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Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=9373 |
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Author: | dbone1026 [ Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:50 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
Looks great Cliff, thanks for sharing! |
Author: | yakuza [ Sun Oct 24, 2010 3:43 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
Very nice, thanks for sharing your build! |
Author: | Cliff [ Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:37 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
Thanks all. The server is starting to settle down and I think it's probably time for me to leave it alone for a few days to let it stabilize. I re-added another 1TB drive as a RAID 1 mirror to the primary drive. The BIOS on the mobo supports RAID 0, 1, and 0+1, but I decided to just let Windows manage it instead. I have also set up DHCP reservations for all my PC workstation VMs and added DNS host entries for the Macs (I learned that correctly configured, the DNS server can manage Windows client DNS entries directly). I have had some problems with the server not accurately reporting Windows client status information so I've been tweaking some DCOM settings on the clients with the hope of fixing it. It would be interesting to run this along with Vail on top of a hypervisor on a single server with a crapload of external disks... |
Author: | Cliff [ Thu Oct 28, 2010 6:29 pm ] | |||
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI | |||
I learned a critical lesson this evening: DO NOT DISABLE IPV6 PROTOCOL. SBS is dependent on it and won't boot if you do. So I went into safe mode with networking, re-enabled it, restarted the server, and everything is hunky dory again. I am on a mission to make this machine quieter, and the first step in that direction was to install a new heatsink. I did some research and settled on a Scythe Shuriken. My mini server case isn't deep enough for a tall heatsink so I had to go the low profile route. My 95W CPU doesn't need a whole lot of cooling either, so based on reviews, price, and newegg availability, the Shuriken seemed the way to go. It fits reasonably well with the g.skill memory I have, and my unpopulated B-channel slots are readily accessible. CPU fan RPMs are down from ~2600 to 1750, and temps are running around 19-20 deg C. The temps should come down a bit as the thermal paste cures, but right now they're roughly the same as what I was seeing with the AMD heatsink and fan. I think the case fan is the loudest thing in the box now. It's running at 2000 RPMs or so. I should have ordered a Nexus case fan while I was at it. Edit: this server is definitely quieter. I used to be able to hear it from the family room, which is adjacent to but separated by a wall from my office. No more. Color me happy
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Author: | Cliff [ Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:39 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
I have finally achieved PIM nirvana (as in Personal Information Management). I've been trying to have a unified view of my email/calendar/contact/etc information since I bought a Palm Tungsten C back in 2003. It didn't do the trick. Neither did the Treo 650 and 755p that succeeded it. Nor did Mobile Me work worth squat keeping my 2 Macs and iPhone synchronized. Of course, the problem is that I've been trying to keep multiple devices in sync. The better approach was keeping them connected to a single source Exchange Server to the rescue! I upgraded to Office 2011 this week, and with it came an Exchange-enabled version of Outlook. I finished configuring Exchange Server overnight and I am in PIM heaven. Connected locally via my LAN: Connected to the Internet via Virgin Mobile, and connected to Exchange Server via Outlook Anywhere: Connected via my LAN (AT&T pretty much blows here at home, but if remote connectivity works from Virgin Mobile it should work with a decent cell signal too) edit: It works fine via 3G as well, provided the signal is good. I edited a schedule entry on my iPhone and it updated the Exchange server entry Setting it up was not without its challenges. The biggest challenge was establishing the outbound mail connection to my domain hosting provider. Hard coding the IP address of their SMTP server rather than specifying the FQDN is what solved that problem. The next big challenge was securing x509 certificates. I requested these for free from cacert.org and they work well enough considering the cost. Small Business Server configured the remote access stuff pretty much straight out of the box. I had to make some DNS entries to both my public and local domain. I think I am in serious need of an UPS for this server. |
Author: | dbone1026 [ Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:44 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
Thanks for sharing Cliff. Seriously though, all this work and no UPS???? |
Author: | dbone1026 [ Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:46 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
FYI - I was thinking about beta testing this to see how is works as far as PIM http://www.mball.com/FamilyDiary.htm |
Author: | Cliff [ Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:52 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
dbone1026 wrote: Thanks for sharing Cliff. Seriously though, all this work and no UPS???? It's at the top of my list. Power here is pretty stable what with relatively new construction and underground lines in the immediate area. Caltrans is building a freeway interchange nearby though, and construction accidents have caused two outtages. I'm not so much worried about the power being out and keeping the server running for the duration. I am worried about shutting down the server cleanly, then having it turn itself back on when power is restored. A 1000VA unit from APC would facilitate the former, and my mobo will facilitate the latter. In the meantime, the C: drive is in a RAID 1 mirror and gets backed up to another drive every day. I may increase that backup frequency now that exchange server is up and running. dbone1026 wrote: FYI - I was thinking about beta testing this to see how is works as far as PIM http://www.mball.com/FamilyDiary.htm The price is definitely right |
