I want to get into networking. I want to do it as cheaply as possible. I have a network switch picked out, I just need a server or two. I'll use it for a file server, minecraft server, and maybe even a way to link up with the 3rd party software to play online on the original Xbox. Anyways it needs to be under $130 preferably. Lower is better. I can buy hard drives if they don't come with any. I want it to be a rackmout one (1u, 2u, 3u, etc). I prefer to stick with Dell, HP, IBM/Lenovo, etc. I'll buy used but not from some sketchy chinese website. Thanks for any help to this long request.
Budget Home Server
- Thread starter Jon66238
- Start date
Is there are particular reason you're targeting rackmount server hardware for a home environment? The issue you run into, in my experience, is any upgrades need to be researched really, really carefully. RAM compatibility can be extremely temperamental. The might only support 2.5" HDDs, or may not support standard SATA drives. PSUs are sometimes proprietary or very hard to find. They also tend to be really noisy.
You may very well be better off picking up one of the many and cheap ex-lease Dell or HP towers. If you avoid the SFF models, they often use standard ATX PSUs (but check that), and can be fitted out with standard, cheap DDR3 RAM and SATA drives. You can easily pick up a capable i5 2400 or similar for under budget. Maybe you could argue that dedicated server hardware *might* be more reliable, but a key factor of reliability is the ease and time in which you can source replacement parts if something does go wrong. And you'll probably find that much, much easier on a relatively "normal" desktop tower.
You may very well be better off picking up one of the many and cheap ex-lease Dell or HP towers. If you avoid the SFF models, they often use standard ATX PSUs (but check that), and can be fitted out with standard, cheap DDR3 RAM and SATA drives. You can easily pick up a capable i5 2400 or similar for under budget. Maybe you could argue that dedicated server hardware *might* be more reliable, but a key factor of reliability is the ease and time in which you can source replacement parts if something does go wrong. And you'll probably find that much, much easier on a relatively "normal" desktop tower.
It'll be in my basement so it's ok if it's loud. I kinda want one with DDR2 because I have a few sticks of ECC DDR2 laying around. I prefer the rack servers because I already have a switch in mind. It's more of a personal preference though. I'll go with a DDR3 system if the price is right.
I don't claim to have a heap of experience with this, but from the few experiences I've had, I fear your chances of just slapping any old DDR2 ECC RAM in and having it all work are nowhere near as high as you think they are.
I've had a look through the ebay.com listing for rackmount servers in your price bracket and it just makes me really nervous. From what I can tell most of it is 10 years old or more. Many are running really old IO controller cards for old SCSI storage drives. You're entering a world of potential compatibility treasure hunts... all for the sake of having a computer which sits in rack instead of a desktop which sits on top of or underneath a rack. That's not a worthwhile trade off in my book.
I'll freely admit this isn't my area so I'll bow out here and wish you well. Hopefully someone comes along who's more familiar with this old server hardware and can help you find something which is going to be relatively easy to find compatible components for. If you don't get some better advice though, can I encourage you to reconsider a standard i5 2400 with DDR3 RAM or the like? Having a server that's compatible with standard off-the-shelf parts really does make life easier in the long run.
I do have some experience with various servers and I whole hardly concur with rhysiam. Run don't walk away from the old rack mount servers. These beasts are not for the faint of hart or newbies. Dell has great prices on desktop server boxes.
tt/2
Designing a system because you have a switch in mind is kind of arse end first. Re-think, what you are you trying to achieve? "I want to get into networking"??? Yet you are looking at old servers wich have nothing to do with getting in to networking??
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