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Guide To Building A Media Storage Server - Page 241

post #7201 of 7742
4/12/12 at 7:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

No real need for a SSD in a server, imo. Once its on and running there is very little benefit.

I ended up with one in my server because the Lian-Li PC-Q08 has a space for a 2.5" HDD and while I'd intended on using a 250GB notebook HDD. the HDD started having problems. The only other 2.5" device I had "lying around" was a 64GB SSD. I could take it out and clone to a HDD if I found a deal on a 2.5" drive but I figure why bother. It's working. I also wanted a separate drive for my OS since my ultimate plan is not to stick with the WHS2011.

I did notice one big difference in speed between the HDD and the SSD was Remote Desktop comes up much faster with the SSD than the HDD did. Using the Dashboard through RD also comes up much faster.
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post #7202 of 7742
4/12/12 at 7:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj View Post

I would have spent about the same amount buying a HDD to get that old laptop working. Now I get all the pluses that dj4monie mentioned. If the drive was more than $65 then I probably wouldn't have done it. Like I said before, I was running my server on an old laptop HDD in the first place.

True. I just partitioned my 2tb drive as I didn't want to buy a ssd.
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post #7203 of 7742
4/12/12 at 8:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

I ended up with one in my server because the Lian-Li PC-Q08 has a space for a 2.5" HDD and while I'd intended on using a 250GB notebook HDD. the HDD started having problems. The only other 2.5" device I had "lying around" was a 64GB SSD. I could take it out and clone to a HDD if I found a deal on a 2.5" drive but I figure why bother. It's working. I also wanted a separate drive for my OS since my ultimate plan is not to stick with the WHS2011.

I did notice one big difference in speed between the HDD and the SSD was Remote Desktop comes up much faster with the SSD than the HDD did. Using the Dashboard through RD also comes up much faster.

My case was similar, i had only 500gb hitachi 2.5, at first didnt my OS drive to take a slot of my 16x 3.5 slots, but the hdd failed in the first week.... too expensive for me to return, and with the flooding hdd prices were to high, and had a X25m 120gb laying around, so it went in. I also can say from what my experience, that booting barely helps, as the HBAs increase the booting by at least a minute, but the overall opening of console and so on is much faster, not that its needed, but certainly nice to have it.
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post #7204 of 7742
4/12/12 at 10:13am
SO basically if I am being noob and following along..

No reason I can't use a 60GB or 120GB SSD for OS on server... but I must trick the install to think it is actually 160GB ??

Someone explain more please.
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post #7205 of 7742
4/12/12 at 10:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick View Post

SO basically if I am being noob and following along..

No reason I can't use a 60GB or 120GB SSD for OS on server... but I must trick the install to think it is actually 160GB ??

Someone explain more please.

By default WHS (and other variants) take a minimum of 160GB drive and make two partitions (three if you count the hidden 100MB system reserve). The C:\\ partition is 60GB and the D:\\ is the rest. WHS places ServerFolders\\ shares on D: and inside that is Videos, Pictures, Music, Documents, Recorded TV, and Client Computer Backups.

If your drive is less than 160GB then it will not install. Putting the cfg.ini script on a USB stick and then booting the install DVD will bypass that restriction. It will also place the ServerFolders on C:. There will be no D: drive once installed. At that time I plug in my storage drives and my drivepool program and map that to D: and move the ServerFolders to D:.
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post #7206 of 7742
4/12/12 at 12:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj View Post

By default WHS (and other variants) take a minimum of 160GB drive and make two partitions (three if you count the hidden 100MB system reserve). The C:\\ partition is 60GB and the D:\\ is the rest. WHS places ServerFolders\\ shares on D: and inside that is Videos, Pictures, Music, Documents, Recorded TV, and Client Computer Backups.

If your drive is less than 160GB then it will not install. Putting the cfg.ini script on a USB stick and then booting the install DVD will bypass that restriction. It will also place the ServerFolders on C:. There will be no D: drive once installed. At that time I plug in my storage drives and my drivepool program and map that to D: and move the ServerFolders to D:.

Thanks Bryan! I didn't know that...
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post #7207 of 7742
4/12/12 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj View Post

I would have spent about the same amount buying a HDD to get that old laptop working. Now I get all the pluses that dj4monie mentioned. If the drive was more than $65 then I probably wouldn't have done it. Like I said before, I was running my server on an old laptop HDD in the first place.

Assassin just like to wait... He should time how long it takes for him to fire up the laptop or desktop and wait for Server Dashboard to come up.

As I said with the right board, you are not using up valuable SATA ports on a OS drive.

Yes you can buy a cheap SATA card but why?
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post #7208 of 7742
4/12/12 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dj4monie View Post

Assassin just like to wait... He should time how long it takes for him to fire up the laptop or desktop and wait for Server Dashboard to come up.

As I said with the right board, you are not using up valuable SATA ports on a OS drive.

Yes you can buy a cheap SATA card but why?

Maybe a few extra seconds.

At most.

And once setup I don't need the dashboard often at all anyway. This is a server after all and really should be on autopilot.
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post #7209 of 7742
4/12/12 at 1:29pm
No idea what the average time to load WHS 2011 Dashboard but on my CULV laptop from the time I entered the password to full Dashboard access was 22 seconds.

A SSD might cut that down a few seconds but is that worth it for a server? Still not sure about that one.

I am confused. Many on here tout that you can build a server with minimal or leftover parts yet some of those same people are saying you should get a SSD. As I said I am a SSD fan and will never build a HTPC or regular PC again without one but for a server that is only going to be actually accessed intermittently (at least this is how I use mine) I am not sure I really see the need.
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post #7210 of 7742
4/12/12 at 2:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

No idea what the average time to load WHS 2011 Dashboard but on my CULV laptop from the time I entered the password to full Dashboard access was 22 seconds.

