Building a Better Windows Home Server

[Shoal07]

So, I want a Windows Home Server box. I know I could cannibalize my old systems and build one, but I want something quiet, small profile, and low watt. I see a distinct advantage in that performance, as I see it, is almost a non-issue. On-board video and audio should save me some cash as well as a good amount of heat and wattage.

I did configure a box, but I over did it (it?s about $1k @ newegg, including 169.99 for Windows Home Server, but that?s probably around $400-500 too much...) I need help to not overspend here (this isn?t my next gaming rig afterall) So, what are the requirements...

2x HDs, I imagine 500GBs ea (best cost to gig ratio I think, correct me if I?m wrong).
Quiet
Cool
RELIABLE (it is a server for backing up everything).
Small (smallish, can still be ATX, just no super server towers, however, smaller is better, to include SFF if reasonable)
Good SERVER performance (so video/audio doesn?t matter, but should I have a dual core? Should I have 2gigs of RAM? I just don?t know!)

I appreciate the help.

 

[JackMDS]

Server does not need processing power like gaming computer.

Any inexpensive low wattage mATX Motherboard with Video and NIC that can support celeron class 2GHz and above with 1GB RAM would do.

 

[RebateMonger]

The other thing you might want to keep in mind is hard drive bays and cooling.

Lots of smaller cases won't hold more than two hard drives internally. Also, those drives may be working pretty hard occasionally (doing backups of your networked PCs, copying many videos, or creating the redundant storage system if you use it). Keep an eye on hard drive temperatures. Super-tight drive stacks can cause drive failures if things get too hot. I had a brand-new Maxtor overheat and fail when copying a disk-full of videos. It was crowded in the case, and got too hot to touch after several hours of continuous data transfers.

 

[Shoal07]

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you have any specific reccomendations? Is there a common cheap, quiet, cool, small build running around out there? I would of likely just boutgh an HP one (yek, I hate pre-builts) but the price was somewhat decent, considering software was included.

 

[RebateMonger]

I haven't seen any built-it-yourself cases (yet) that are as suitable as the new HP's case. It has a fan, has four quick-change drive bays, and is pretty small. I'm NOT a big fan of HP's desktops (because they don't furnish Restore Disks and don't offer complete online drivers for all their PCs), but I have to admit they've got a neat WHS design, probably the best announced so far. They're also backordered on most (all) sites at this time. It looks like the (unreleased) IOmega WHS uses a very similar case design.

On the minus side, there are no PCI expansion slots, so you won't be adding any more external SATA ports. You'll likely have to use USB for any additional drives.

Most other small cases don't hold many drives and may be fanless. Probably not ideal for a server.

As JackMDS says, most any recent motherboard/cpu is suitable for WHS.

 

[JackMDS]

I usually I get a midsize case that have the capacity for 4 x 3.5" external drives. No need for fancy light and other ?Jazz? since it adds heat, and takes more power. As a server, you want this computer to be somewhere out of the way.

Midsize cases when installed with mATX board and SATA drives have ample of inner volume for cooling.

300 to 400 watt simple PSU (No need for an expensive gizmo with double railing and double price).

Install a DVD-ROM and three Mobil Trays (I like the Mobil Tray flexibility but if you do change hard drive often, it can be skipped).

AM2 mATX board with Video and one Giga NIC

AMD Sempron LE-1100 Sparta 1.9GHz Socket AM2 45W (Low on wattage and only $32).

Low Wattage inexpensive Intel base would do just as well.

1GB ddr2 RAM.

Look through NewEgg and any of your favorite Vendor's site and gets parts that are on rebates, free shipping, and similar saving.

In principle server should be solid, No overcooking, or and any other Gimmicks that does not add to the server functionality and might make it unstable and or take too much electricity.
Therefore, it does not matter brand A or B as long as it follows the general guideline as mentioned above.

 

[elcamino74ss]

I'm replacing my server but after bad test runs with home server I'm going to stick with traditional 2k3 server. I snagged a hell of a deal on a Cooler Master Stacker 810 case, 8 250gb IDE drives, Supermicro 2.4 P4 Xeon CPU, 4gb ECC ram, and two 3ware ATA Raid controllers. I know its way overkill but the price was way worth it and I should be able run most anything I want on it

 

[JackMDS]

It very nice and sound very "impressive" throwing in Hardware and Devices' names.

However, unless you explain why you functionally need this.

It is just staying as Names for pieces of Plastic and silicone that cost a lot of money, and wasting money is Not impressive.

 

[elcamino74ss]

I just did this to get the redundancy of RAID 5. If you think I wasted money I have under $200 invested as I bought all that in a bulk deal and after reselling some unneeded parts I'll have a total investment of about 80 bucks for 1.5 TB of RAID 5 disks.

 

[Shoal07]

I?m curious, what didn?t you like about Windows Home Server vice 2k3? I can get Windows 2k3 Enterprise, Enterprise 64, Standard, or Web for free (legally, through school). Why would 2k3 be any better or worse then Windows Home server? I figured I could use WHS to make up for some of the multimedia type functions I?ll lack with Vista Business. Mainly though I just need a place to store backups and sync files.

Also, I just picked up Office 2007 Enterprise edition and I can get Exchange Server 2007. Can I run Exchange server with windows home server? This way I could have email accounts and access through outlook?

I?m new to all this server stuff, all guidance greatly appreciated (and feel free to describe it to me like I am an idiot, because I am with server software).

What does MS mean by ?Enterprise? edition, does that mean more than one computer can use the license key?

 

[elcamino74ss]

I had issues with getting the client connector software working. I don't know about exchange on home server. I wouldn't expect that to work but its definately possible and worth a try. Home server is based off of small business server. Enterprise edition supports additional ram, cpu, and clustering but has nothing to do with licensing.

