Microserver Gen8 Replacement - Custom Build

isaw on 05/06/2019 - 10:24

So I'm looking to replace my microserver gen8 (1265lv2/16gb/4x8tb/P222 raid/256ssd) as its getting a little old and I wish to run some more virtual machines and the RAM limit is killing me. I wish to keep it in a similar form factor, quiet and small enough that it can sit under the TV in the loungeroom.

I'm looking at Server miniATX or mATX motherboards, ideally with quad networking (for pfSense), 6 drives + nvme, and at least 4 cores, with support for 64gb ram (or more). IMPI or remote management is a must too.
I'd like to use a node 304 case or similar.

This supermicro mainboard catches my eye (X10SDV-TLN4F) but the xeon-D 15xx series are now a few years old, and all the new 2xxx xeon-D chips do not have 6xSata default off the board.

So OzB, if you wanted to build something powerful but small and had a few thousand to play with what would it be?

Computing

Comments

  • stratbargain on 05/06/2019 - 10:29

    I'd spend $200 on an Nvidia shield to remove the requirement that it sits in your lounge room. It will add a lot of flexibility to your build.

    • isaw on 05/06/2019 - 10:36

      Its not used as a media player, smartTV covers that. living in an apartment without the ability to garage a full rack means a small simple device that keeps the Mrs happy is a requirement. Small traditionally means lower power as well, as it'll be 24/7 for download stack/hydra etc an ongoing low power consumption is beneficial.

      It also sits in the lounge as there really isnt' anywhere else to put it… modem ->switch<->ms8 feeds the network at Gb currently, running it elsewhere would not allow Gb into the network, and wifi/EoP isnt that solid

  • websterp on 05/06/2019 - 11:07

    Have you looked at mid - enterprise spec NASes from Synology and Qnap? I think one of those would be a much better solution than a custom build.

    • resisting the urge on 05/06/2019 - 12:24

      They won't run VMs with any anger, if at all, and their abysmal support for the bastardised (Linux) OS's they implement isn't solid enough for storing data securely, let alone running or securing a VM

      OP: Your kit isn't so bad at present, more power needs to come in the form of more cores and threads, and low power silicon is only now becoming a reality. Live with what you have by keeping things lean and enhancing disk speeds. You could get faster disk controllers (if they fit) but they'll suck more power which the little case will have trouble with. Even if may end up in a mini tower for the next year or three, it'll be worth it as a 32 core intel would be an easy choice later- and make any current Xeon D upgrade look pretty meagre. The main trouble of getting more power than what you have is cooling, and power, the server cooling solutions are terribly loud. Should you invest in a case full of 200mm fans etc, you end up shifting so much air albeit auite quietly the thing just fills with dust anyhow, and the fans require regular and costly replacement. A big PSU can also be costly and quite noisey.

      Lots of people are selling their old microservers, consider getting another if you need more capacity- and having a redundant spare/or at least some parts on hand

      • isaw on 06/06/2019 - 08:41

        The ram is the limiting factor currently for vm's. Whilst I have a nuc7i5 i could run proxmox on and drop 64gb into I was hoping for a neat all in one solution.

        • resisting the urge on 06/06/2019 - 14:31

          Server kit forces you to buy ECC or registered RAM. That is fine when it's so old its being dcommissioned and sold used online, but new tech will cost multiples more! How much is it for new server RAM? … anyhoooo- I just got 2x16GB sticks for >$100 for my quad core AMD (AM1) that runs at 25W TDP. Board, 32GB and 2.0GHz CPU can be bought for $200, a 1TB SSD and a 10TB 3.5" NAS disk is >$800 and an ultra low power PSU and case say $200- almost noise for under >$1200 each. No ILO, no redundancy, but focus on good backup and keep it light- not too much load and just have more boxen to run more VMs.

          • resisting the urge on 09/06/2019 - 15:00

            @resisting the urge: Was having a look around just now- did you know the are new HPE MicroServers out?

            The P04923-S01 ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 X3421

            It's top model Opteron looks to be the business (not the 3216/3218 dual core versions) https://www.amd.com/en/opteron

            Still not a world away from a 1265Lv2, but at what looks to be about $393USD in the US w cpu w 8GB DDR4/2400, no disk, looks great value (esp. as it's a factory supported configuration)

  • Sunny84 on 05/06/2019 - 12:30

    Buy another second hand Gen8 MicroServer?

    They are a solid performer for the performace/price :)

  • dogboy on 05/06/2019 - 12:36

    I am thinking of selling my Gen8 as I only really use my N40L. Have built it to almost same spec as yours but only 4x4TBs.

    • Sunny84 on 05/06/2019 - 12:39

      how much?

    • jmeister on 05/06/2019 - 14:03

      how much and where are you located?

    • isaw on 06/06/2019 - 08:43

      I loved my n36l, 5x2tb's then 5x3tb's with a ubuntu host, it was a great little NAS but started to run out of puff. The gen8 is a great replacement, pitty they nerf'd the g10.

      I'm interested in your g8, Will DM you now.
      EDIT" Cant message you, but I see you are in brisbane too. DM me and we'll chat!

  • ImportantCustomer on 06/06/2019 - 18:05

    Wait a little for the new low power mini-itx boards to come out, these will be here "soon"
    http://asrock.pc.cdn.bitgravity.com/Download/e-catalog/SBC-3… (the i7 one if you are keen on grunt)
    Note that they have two Intel NICS

    Then plug in one of these:
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Mediasonic-HF2-SU3S2-SATA-Drive-En…

    You can then install ESX or OpenFiler or ProxMox and go nuts….

    edit: look at the new motherboards here also: https://www.asrockind.com/#All

  • The mikky on 06/06/2019 - 20:27

    Might want to wait for the next gen ryzens, looks like they will have plenty of cores, and I believe there should be some itx boards coming as well

    • isaw on 07/06/2019 - 11:04

      I've been looking at the reviews from sth on these, but they all have only 4 onboard sata which sucks. They do look like a great option/platform, especially with 210g and 21gb eth
      An add-on card is option but I wanted to keep the slot free if possible.

      • The mikky on 07/06/2019 - 21:43

        Ahh true, I hadn’t looked that much into the storage side, as I mostly want just heaps of cores for running VM’s mostly for running test labs for various Certs I want to do, so I don’t need much storage.

        • isaw on 07/06/2019 - 21:52

          Trying to do the same thing, but want to combine it all into one system, so storage and 6 drives is important… 4 just isn't cutting it now and 10/12TBs seem too much $$/gb

  • impoze on 24/01/2020 - 18:09

    how did you go @isaw?

    • isaw on 13/05/2021 - 08:17

      Only just seen this now;
      Ended up picking up a X10sdv motherboard from OCAU for a decent price, paired with 4x32gb sticks of ECC and 58tb/1512nvme running unriad. All packaged into a node304 case with a older 650w antec psu. Needed to get a new fan/heatsink and there was like only 1 company that made them which was a pain.
      Have all the dockers/webservices running for media and Linux ISO's, some work related intergration engines as well and ~10 windows vm's/servers round out the package. If I had a slightly larger case where I could run 5 drives AND a full size video card i would drop in a 3*000 card for mining but currently there just isnt room. the last drive bay takes up the GPU slot.

      been running 24/7 for about a year now?

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