Silent server

[jgreco]

Well really "watts per usable square feet" or "watts per equipment square feet" but you can take your pick and still end up being "right" FSVO "right".

Measuring this gets really dicey because racks are not a fixed size. Back when I started this stuff it wasn't uncommon to have a 24" deep rack, and I remember even late into the '90's there were colo sites with crummy specs. I think it was GTE/Genuity at 216 Jackson that had 26U 28" deep racks, because they had a low ceiling and raised floor. But racks are now often 40" deep, and may be 58U or even more.

This Equinix blog post discusses it in somewhat more detail (obDisclosure: customer). The thing to note is that the scale isn't linear. That red line for comms gear goes from about 500W/sf in 1993 to around 10000W/sf around 2015. I realize we're a little off-topic here, but past experience suggests that some members of the audience here find this stuff interesting.

 

[Chris Moore]

may be 58U or even more.

I am happy we don't have any of those. My lift doesn't go that high. Our computer room was remodeled in 2010 but the management at the time was more concerned with it being pretty than if it was functional. Consequently, many things were done differently than what I would have suggested.
Thankfully, both managers that were guiding that have retired, unfortunately, we are still suffering from their decisions.

I realize we're a little off-topic here, but past experience suggests that some members of the audience here find this stuff interesting.

Yes. I appreciate it when you take the time to share with us.

 

[BlueScreenTT]

"Is 16 drives a "nice to have" or an absolute must for your application? That is, do you need the IOPS of a bunch of smaller vdevs, or could you go with bigger and fewer drives?".

It is not a question if it is a MUST it is a question of because i can. :)

I have a new plan now.
the attic is small therefor the air is heated up by the pc. yea you get the picture.

so
i am rebuilding my server rack 60X60x220 to 60x100x120 and am going to close it off on all sides, top and bottom.
then all the air will go through the servers in the front and out back.

I will make a box on the back and then connect that to the ventilation system in the house,
then i get enough static pressure/Suction and as an added bonus i can reuse the heat in the rest of the house.
and a lover ambient temperature means slower spinning fans = less noise.
problem solved.

 

[jgreco]

Yes. I appreciate it when you take the time to share with us.

Glad to hear it, I love to gab, or so it seems.

 

[Chris Moore]

Glad to hear it, I love to gab, or so it seems.

It is great fun talking to people that appreciate what you have to say.

 

[BlueScreenTT]

so i changed my mind again

new HP rack and out of the house
2 new coolers for the CPU.
now i dont have any issues with high temperatures
now it might even be to low temperatures

do i have to use UEFI to get temp readings in Freenas or is the problem the temp is to low now for the sensors to work ?

 

[Chris Moore]

2 new coolers for the CPU.
now i don't have any issues with high temperatures
now it might even be to low temperatures

What is the temperature in the room where the server is located? I am asking because that is quite low for all those temperatures. Near freezing.

The rated operating temperature range for the drives is above 0°C to (depending on model) as much as 65°C or 70°C.
https://www.wd.com/content/dam/wdc/website/downloadable_assets/eng/spec_data_sheet/2879-800002.pdf
Processors can be happy much hotter, but the most reliable operation for the drives is around 35°C and that is what you should focus on getting to.

 

[BlueScreenTT]

-2 C at the moment, in the winter -30 C.
So i have to insulate the rack then.

 

[Chris Moore]

The air going in the front of the chassis should not be below freezing. Also there is a possibility of condensation inside the server if the temperature difference is significant.

 

[jgreco]

Also, you can't have empty bays. You need to fill those with trays with spacers. This is an integral part of the design that forces airflow around the drives. Especially with such extreme temperature differentials, you've got all sorts of problem potential.

 

[BlueScreenTT]

i know about the bays at the moment i done need any fans because of the stupid cold enviroment the server is in
i have new bays for ssd's comming in 2 days and i have to rebuild the rack again so the servers can keep warm
i have my projects they always get so much bigger :-(