Energy Efficient Zfs Server

Chaos

Chaos

Chaos

Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
5,571
I seen some post of folk talking about using the atom boards for a zfs server but are these powerfull enough ?

I read that zfs likes lots of ram and the atom boards I've seen max out at 2gig.

What would be the next most energy efficient cpu after the atoms, one of the amd x2s ?

I was thinking of setting up a zfs file server but it would need to have low power consumption.
 
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google around for setups with amd energy effiecent e series processes, people have underclocked them for maximum energy effiecency.

The advantage is that the amd route will run on m-atx boards, with a lot of Sata, ram slots, pci etc etc etc
 
Went for a AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e 2.5GHz 45w with a GA-MA74GM-S2H board as it has 6 sata ports, will see how that goes, now to learn solaris :)
 
Is it more of a NAS server, or is it more a production/office type environment?

I'm not so sure on the Atoms. Yes, they are good but in fairness, you can build good rigs with normal bits and pieces. I built my server using an Intel E2220, 1GB RAM, Intel G31 chipset, laptop HDU (OS) and 2x 320GB desktop 7200.10 seagates. When idling (and when the hard drives power down, hence the question about the NAS or office situation), the system only draws 48W from the mains (an active PFC PSU is a must for efficiency). When all components are functioning, it draws 60W and doing normal things (given that a proper CPU won't be that stressed by menial tasks which would otherwise send an Atom into a frenzy), it consumes 70W. Not bad for basic desktop components.

Atom systems at load will draw about 50-55W (for the same as the above), however it is clear that the server I built is far more capable in terms of say databasing, should I setup a mailserver or something which requires a store like a database. I don't know - I'm not overly convinced on the Atom. Then again, I had enough parts lying about to build the above - no doubt if going from scratch, I'd probably opt for the Atom.
 
I'm continually disappointed by the ATOM. It's not as efficient as as certain AMD chips with C'n'Q technology, and they're slower than a Salford Uni student on crack. I think smids' setup sounds like a good'n
 
It'd be for a multi-TB NAS with ZFS to feed my hungry Myth boxen. It doesn't really need to be fast for that, considering I've currently got an 800 MHz PIII doing the job.

I'm throwing around the idea of retiring my current main frontend, the aforementioned 35 W AMD X2, and putting it on server duty. Then again it does the frontend job very well so I thought I might go for a better, higher-capacity, server than what I have now but with even greater energy savings since it'll be on all the time. It'd be cool to have some sort of WOL function that would activate when needed but without burning up the disks from continuous power-cycling. A few years down the road SSDs will solve this, but not today.
 
Hmm, one of the AMD setups does sound ideal for this. The AMD X2 5050E sounds perfect + one of the nV based integrated boards. Alternatively, the 3250e + 780G motherboard is a good combo and very low power. Would eat an Atom alive too.
 
If I do go the route of retiring my current frontend what's the best AMD mobowith integrated graphics for H.264 playback? I understand that nVidia and ATi are both playing with hardware acceleration in the newest chipsets. My current 6150 chipset is not a candidate for this.
 
Nforce or Intel Mobo chipsets are prefered with solaris.

NVidia graphics is easier to setup but I Have an ATI 3870 Running fine.

You can get some OSS sound driver to cover most sound cards.

HW DB is here: http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/hcl/data/os/


Word of warning: All entries have a default of "reported to work" if submitted by end users, this is not the same as "supported". The OpenSolaris forums (at opensolaris.org not .com) are the place to search (use google as the built in search is rubbish) if you want a bit more clarification on what levels of performance/features of your hardware will work.not work
 
BillytheImpaler said:
If I do go the route of retiring my current frontend what's the best AMD mobowith integrated graphics for H.264 playback? I understand that nVidia and ATi are both playing with hardware acceleration in the newest chipsets. My current 6150 chipset is not a candidate for this.
Click to expand...

With regard to h.264 playback, I use the flendo codec pack for OpenSolaris (Gave up with vlc - some can get it working, apparently.)

I've found performance (with all manner of gfx cards - latest and old) to be crap (in terms of media playback).

I'd advice you put your front end on a VM or use a seperate Linux Box if you want a nice media experiance (opensolaris isn't mature enough to have taken a lot of time with media support - though progress is being made)


C2D 2.4 Ghz (Duel core) with 4 GB ram here
 
ok, components I have lying around are:

e6300
2gb Geil 800mhz ddr2
160 GB hdd - maxtor (I think)
Totally crap VIA motherboard (which needs replacing)
Seasonic 380 watt PSU

If I buy a new mainboard, what would people recommend?

If I use the 160GB HDD drive as the OS drive and invest in one or two Green edition 1TB drives. will this equal winrar? For a media file server?
 
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