Home Server Build

[Ares]

So I am starting to look at building a home server I can use for a variety of stuff.

I was considering building a new monster gaming desktop because my old one is dying, but then I realized I don't use that machine for gaming, I invested in a really nice gaming laptop so I can play downstairs near my TV and junk.

I do need a machine up in my office for other stuff.... I host an FTP, I host a Vent server sometimes for gaming, I need a machine that can do DVD/BR transcoding/burning..... I also do some video editing which a server build could do much better than my laptop. And If I have a beastly server I imagine I will come up with other uses for it.

So all that to say I started trying to mock up a server build on Newegg since I've never put a server together before, but it really is much the same, just different type of board for dual CPU and different case and of course I am not investing any money in a video card because I don't need it, so that money goes for extra CPU.

Last night I was looking at something like this:

LGA 2011 Dual CPU board
2 - Quad Core Ivy Bridge CPUs
128GB of DDR4 RAM
512GB PCI-E 3.0 SSD
4TB of HDD storage, not sure if I will setup in a RAID or not.

This was just a rough mock so I could throw some stuff together and see where the prices are adding up.

I was using a SuperMicro case and motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182933

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811152235

If anyone has any brand or configuration suggestions or tips I am all ears.

 

[Novak]

Dis n00b setup tbh

 

[clonetrooper264]

Dis n00b setup tbh

Well show him how it's done then

 

[Ares]

Dis n00b setup tbh

stfu you pickle dicked trout munching sea water farming cannibal transvestite

 

[Crystallas]

IMO with today's offering, and how you're basically looking to do basic high uptime tasks thrown in with a few high demand tasks. I would seek out solutions for each, because SMP outside of a few areas is a drop in performance at this point, because the software simply ignores us dual CPU users. And it doesn't just work like having multiple cores, unfortunately. in theory it is, but once you have an SMP system, you run across strange limits with layers of software that limit the full usage of it. Also something I don't expect to change anytime soon, my main system has been SMP for about 20 years and I keep telling myself that we're close, but it never happens.

But the good news is, you can buy a KVM switch with the money saved and just build multiple rigs for the intended scope of purposes. I use a droplet server for my FTP, but a beaglebone(Pi2 competitor) to sync between NAS and my droplets. Two reasons, one its lower power than using a full server, and for that need, the performance is great. Also it acts as my home streaming server, so if I want to pull videos or music off the network, bam. I use my main system to edit videos. I don't edit them often enough to require a separate machine. Then again, my setup is goofy because I have 7 computers in one room(only a few powered on at once). So if I run out of power, I just go to another and spread the usage while upgrading from there. This is not something I expect of a normal person, I just have so much shit after running my own business for years.

 

[Ares]

IMO with today's offering, and how you're basically looking to do basic high uptime tasks thrown in with a few high demand tasks. I would seek out solutions for each, because SMP outside of a few areas is a drop in performance at this point, because the software simply ignores us dual CPU users. And it doesn't just work like having multiple cores, unfortunately. in theory it is, but once you have an SMP system, you run across strange limits with layers of software that limit the full usage of it. Also something I don't expect to change anytime soon, my main system has been SMP for about 20 years and I keep telling myself that we're close, but it never happens.

But the good news is, you can buy a KVM switch with the money saved and just build multiple rigs for the intended scope of purposes. I use a droplet server for my FTP, but a beaglebone(Pi2 competitor) to sync between NAS and my droplets. Two reasons, one its lower power than using a full server, and for that need, the performance is great. Also it acts as my home streaming server, so if I want to pull videos or music off the network, bam. I use my main system to edit videos. I don't edit them often enough to require a separate machine. Then again, my setup is goofy because I have 7 computers in one room(only a few powered on at once). So if I run out of power, I just go to another and spread the usage while upgrading from there. This is not something I expect of a normal person, I just have so much shit after running my own business for years.

So if I am hearing you right, you would suggest I do maybe 2 non-SMP builds.... say 2 ordinary builds with a single CPU setup, probably something newer than Sandy or Ivy and the main reason is that many applications won't utilize the dual CPU setup.

Let me ask this, if you have a dual CPU setup and you are running 2 applications that could both easily use all of one of the CPUs, will the OS work it that way or are there still limitations that simply don't allow it to harness all the CPU power on a single SMP setup?

Also, what kinda business you run.... das alot of hardware

 

[Jester]

Nerds !

 

[Crystallas]

So if I am hearing you right, you would suggest I do maybe 2 non-SMP builds.... say 2 ordinary builds with a single CPU setup, probably something newer than Sandy or Ivy and the main reason is that many applications won't utilize the dual CPU setup.

Let me ask this, if you have a dual CPU setup and you are running 2 applications that could both easily use all of one of the CPUs, will the OS work it that way or are there still limitations that simply don't allow it to harness all the CPU power on a single SMP setup?

Also, what kinda business you run.... das alot of hardware

Multiple builds, yes. So maybe 2, maybe 3. Different needs could have different strategies, also believe it or not, could also consume less power and generate less heat/noise than one beefy but outdated/pricey to upgrade SMP single local server. You might not leave your gaming system on 24/7, but want your media server or ftp up. Plus, this gives you flexibility to use the best software for the job. I'll elaborate.

Maybe run a whole house nginx/samba setup on freebsd/coreOS linux with lightweight hardware, but put more into a decent storage controller. Then you can SSH into that system from your other systems and do as you please with it, otherwise called a headless system. Then you want to edit video, maybe you think it's impossible to avoid final cut pro, and put together a hackintosh. That system can also be used for web browsing as well, and you can always handbrake/transcode in whatever system anyways, if that one has available resources. Then you obviously have your gaming rig and software that runs best with windows. Three systems, three less expensive upgrade paths, and two backup plans if something happens for usage and some flexibility for power management. And of course, you use the most expensive hardware in the preferred designation, so initial costs are a push(or a matter of passing down hardware over time), especially with how crazy it is to get onto the Supermicro bandwagon(I have been down this road, and IMO the premium over industry observed ATX/EATX standards is not worth the extra bones unless you get used hardware from some data center and can rely on that for upgrades.)

