Hi Tom's Hardware, I just registered on this website.
I am in the process of sourcing components to build a DAS and under an impossibly low budget of $300-$350.
A little context:
I already have a nice little HPDL360 as my home server, and it has 2 x 2TB SAS drives in RAID 0 already setup. Currently it holds and serves all my media. I have filled it to its maximum capacity. I could add another 2TB SAS drive; but I hope to accomplish my DIY project in the same price that I would pay for the SAS drive.
Also: Looks do not matter to me, the whole rig can live on styrofoam or whatever substrate I can get my hands on.
In the end, hopefully, I would have some room to add drives to my DIY rig without spending a crazy amount.
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So far, I scoured ebay for all of the following:
1. Legit DAS enclosures such as the ones from HP; they were never in the price range.
2. NAS enclosures, which were either too limited in upgrade options (always 2-bay, 4 bay) or never in my price range or both.
I know that for the power and options I am asking the budget is too limited. But I am a tinkerer and I want to build something, however ghetto, just to prove to myself that I can do it.
--------------------------------
That said, here is what I am thinking:
+ I am building a DIY RAID rig with a motherboard, PSU and a RAID controller.
+ Hook up 4 x 1TB HDD to the RAID controller in the DIY rig.
+ Install a P800 card in the DL360
+ connect the RAID controller of my rig to the DL360 via mini SAS cable.
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The biggest question I have is whether I need a RAID controller in the rig at all.
Can I just get an adapter like this one:
LSI SAS3801E 3Gb/s miniSAS Eight-Port Host Bus Adapter
http://bit.ly/H3atGb
And install this in the rig, connect my HDDs to the adapter; connect the adapter to the P800 via miniSAS ?
Just curious if you think this would work.
--------------------------------
My shopping list so far:
1. JetWay JM26GT4-LF Micro ATX AM2 Motherboard with 2.1GHz Athlon X2 and 2GB DDR2 http://www.ebay.com/itm/171140099397?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 (ALREADY PURCHASED)
2. 4 x 1TB Western Digital HDD (GOT THIS FOR FREE)
3. HP Smart Array P800 512MB SAS Raid Controller
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360635211300?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
What do you guys think?
I humbly ask for your advise and look at this opportunity to educate myself while I build my absolutely ghetto RAID DAS rig.
Thank you!!
I am in the process of sourcing components to build a DAS and under an impossibly low budget of $300-$350.
A little context:
I already have a nice little HPDL360 as my home server, and it has 2 x 2TB SAS drives in RAID 0 already setup. Currently it holds and serves all my media. I have filled it to its maximum capacity. I could add another 2TB SAS drive; but I hope to accomplish my DIY project in the same price that I would pay for the SAS drive.
Also: Looks do not matter to me, the whole rig can live on styrofoam or whatever substrate I can get my hands on.
In the end, hopefully, I would have some room to add drives to my DIY rig without spending a crazy amount.
--------------------------------
So far, I scoured ebay for all of the following:
1. Legit DAS enclosures such as the ones from HP; they were never in the price range.
2. NAS enclosures, which were either too limited in upgrade options (always 2-bay, 4 bay) or never in my price range or both.
I know that for the power and options I am asking the budget is too limited. But I am a tinkerer and I want to build something, however ghetto, just to prove to myself that I can do it.
--------------------------------
That said, here is what I am thinking:
+ I am building a DIY RAID rig with a motherboard, PSU and a RAID controller.
+ Hook up 4 x 1TB HDD to the RAID controller in the DIY rig.
+ Install a P800 card in the DL360
+ connect the RAID controller of my rig to the DL360 via mini SAS cable.
--------------------------------
The biggest question I have is whether I need a RAID controller in the rig at all.
Can I just get an adapter like this one:
LSI SAS3801E 3Gb/s miniSAS Eight-Port Host Bus Adapter
http://bit.ly/H3atGb
And install this in the rig, connect my HDDs to the adapter; connect the adapter to the P800 via miniSAS ?
Just curious if you think this would work.
--------------------------------
My shopping list so far:
1. JetWay JM26GT4-LF Micro ATX AM2 Motherboard with 2.1GHz Athlon X2 and 2GB DDR2 http://www.ebay.com/itm/171140099397?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 (ALREADY PURCHASED)
2. 4 x 1TB Western Digital HDD (GOT THIS FOR FREE)
3. HP Smart Array P800 512MB SAS Raid Controller
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360635211300?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
What do you guys think?
I humbly ask for your advise and look at this opportunity to educate myself while I build my absolutely ghetto RAID DAS rig.
Thank you!!