Atom based file server? Am I mad?

SiD the Turtle

SiD the Turtle

SiD the Turtle

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Hi chaps, I'm just floating around some ideas at the moment on setting up a file server. I have a RAID 1 array in my HTPC but the number of crashes it has (mostly caused by me experimenting) means I'm constantly rebuilding the array. I also have to crank up the HTPC every time I want to watch/listen to something stored on it elsewhere.

Therefore I was thinking of a nice, low power always on (at least when I'm awake) file server that I'll throw into an old case. I was thinking of getting an Atom processor and MB and pair it up with a hardware RAID card. My two main concerns are:

  1. Power. I'll have an Atom processor but at least 3 HDDs, am I going to nullify the benefits of the Atom?
  2. Performance. The server will be doling out files to three other computers at most, rarely simultaneously. I know over time I'll give it other duties such as backup or FTP. Will the Atom struggle?
 
I am running Windows Sever 2008 on a dual core Atom based machine, with three 1TB drives. Not only am I using it as a file server, it is also a domain controller, DNS, DHCP and WSUS server too. It's not as responsive as a "proper" server would be; it takes quite a long time to start up and shut down and the admin consoles take a while to load, but it copes with the load surprisingly well.

With this in mind, you should find it is more than good enough for your scenario.
 
I've got an Atom 330 based server running Windows Home Server and it does it perfectly. I use it for file sharing, backups, print server and torrents. It doesn't even break a sweat :) I guess server 2008 being a full functional server OS would take a while to load but with WHS from pressing the on button my shares are available in about a minute or less (never timed it though).
 
I was looking into using an Atom 330 for a NAS server as well. Much better to build your own than rely on the packaged NAS servers you can buy like Thecus for example. But after doing some major research and convincing the misses I am going to go for a major build using high power processes.

Anyway just my two cents worth. All the best with the build.
 
Here we go then:

specm.jpg


Substitute the OCZ RAM for Crucial or Corsair RAM elsewhere and this'll all go in an existing case or alternatively a SFF case if I'm feeling flush. I'll also be selling my existing 500GB and 2x 1TB HDDs (non Eco/Green etc) on the Member's Market to bring the costs down.

Thoughts?


P.S. I'm also thinking the MB could be promoted to HTPC duties if I find I need more powah for my server in the future.
 
Looks good, although I'd throw in 4GB seeing as it's so cheap these days. The Morex Venus 669 is quite a nice case, if you want something Mini-ITX sized but able to take 4 hard drives.
 
Have you considered using opensource software instead of Windows Home Server - you could put the extra towards the build?

Not only is it free but it has the added bonus that it should use less system resources - which would be an added benefit when considering your setup.

I'm hoping to build a NAS system soon’ish using Openfiler. I will have little to no clue how to use Openfiler but there's a friendly and, thankfully, a very articulate guy (StevenRaith) who would probably be more than happy to point/guide you in the necessary directions. There are others lurking about on the software forums but Steven pops up a lot on this forum and it's very apparent that opensource software is his area of expertise.

You may find the following link of interest - link – as it documents his latest NAS/Web/FTP/media server build.

However, you may be deliberatly avoiding opensource and are fully aware of how to install/use it in which case ignore the above ;)
 
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Saundie said:
The Morex Venus 669
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It's nice, but for the price I'd rather get something like the Silverstone TJ08 :D

Plec said:
Have you considered using opensource software instead of Windows Home Server - you could put the extra towards the build?
Click to expand...
It's something I'm considering, especially like the look of FreeNas, but to be honest I'm a Windows man as a day job so fiddling with Linux is an arcane art to me :o
 
SiD the Turtle said:
It's nice, but for the price I'd rather get something like the Silverstone TJ08 :D
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Yes, it is quite expensive, but it's one of the very few mini-ITX cases that will accomodate a decent amount of hard drives. The Silverstone you mentioned is much bigger, which I guess is what you want!

SiD the Turtle said:
It's something I'm considering, especially like the look of FreeNas, but to be honest I'm a Windows man as a day job so fiddling with Linux is an arcane art to me :o
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OpenFiler is a really well polished piece of software, it's very easy to use and requires no knowledge of Linux at all. Of course, if you want the features that Windows Home Server provides (of which there are lot of really great ones) then it's a great choice, especially considering how relatively inexpensive it is.

I think the components you picked out in the Silverstone TJ08 is a good choice. If you do decide that the Atom does not provide enough power for you, at least you can upgrade to a Micro-ATX based system without ditching the case. You could then use the Atom board in an HTPC as you mentioned earlier. Seems like you have the bases covered :)
 
Hmm, I dont think you need an Ion motherboard then if this is just gonna be a file server?