Author: | Cliff [ Fri Nov 05, 2010 4:31 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
I replaced the case fan with a Nexus 92mm (DF1209SL-3) from Newegg, and that seems to have eliminated the loudest sound coming from the box. I was thinking I might have to replace the power supply, but it seems not. Noise is the other factor causing me to be hesitant on buying a UPS. My servers are 30dB or less now. A UPS is over 40dB, and I don't know that I want to deal with the noise. |
Author: | mksE55 [ Sat Nov 06, 2010 9:25 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
I have 2 APC units . one is an older backup xs1000. dead quite. no fan model. 600 watts. the other a newer backup XS1300 with fan, only runs if on backup mode. has a nice front LED screen for info. it has a fan. but if you read they only come on in rare cases and not often. Amazon has alot of APC on sell. and if you think its under 75 watts draw the xs1000 will give you about 80 min. that what mine says when it under draw in test mode for over 1 min. here is one link http://www.amazon.com/APC-BR1000G-Outpu ... 012&sr=8-2 the XS 1300 here http://www.amazon.com/APC-XS-COMPUTER-B ... 116&sr=1-1 short and long. the other was thin and tall just FYI. also both connect via usb and has nice software for controls and info. other consideration are what else your going to plug in for extra connections. even if they are not on the power backup portion. I need some extra power for an external esata and USB DVD player they dont protection. PS the APC BR1500 version is on sale http://www.amazon.com/APC-BACK-UPS-BR15 ... 116&sr=1-2 |
Author: | Cliff [ Sun Nov 07, 2010 11:56 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
Thanks for the recommendations. We had another power outage here this morning, so it's clear I ought to do something. I stuck a Kill-A-Watt on the server and it appears to draw about 75 watts on average. With that kind of draw, I should be able to go with a fairly small UPS since I only want enough battery power to survive for maybe 5 minutes before powering down the server. |
Author: | Cliff [ Tue Nov 16, 2010 6:54 pm ] | |||||
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI | |||||
I sprung for a UPS which arrived today. It's an APC BR700G, which should give me around 45 minutes of battery time. $100 with free shipping from Amazon. The unit does not have a fan, so it is absolutely silent. It seems that Server 2008 has some native UPS support as the advanced screens let me configure low and critical battery thresholds and actions. These options appeared once the server was connected to a UPS. They are accessed via Control Panel -> Power Options -> Change Plan Settings -> Change Advanced Plan Settings. I configured the critical battery threshold as 25% and the action is to shut down the server. I'll give it a test out at the fuse box after the battery has had a chance to charge overnight. I also sprung for some new surge protectors from Belkin so that I could get my power cables under control. I stuck a 12-receptacle strip to the underside of my desk with some 3M double-sided tape and have everything on and under my desk connected to it except for the SBS server, which is connected to the UPS. I redid the power cables for the stuff sitting on top of my cabinets too with an 8-receptacle SP (router/cable modem/switch/printer/MSS/eSATA drive dock). I need to go back and clean things up with some cable ties, but at least the floor is clear. I should probably vacuum and dust down there now that I can see the floor again. edit: I had the critical battery action wrong. The machine needs to go into hibernation mode. This flushes memory to a disk file and powers off the computer. You also need to enable the "allow this device to wake the computer" setting. This will allow the computer to automatically resume from hibernation once power is restored. This needs to be coupled with a BIOS change to the restore on AC power loss setting to Power On from the default of Power Off. I finally had a successful power test today with the machine powering down and resuming without intervention on my part once power was restored. I still need to run a similar test on the WHS machine.
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Author: | walkabt [ Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:08 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI |
Gotta love the galant desks from ikea too. Since you mentioned cleaning up the cables - I drilled a 1 inch hole in my main top's corner and one more on each extension top (left and right) and put in cable grommets from Staples. Nothing touches the floor and nothing gets pinched by the table and the wall. |
Author: | Cliff [ Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:38 pm ] | ||
Post subject: | Re: Dingolfing - no massive storage hereI | ||
walkabt wrote: Gotta love the galant desks from ikea too. Since you mentioned cleaning up the cables - I drilled a 1 inch hole in my main top's corner and one more on each extension top (left and right) and put in cable grommets from Staples. Nothing touches the floor and nothing gets pinched by the table and the wall. Yup. I was shopping for office stuff a couple of years ago and Ikea had a nice mix of functionality, style, and price. This desk isn't moving anywhere, so I am not concerned enough about cords getting pinched to go drilling holes through the table top. edit: I added an APC BE550G which Best Buy has on sale right now for $40. My MSS is communicating to it via Grid Junction and I connected my cable modem, router, and switch to it. So I'm in good shape for power protection now. I will conduct a test after the batteries have a chance to take a charge and settle in for a day or so.
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