Im looking at building a linux server over the next few months, I read that you can set the mini-itx boards to turn on/off at set scheduled times. Anyone know if this is true?
This is probably the only reason for me to go mini-itx over ATX.
I've used a few M-ITX boards and haven't seen anything to do with timed shutdown. I presume this would be supported at an OS level and would just require a recent mainboard. Windows and Linux have been doing soft shutdowns for years so just a matter of finding an applet that works.
I found my Linux Nas / server was taking too much setting up, used freenas but it was touchy. I eventually used a 939 board with a dual core and XP.
Works fine, 40MB/sec upload over the lan, Gbit of course.
Power usage with 4 drives is 65W at idle, only goes up when I'm using it to recode video etc so I just leave it on 24/7.
It also serves duty as a CCTV recoder with 3 cameras.
Access via remote desktop is great. With a download manager I can queue all my downloads to run over night and I turn off my main PC which uses near 300W
You can pick a similar AM2 mainboard, Dual core CPU and 2GB DDR up for ~£80 leaving you more money to spend on HDD's
Unless you have space constraints you could consider this as a case since it has internal quick removable bays and comes with a PSU that has 4 sata cables:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-094-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=160
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