Image via Gelbooru
I started this new project to build another PC specifically used for storage/data only (Anime episodes, Mp3s, images, web development , etc) back on last October 2008 when one of my HDDs was crapping out ie dying. Since I have no way to recover my data if the HDDs fail, I went for Hardware RAID solution which is something I have never done before. For those who don’t know, aside from being an otaku, I am pretty much a PC Hardware geek.
Image via Moe Imouto
My figure expenses certainly were cut back severely in order to afford my file server. In addition to having $$$, I had to do a lot of research here and there which is why it took couple months before I finished my build. Not to mention, on December 2008, I went on spending spree with figures and Christmas gifts so this project was hold off.
Image via Gelbooru
Since I have a lot of spare parts due to yearly upgrade, I managed to minimize the cost. I already have a 600w PSU, motherboard, Intel E4300 Dual Core processor, 1 gig of RAM and DVD-rom which is about to die anytime soon ^^.
Image via Gelbooru
The only parts left are HDDs and a RAID card and those are the costly ones. Not to mention, there are so many RAID cards out there with different features and functionality but my pick finally went to Areca 1220. As for HDDs, I chose Seagate 1TB HDDs x 6. The raid card cost me about 12 figures approximately and the HDD was about 2.5 figures each so you guys do the math ^^;;.
Image via Gelbooru
As for the RAID itself, I went for Raid 6 (striped disks with dual parity). Using this setup, I can recover from the lost of 2 HDDs which is a very rare to happen. Total storage for RAID 6 with 6 HDDs is (6 – 2) X 1TB = 4TB which is plenty and will last me for a while (hopefully).
As for more important data like my photos, web development stuff and mp3s, I have another back up on an external 500gb HDD.
I spent my last weekend getting my file server up and running. Len-Vesper suggested me to use FreeBSD as the OS but I don’t have time to wait for another month and so learning FreeBSD. I took a shortcut and used Windows Vista ^^;;. Since I only use it to store data, I figured vista is good enough. I really need to learn linux :S
Image via Gelbooru
Full system specs:
- OCZ ModStream 600W PSU
- DFI Dark Infinity LGA 775 Motherboard
- 1 Gig of RAM
- E4300 Dual Core Processor
- 1 x 120 GB Seagate HDD for OS
- 6 x 1 TB Seagate HDD running on RAID 6 (4 TB total)
- Areca 1220 Raid Card
- Name: Monoceros-Server
- Windows Vista Ultimate x64
Image via Gelbooru
Overall, it’s a good learning experience to do something that I had never done before and the next step is probably to use FreeBSD or Ubuntu as my next OS. Thanks for reading and hope you guys enjoy the pictures ^^.
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Your ram is the only bottleneck I see in your system, unless it’s high performance ram.
I gave up on trusting HDDS long time back, but have no other viable option for now but to store all my stuff on the 1.5TB internals that I have. I’ve had 3 HDDs crap out on me, albeit they were external. The internal one’s crash which require a reformat, but never died on me.
Anyways, Im just waiting until Blu-ray burners become more affordable, then my entire library goes on there.
I wish i would have understand atleast half of what you wrote ^^;;
So basically you build a Second PC where you just store data and access with your “real” one?
Blowfishs last blog post..Asuka: All grown up (NSFW)
Was never so into PCs since 3 laptop broke down already so far, and my 4th one is starting to show some ‘disfunctionality’, and I am not ready to buy a desktop yet as I constantly move about, making life not so easy right now T_T orz
This is why I’ve also given up with a lot of PC games as their requirements increase n-folds yearly, so I’m always stuck with old games these days.
Qs last blog post..Kumamoto Trip
@th: I think 1 gig should be enough for a file server and I don’t really use it for anything else. I got my main PC for other tasks.
As for HDD dying, that’s why I went for RAID solution since it allows me to have as many as 2 HDDs die and I can still recover my data.
@Blowfish: Yep, you got my point which means you understand what I wrote ^^
@Q: I despised laptop unfortunately but then I didn’t move around a lot. For my past experience, laptops don’t last long. 2 things from laptop that usually breaks first are DVD-rom and the battery.
I prefer to get a sub notebook like Asus EEE PC since I don’t play games on a laptop.