the expansion card. One per expander is all you need, and again from the expnder to the drive backplane for your chassis, one per backplane. If I am counting properly, that would be 8 of these cables, but they come in different lengths so you just need to make sure it is long enough. Better too long than too short.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/0-7M-Internal-Mini-SAS-36-Pin-To-SFF-8087-Cable-Black-U1J9/263853227298

Also, I'll need 6x cables (3 each per IBM 46M0997 ServeRAID Expansion Adapter) to connect to the 6x Norco RPC-4224 backplane for my 24 drives. These are the cables https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-30AWG-Internal-36-Pin-SFF-8087/dp/B008VLHOR2 right?

It is the same kind of cable as from the controller to the card, they are made by many different companies in many different lengths. Just as long as they are long enough and work. I have only had one cable over the years that had a bad lane and the vendor replaced it. If you have a drive that is giving CRC errors, it may be a bad cable. Just keep an eye out.

For the JBOD expansion to the other Norco RPC-4220 I guess I will need 2x of this https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-port-Int...CI-mini-SAS-26P-Adapter-SAS-RAID/251634449763
1 for each Norco case, convert from Norco RPC-4224 internal to external <------ cables ------> external to internal of Norco RPC-4220

No, that would need two more of the cables from above to adapt the internal SAS to external to run to the other chassis. But just one of these to get the cabling external.

This board would be mounted in place of the system board on the JBOD chassis with those three ports pointing out. They are the external SAS connectors. You can just use one.

These ends on the external cable slot into the external connectors to link the two chassis. The system doesn't really know the drives are external, they just show up as being on another expander.

Your external connectors are called SFF-8088 and the internal connectors are SFF-8087. You will need enough more of the 8087 cables to connect between the Dell expander and the backplanes in the Norco 4220.

The power supply controller board I linked to is all about turning the power supply on and powering the fans.
This one is a little less feature rich:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SuperMicro-CSE-PTJBOD-CB2-Power-Board-for-JBOD/361966696885
but this one has a network connection for remote monitoring:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Supermicro-CSE-PTJBOD-CB3-JBOD-Power-Board-Rev-1-02/282960648501

 

[Plexxie]

I read about E5-2620 and found that it only supports up to DDR3 800/1066/1333
https://ark.intel.com/products/6459...E5-2620-15M-Cache-2_00-GHz-7_20-GTs-Intel-QPI

but my memory is 1600 MHz and E5-2630 v2 supports DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600
https://ark.intel.com/products/75790/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-2630-v2-15M-Cache-2_60-GHz

E5-2620 : 2.0GHz, 32nm, 95W, Memory Types: DDR3 800/1066/1333
E5-2630 v2: 2.6GHz, 22nm, 80W, Memory Types: DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600 --- Faster, runs cooler, consumes less energy, supports higher speed memory, no brainer!

so I'll definitely buy a pair of E5-2630 v2 to put them in.

The reason I did not buy the motherboard alone for $215 is
for $35 more, I get the heat sinks & fans, 16 GB memory and 2x of E5-2620. Seems like a good deal to me.

Once everything arrives I'll start building my 1st FreeNAS system and go from there. Thanks again Chris for all your help. You are really a wizard!

 

[Chris Moore]

The reason I did not buy the motherboard alone for $215 is
for $35 more, I get the heat sinks & fans, 16 GB memory and 2x of E5-2620. Seems like a good deal to me.

I agree. You found a bargain. The faster memory would probably just run at the slower speed if you needed to do that while waiting for the faster processors.

 

[Plexxie]

I just bought this pair of E5-2650 v2 for $140 shipped. Pretty good deal imo.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/273389164749

Comparison between E5-2650 v2 and E5-2630 v2
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/Intel-Xeon-E5-2650-v2-vs-Intel-Xeon-E5-2630-v2/2042vs2052

An decent upgrade (2 more cores per CPU totaling 4 cores 8 threads more) over E5-2630 v2 for only $6 per CPU!

I also looked at E5-2690 v2 CPUs but the price to performance ratio is not good so it's a no go for me.

For the 2x E5-2620 CPUs, I'd probably look for two used X79 motherboards to put them in and add GTX 970 to each one to make a cheap but powerful gaming for some fun LoL sessions when my friends come over.

I'm really excited and can't wait to get all the parts here to start my journey with FreeNAS! Thanks again Chris!