Atom boards online can be had sub 60, or if you could find a bargain ML110/ML115 going, that might be an idea?

Possibly punt this over to the Server section of the forum for a better idea?
 
I'd consider AM2 and a 45W AMD CPU instead of something Atom based. Atom will do the job, but it's aimed firmly at netbooks, thin clients and media PC's, which shows with the lack of expansion. An Ion board is certainly OTT, the money you'd save would pay for two 1TB drives.

Again I'd go AM2 with no hardware RAID card. Just fill 4 onboard SATA ports, run FreeNAS off a USB flash drive and setup GEOM RAID 5 in software.
 
DireEmblem said:
Hmm, I dont think you need an Ion motherboard then if this is just gonna be a file server?

Atom boards online can be had sub 60, or if you could find a bargain ML110/ML115 going, that might be an idea?

Possibly punt this over to the Server section of the forum for a better idea?
Click to expand...

I used to have a dead ML100 as a footrest :p

I'd agree that an Ion is overkill, but I can't find a cheap Atom based board that has at least three SATA ports or expandability without spending the cash :(

Of course, open to suggestions :D
 
I have the Intel D945GCLF2, which I believe is the cheapest of the Atom 330 boards. I got it when it was released last year, it's been running Server 2008 24/7 ever since. I've added a cheap two port SATA card so I could use four drives; a 250GB 2.5" laptop drive for the OS, and three 1TB drives for data. It's certainly not the fastest box in the world, but it doesn't dump much heat into my room either, nor does it cost a fortune to leave running all the time.
 
Ta, I have another thread open at the moment debating the merits of hanging SATA drives off a PCI bus. Sounds like you don't have any problems, but is there anything worth mentioning?
 
Daegan said:
I'd consider AM2 and a 45W AMD CPU instead of something Atom based. Atom will do the job, but it's aimed firmly at netbooks, thin clients and media PC's, which shows with the lack of expansion. An Ion board is certainly OTT, the money you'd save would pay for two 1TB drives.

Again I'd go AM2 with no hardware RAID card. Just fill 4 onboard SATA ports, run FreeNAS off a USB flash drive and setup GEOM RAID 5 in software.
Click to expand...

Agreed - no need for an atom, run an energy efficient Athlon and undervolt/underclock it and you will use less power, and use 'green' hdd's
Id go for WHS - its so easy to use and there are a host of plugins to expand functionality...
 
SiD the Turtle said:
Ta, I have another thread open at the moment debating the merits of hanging SATA drives off a PCI bus. Sounds like you don't have any problems, but is there anything worth mentioning?
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Not that I can think of. Disk performance isn't blistering for the drives on the PCI card, but my it meets my needs. It's not like I'm using it as a SAN for a production environment or anything, after all. Of course, another memory slot and 2 or 4 more SATA ports would turn a good board into an excellent one, but you can't have it all :)

Seeing as you're quite happy to have a Micro-ATX case, it might be worth investigating the energy efficient AMD route as so many people have mentioned in this thread. You'd get your 6+ SATA ports onboard, vastly superior performance and a bunch of expansion slots too. I really like my Mini-ITX systems due to the extremely low power consumption, low noise and low heat, but there are many compromises to be made in going down that route.
 
Thanks for all the advice chaps. The AMD route is another alternative, but I am conscious of power requirements. The headline 8w of the Atom 330 is hard to ignore (though the motherboards eat a lot more on top of that figure).

Either way, I think I've been over-thinking it today so time for a break and come back to it with a clear head :D
 
Bumpage.

I bit the bullet and went with the Atom in the end, but not the Zotac. The bits and pieces are arriving today so I'll let you all know how I get on. Here's what I got:

  • Point of View ION 330 Motherboard (includes 4xSATA and a PCI Express port)
  • 2 GB SODIMM Ram (this was free as I have loads lying around)
  • 500 GB Samsung Ecogreen system disk
  • 2x 1.5 TB Samsung Ecogreen data disks
  • Coolermaster 340 Elite mATX case (this is exactly the same case as the Silverstone TJ08 but lacks the nice metal front, which I don't need and is a third of the price)
  • 400w Corsair CX (almost the same price as the Be Quiet and Corsair Customer Support has been legendary for me in the past)
  • 2x 120mm Akasa fans
  • Windows Home Server

Including delivery from the various sources (though OcUK was free of course) this came to £461.21.

I've already got a buyer for my old 1TB drives so that reduces the cost by £100.
 
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