I agree that typically a low power usage small box would be ideal for most homes but my deal was too good to pass up. I've also got some time under my belt working with server os since NT4. In general home server seems like a great idea but I went thru want docs MS has and nothing helped fix my issue and no matter what I tried the client connect piece always failed to install.

 

[Shoal07]

1 SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM
1 LIAN LI PC-A05B Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
2 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
1 ASUS M2N-VM DVI AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7050PV Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
1 SeaSonic S12 II SS-330GB ATX12V 330W Power Supply - Retail
1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop
1 AMD Sempron LE-1100 Sparta 1.9GHz Socket AM2 45W Processor Model SDH1100DEBOX - Retail
1 Microsoft Windows Home Server 32 Bit 1 Pack - OEM

I don?t think we can post individual prices, so my subtotal is: $729.92 w/out shipping from Newegg

I will say this, it?s still higher then I would like. The HP equivalent (when in stock) is, what, $100 less for the 1TB version. The 500GB HP version is around $500-550, which I am easily $100 over that with only 1 HD. Also, I know I don?t need 2GB, but it makes me feel better, and it was only about $25 more then 1GB cheapy crap. Help... Is it Newegg?

 

[Shoal07]

I was able to really reduce the price by ditching the Seasonic power supply and lian li case for this:
1 Linkworld PRESCOTT 437-01-C2222 Black SECC/SGCC MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail

I?m sure it won?t be as sturdy as the Lian Li, or as quiet of a power supply as the Seasonic, but it brings the total down to $643, with shipping! That?s $100 less then HPs 1TB server before shipping and this one contains 1.5GB more ram and likely a better Mobo. At that savings, if I really hate the PS, I can replace it. Considering how low-watt this system will be, I doubt it will make the PS fan run all that hard.

Should I look at getting an Intel Core Duo or at least a dual core AMD something if I plan on running exchange server on this thing?


Ahh, here it all is

1 Rosewill 6" Molex 4pin Male to Two 15pin SATA Power Cable Model RC-6"-PW-4P-2SA - Retail
$2.99
1 OKGEAR 8" molex 4pin male to 15pin SATA power cable Model GC8ATAL - OEM
$2.99
3 OKGEAR 18" SATA II Cable Model GC18AUGM12 - Retail
$8.97
($2.99 each)
1 SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM
$31.99
1 Linkworld PRESCOTT 437-01-C2222 Black SECC/SGCC MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail
$27.99
2 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$209.98
($104.99 each)
1 ASUS M2N-VM DVI AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7050PV Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$72.99
1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop
$49.99
1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Processor Model ADO4000DDBOX -
$61.99
1 Microsoft Windows Home Server 32 Bit 1 Pack - OEM
$169.99

Subtotal: $639.87
Shipping: $29.82
Grand Total: $669.69

 

[elcamino74ss]

Well you've got AMD x2 dual core already. Exchange is more ram hungry than cpu in my experience. I like my 3600X2. Runs pretty cool even overclocked. I'm a little leary of the cheaper power supplies just cause I've had one go bad and take out other parts with it. Overall I'd say your looking good.

 

[blueeyesm]

Question:

From looking at your deisgn criteria, why are you only considering the ATX form factor?

The ITX form factor and solutions easily meet your basic requirements. You do not need a dual core processor for handling storage needs, for movies and music, torrent processing etc. Even a P4 2.6GHz from 2004/05 is a bit overkill.

Look at http://www.mini-itx.com and you can see what kind of boards, solutions, an projects people have made using the very tiny, low power, quiet form factor.

As for software, have you considered using an alternative, but free, solution? FreeNAS is only one of serveral solutions out there.

 

[yuchai]

Originally posted by: blueeyesm
Question:

From looking at your deisgn criteria, why are you only considering the ATX form factor?

The ITX form factor and solutions easily meet your basic requirements. You do not need a dual core processor for handling storage needs, for movies and music, torrent processing etc. Even a P4 2.6GHz from 2004/05 is a bit overkill.

Look at http://www.mini-itx.com and you can see what kind of boards, solutions, an projects people have made using the very tiny, low power, quiet form factor.

As for software, have you considered using an alternative, but free, solution? FreeNAS is only one of serveral solutions out there.

Most Mini-ITX boards are still very cost prohibitive (>$200). If you can live with 10/100 LAN and 2 SATA ports, however, I think the Intel D201GLY2 is definitely a viable option.

 

[Shoal07]

Most of the time when I move files around my network, they're big. Gigs big. So I really need a gibit LAN. Also, 2 SATA ports would only allow for 2 HDs, and I am starting with two. I would probably like to add more later, especially as TB drives get cheaper.

Also, this isn't just a giant file storage and back-up device. I can (and likely will) run Exchange 2007, SQL server, a web server, as well as use it as a multimedia hub for the MCE Laptop and my 360. With 2k3 as the backbone, it should run all these programs as well.

Actually, I ended up with a G33 mATX board and a Allendale C2D 2.0ghz for olny a few bucks more. I'm just a sucker for intel right now, and I needed a few different options on the mobo.

 

[RebateMonger]

Exchange Server 2007 is supposed to be 64-bit only, so it won't run on WHS. You can run the 32-bit evaluation version, I suppose.

I have no idea if Exchange 2003 will run on WHS. I haven't looked into it. If a client. To me, WHS is about automated backup images of home/office PCs and easy-to-manage redundant storage. Those features are badly needed by the majority of home and home-office users and solve problems (backups and system restorations) that've been hurting people for 20+ years. Neither straight Server 2003 nor SBS 2003 have those features.