A SSD might cut that down a few seconds but is that worth it for a server? Still not sure about that one.

I am confused. Many on here tout that you can build a server with minimal or leftover parts yet some of those same people are saying you should get a SSD. As I said I am a SSD fan and will never build a HTPC or regular PC again without one but for a server that is only going to be actually accessed intermittently (at least this is how I use mine) I am not sure I really see the need.

I think I will set up my server on a spare drive I have... HDD.

I have an SSD but not sure I want to use it for that.

thanks for the insight... you convinced me.
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post #7211 of 7742
4/12/12 at 3:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I am confused. Many on here tout that you can build a server with minimal or leftover parts yet some of those same people are saying you should get a SSD. As I said I am a SSD fan and will never build a HTPC or regular PC again without one but for a server that is only going to be actually accessed intermittently (at least this is how I use mine) I am not sure I really see the need.

I am not sure I see the need for an SSD in a server either. Right now I don't have another need for that SSD and I don't have another 2.5" device to replace it. It was what I had that day when I replaced the HDD. It was money already spent. Until I need it for something else, it's working and I am happy.

The rest is not an advocation of an SSD in a server. It's an observation of my experience with first an HDD as the OS drive and then the SSD. It's mere fact it's faster, nothing more. It's up to someone else to judge if that's something they care about or desire. I make no such judgement -- it's simply "here's what I built and here's what I am happy with and why".
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post #7212 of 7742
4/12/12 at 3:18pm
Oh I am not saying don't ever use one. Just don't go out of your way to buy a new one. Use whatever you have on hand preferentially. Or buy one if its cheaper.
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post #7213 of 7742
4/13/12 at 7:05am
anyone wanna trade a Brand new Intel RES2SV240 for HP Sas Expander? PM me.
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post #7214 of 7742
4/13/12 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

I also wanted a separate drive for my OS since my ultimate plan is not to stick with the WHS2011.

what is the ultimate plan ?
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post #7215 of 7742
4/13/12 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick View Post

what is the ultimate plan ?

The same plan that is the plan every night -- try to take over the world.

Or, use Windows 8 Storage Spaces when it's released, reviewed and stable.
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post #7216 of 7742
4/13/12 at 10:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

The same plan that is the plan every night -- try to take over the world.

Or, use Windows 8 Storage Spaces when it's released, reviewed and stable.

So we're talking a long range plan?
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post #7217 of 7742
4/14/12 at 5:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

The same plan that is the plan every night -- try to take over the world.

Or, use Windows 8 Storage Spaces when it's released, reviewed and stable.

(The same plan that is the plan every night -- try to take over the world) --hey that is the quote from a cartoon show Pinky and The Brain.
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post #7218 of 7742
4/14/12 at 7:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

The same plan that is the plan every night -- try to take over the world.

Or, use Windows 8 Storage Spaces when it's released, reviewed and stable.

Is windows 8 storage spaces built into windows 8 ?
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post #7219 of 7742
4/14/12 at 7:48am
Windows 8 is a ways away.

I like the combination of WHS and Flexraid. Probably will end up being cheaper than Win8 as well. Best part about it is that its available (and stable) now.
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post #7220 of 7742
4/14/12 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Windows 8 is a ways away.

I like the combination of WHS and Flexraid. Probably will end up being cheaper than Win8 as well. Best part about it is that its available (and stable) now.

Did you get your flex raid up and running?

Thoughts?

Comments?

I am begin to assemble a basic server now.
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post #7221 of 7742
4/14/12 at 8:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick View Post

Did you get your flex raid up and running?

Thoughts?

Comments?

I am begin to assemble a basic server now.

Yep. Its fantastic.
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post #7222 of 7742
4/14/12 at 9:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Yep. Its fantastic.

How many hdds you have running with Flexraid?
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post #7223 of 7742
4/14/12 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abula View Post

How many hdds you have running with Flexraid?

Four 2TB data drives and a Fifth 2TB parity drive.
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post #7224 of 7742
4/17/12 at 7:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

True. I just partitioned my 2tb drive as I didn't want to buy a ssd.

How big you partition for your OS?
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post #7225 of 7742
4/17/12 at 8:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick View Post

How big you partition for your OS?

60gb. About 30GB left.
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post #7226 of 7742
4/17/12 at 8:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

60gb. About 30GB left.

so you did the trick ? Instead of the normal 160GB partition it wants?
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post #7227 of 7742
4/17/12 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick View Post

so you did the trick ? Instead of the normal 160GB partition it wants?

No trick. It let me install it. Maybe just the whole drive needs to be at least 160GB.
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post #7228 of 7742
4/17/12 at 9:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

No trick. It let me install it. Maybe just the whole drive needs to be at least 160GB.

I would use an SSD or a 74GB raptor I have for the OS on the server but I don't feel like messing to install it.

I keep reading I need a 160GB or larger drive.

I have a spare 320GB WD blue I was going to use for the OS. It's basically worthless to me for anything else.
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post #7229 of 7742
4/18/12 at 10:09am
Saw this on eBay and thought it might be of interest to some folks. It ain't cheap and is a bit dated, but doesn't seem to be too bad. Also to get thoughts on it. Not sure if drives > 2TB would work with the adapter though - would anyone know? If others are interested let me know - maybe a lower price could be had.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=150799382193
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post #7230 of 7742
4/20/12 at 6:44am
I'm planning on building a server, thinking about using Linux so I can use ZFS, would be server need to be able to decode the BD streams, or would my TV need to? how would the codec situation work basically.

I'm planning on having 3 3TB drives, two for redundency, and an SSD for the OS btw.
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