I basically do general engineering on my systems, but that is only part of what I do. When I started my own business, the world was different and barely anyone had deep computing skills, so I just built up clients and provided solutions while developing relationships and a reputation. For stuff I do, I have a dual CPU Opteron system(32 cores total). It's not all that great for gaming, but when I use something like BRICs or autocad, I can top it out. Still outperforms a 6700K skylake build by a decent margin for my tasks, but a skylake system will beat it down in the newest games. I might upgrade when the E5/E7 Xeon skylakes come out, not sure. Even 5 of the world's top 20 supercomputers have been holding onto the same CPUs as mine, because of the same reasons. If I didn't need to do CAD work, I wouldn't use an SMP system, but I still deploy multiple machines similar to what I suggested above.
Also, ASIC/FPGA servers are dropping in price and getting better. So I don't suggest doing what I do, just because it works for me doesn't mean it will work for you. That MP dream a lot of us nerds have is really not all that great in the end.

 

[Ares]

Multiple builds, yes. So maybe 2, maybe 3. Different needs could have different strategies, also believe it or not, could also consume less power and generate less heat/noise than one beefy but outdated/pricey to upgrade SMP single local server. You might not leave your gaming system on 24/7, but want your media server or ftp up. Plus, this gives you flexibility to use the best software for the job. I'll elaborate.

Maybe run a whole house nginx/samba setup on freebsd/coreOS linux with lightweight hardware, but put more into a decent storage controller. Then you can SSH into that system from your other systems and do as you please with it, otherwise called a headless system. Then you want to edit video, maybe you think it's impossible to avoid final cut pro, and put together a hackintosh. That system can also be used for web browsing as well, and you can always handbrake/transcode in whatever system anyways, if that one has available resources. Then you obviously have your gaming rig and software that runs best with windows. Three systems, three less expensive upgrade paths, and two backup plans if something happens for usage and some flexibility for power management. And of course, you use the most expensive hardware in the preferred designation, so initial costs are a push(or a matter of passing down hardware over time), especially with how crazy it is to get onto the Supermicro bandwagon(I have been down this road, and IMO the premium over industry observed ATX/EATX standards is not worth the extra bones unless you get used hardware from some data center and can rely on that for upgrades.)

I basically do general engineering on my systems, but that is only part of what I do. When I started my own business, the world was different and barely anyone had deep computing skills, so I just built up clients and provided solutions while developing relationships and a reputation. For stuff I do, I have a dual CPU Opteron system(32 cores total). It's not all that great for gaming, but when I use something like BRICs or autocad, I can top it out. Still outperforms a 6700K skylake build by a decent margin for my tasks, but a skylake system will beat it down in the newest games. I might upgrade when the E5/E7 Xeon skylakes come out, not sure. Even 5 of the world's top 20 supercomputers have been holding onto the same CPUs as mine, because of the same reasons. If I didn't need to do CAD work, I wouldn't use an SMP system, but I still deploy multiple machines similar to what I suggested above.
Also, ASIC/FPGA servers are dropping in price and getting better. So I don't suggest doing what I do, just because it works for me doesn't mean it will work for you. That MP dream a lot of us nerds have is really not all that great in the end.

Keep in mind the system(s) I build will not be for gaming at all, none of them would need to hit that realm.

This is good info, thx Crys.

 

[Omeletpants]

stfu you pickle dicked trout munching sea water farming cannibal transvestite

You could just call him a dicklicker and save a lot of keystrokes

 

[Omeletpants]

IMO with today's offering, and how you're basically looking to do basic high uptime tasks thrown in with a few high demand tasks. I would seek out solutions for each, because SMP outside of a few areas is a drop in performance at this point, because the software simply ignores us dual CPU users. And it doesn't just work like having multiple cores, unfortunately. in theory it is, but once you have an SMP system, you run across strange limits with layers of software that limit the full usage of it. Also something I don't expect to change anytime soon, my main system has been SMP for about 20 years and I keep telling myself that we're close, but it never happens.

But the good news is, you can buy a KVM switch with the money saved and just build multiple rigs for the intended scope of purposes. I use a droplet server for my FTP, but a beaglebone(Pi2 competitor) to sync between NAS and my droplets. Two reasons, one its lower power than using a full server, and for that need, the performance is great. Also it acts as my home streaming server, so if I want to pull videos or music off the network, bam. I use my main system to edit videos. I don't edit them often enough to require a separate machine. Then again, my setup is goofy because I have 7 computers in one room(only a few powered on at once). So if I run out of power, I just go to another and spread the usage while upgrading from there. This is not something I expect of a normal person, I just have so much shit after running my own business for years.

Or just get a stock iMac. Does just as well

 

[Crystallas]

Or just get a stock iMac. Does just as well

HFS is a massive bottleneck for some of the things he's asking for and doing an oZFS build will be problematic with some updates.

 

[Ares]

Or just get a stock iMac. Does just as well

Nah, it doesn't.

I am looking to build something with server-like processing/memory/storage.... I feel like I have to remind you that Macs contain the same ordinary CPUs, memory, and storage as any Windows PC build.

 

[Omeletpants]

Nah, it doesn't.

I am looking to build something with server-like processing/memory/storage.... I feel like I have to remind you that Macs contain the same ordinary CPUs, memory, and storage as any Windows PC build.

I was kidding

 

[Ares]

I was kidding

Oh it was supposed to be a joke.... I get it now