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Thread: Server project not going well but supplier is helpful

  1. #1
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    Feb 2014
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    Server project not going well but supplier is helpful

    Just thought I'd share my experiences, because I'm not in a position to actually install an OS on my server, and like the crowd here.

    Bought a load of bits with the aim of building a server. Essentially quite a simple build:
    • Jetway dual-core Atom D525 motherboard with 6 SATA II ports.
    • CFI NAS case with 4 hot-swap and 2 internal drive bays
    • 2.5" drive for OS
    • 5 x 3.5" drives for RAID 10 array
    • 4GB RAM (official maximum for the board though it is reported to go to 8GB)


    The case importer let the supplier down, so it was about 3 weeks later than planned. Case finally arrived. Assembled the system and it just failed to POST and the fans and disks completely failed to spin up. Took RAM out, still nothing, so phoned the supplier. Known possibility of incompatibility between case PSU and motherboard, so he test same combination with same result as me. Sends out a brand new FSP180 power supply and arranges to collect the dud by UPS next day.

    Assemble the system again (well just put the the PSU in really). This time disks spin up, lights and fans come on, but still no POST. Take RAM out and restart. Continuous long beeps. Still no display on monitor.

    Ring supplier, not sure if its RAM or mainboard, but I didn't buy RAM from him (it is Kingston Value RAM, matching the motherboard specification). Supplier recomends the same brand, but currently has no stock, so is sending me the known working SoDIMM he used in his test-bed in the mail to rule out mainboard failure.

    Amazon (who I bought the RAM from) have told me it is past its 30 day return window. Thought I'd share this story to illustrate benefit of going to a small independent supplier over a massive discounter.

  2. #2
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    Re: Server project going well so far.... NOT! - But supplier extremely helpful.

    Sigh... test RAM still not arrived....

  3. #3
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    Re: Server project going well so far.... NOT! - But supplier extremely helpful.

    I buy all my PC build bits from Ebuyer.com - I had a dead board and they sent a delivery guy around to to pick it up the next day for free.

    Good luck though, always sucks when hardware fails.

  4. #4
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    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: Server project going well so far.... NOT! - But supplier extremely helpful.

    Add me to the 'interested bystanders' list.

  5. #5
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    Re: Server project going well so far.... NOT! - But supplier extremely helpful.

    I should have mentioned the supplier by name. They are LinITX. As the name suggests, they are Linux friendly, and specialise in miniITX.

    And.... the memory arrived on Friday and it worked. Big relief that there were no problems with the motherboard at all, so I've ordered memory of the same specification (but maxing the board to 8GBytes). I had to order it from DABS, as my guy is out of stock, but he's said I can hang onto the RAM until mine arrives so I have a working home server. Had a few problems with the installation, more to do with difficulties creating a bootable startup disk from Ubuntu 14.04 (on desktop) than anything else.

    Am at last wiping my old NAS with srm before preparing it for sale.

    So far I have the server running as:
    • Logitech Media Server (transcoding OggFLAC to FLAC without breaking a sweat)
    • NFS4 server
    • DNS forwarder (will add local DNS zone later)
    • Local NTP server
    • Web server


    Coming soon:
    • DHCP (also to update local DNS zone)
    • DNLA media server (with transcoding)
    • OpenVPN server (so I can access it without exposing too many services directly to the Internet.
    • IMAP Server
    • Webmail interface to IMAP server


    Before I do all that though I need to set up automatic backups. I can't off-site them but I don't really have a business case as it's a home server.

  6. #6
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    Ubuntu Mate 15.10 Wily Werewolf

    Re: Server project not going well but supplier is helpful

    If the original RAM from Amazon was defective you are entitled to a replacement or refund. You are covered by statutory rights regardless of their returns or guarantee policy.

    Also, LinITX are a great shop. I have a similar NAS setup from them, though I currently have 3 3TB drives in BTRFS raid1.

  7. #7
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    Re: Server project not going well but supplier is helpful

    nice shop. seems to have quite expencive components. are they all of good quality or high performance or why such prices? i am still searching for a small server that would do pictures and films backups and that i could access all these relatively fast. i was thinking Rpi, but it has it's limitations.

    actually is Atom fast enough for server accessed by a few people (4-8)?
    Read the easy to understand, lots of pics Ubuntu manual.
    Do i need antivirus/firewall in linux?
    Full disk backup (newer kernel -> suitable for newer PC): Clonezilla
    User friendly full disk backup: Rescuezilla

  8. #8
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    Re: Server project not going well but supplier is helpful

    Quote Originally Posted by mastablasta View Post
    nice shop. seems to have quite expencive components. are they all of good quality or high performance or why such prices? i am still searching for a small server that would do pictures and films backups and that i could access all these relatively fast. i was thinking Rpi, but it has it's limitations.

    actually is Atom fast enough for server accessed by a few people (4-8)?
    Should be fine. Serving files is not especially CPU intensive, and the recent atoms are 64bit dual-core with hyperthreading. Disk and network bandwidth are probably the things you want to worry about, and having a board with gigabit network and SATA is a big step up from a raspberrypi (where the ethernet competes for USB bandwidth with your storage (I like the raspberrypi for many tasks, but its not great as a file server)).

  9. #9
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    Re: Server project not going well but supplier is helpful

    ok but on lintx site boards cost almosts as new HP micro server. i am sure the atom is more energy saving but the HP server's CPU is faster. and with the baord you srtill need, ram, PSU, disk... while the server has htis included. i was expecting to see baords with atoms arround 100-130 EUR not 200EUR. which is why i wonder is the quality of these baords so good or the CPU maybe so efficient/ne wor something.

    curiously i can not find many baords with low power AMD APU. the E series i mean...

    well so far i have Rpi as media center and works fine for what i need it. but i am still looking for something that would be low power and efficient at doing backups of picture during night from family computers. and i know there are NAS boxes that do that quite nicely, but they are limited in what you can do with them as well as in upgrade options. plus those with 4 drive bays are kind of pricy. and disks can fill fast if we decide to get a an HD camera in the future or better photo camera.

    i was thinking a descent Atom baord in ATX frame. but usualyl htose baords have limits on 2 sata plugs. or the SATA is slower trasfer rate.
    Read the easy to understand, lots of pics Ubuntu manual.
    Do i need antivirus/firewall in linux?
    Full disk backup (newer kernel -> suitable for newer PC): Clonezilla
    User friendly full disk backup: Rescuezilla

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
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    140

    Re: Server project not going well but supplier is helpful

    Quote Originally Posted by mastablasta View Post
    nice shop. seems to have quite expencive components. are they all of good quality or high performance or why such prices? i am still searching for a small server that would do pictures and films backups and that i could access all these relatively fast. i was thinking Rpi, but it has it's limitations.

    actually is Atom fast enough for server accessed by a few people (4-8)?
    I got a Jetway NF99FL-525. I'd never heard of Jetway before this project, but my main reason for choosing it was the 6 on-board SATA II ports, and the (undocumented) support for 8Gig of RAM. I also got a case with 4 front-loading drive bays. I couldn't find an equivalent bare-bones system for less, and proprietary NAS appliances aren't as flexible. And it's been a great learning process (both the physical build and the install/configure).

    Performance-wise it's great even with "only" 2Gig RAM. Am getting about 350Mbit/s sustained reads and about 200Mbit/s sustained write over NFS4 (single transfer) with no attempt at tuning beyond enabling jumbo frames. It can achieve the same transfer rates while transcoding AAC+ radio streams to FLAC on the fly than streaming to 4 receivers in sync, so I would think it's quite capable of serving files to 8 users - possibly a bit over the top really.

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