So, as you all know the hard drive in the server has issues. I've determined that the entire hardware platform is slowly failing, and that I can replace the whole thing for only about $150 extra. So, in the next couple weeks the server will be replaced by the following box. It might be longer if there are teething problems, as I intend to set up the system before I take down the old server.
APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154091)
Intel BOXD945GCLF2D Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121383)
Crucial 2GB DDR2 SDRAM (PC2 5300) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148097)
Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB SATA Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319)
Feel free to compliment/mock my decisions.
Why so low on memory?
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 07, 2010, 11:14:41 PM
Why so low on memory?
That board only supports one DIMM up to 2GB.
Neither server has ever had more than 2GB, and 2GB of DDR2 should be more than enough for the board and database.
Cute. What's the power consumption on something like that?
The board should be around 20W and the drive between 10W and 30W. That's a fraction of what the current box uses.
I found a heavier-duty ECS board to use as a workstation, which I am going to use to replace the Sun that was the original server and is now my workstation. The two boxes together should take less power than just the server did. I might actually be able to forgo my auxiliary cooling system this summer. :w00t:
I built a home server using this mobo/CPU combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135247
I have to say I'm pretty impressed with what the dual-core/hyper-threaded Atom can do. I used the same RAM you have listed, and actually bought that case not realizing it was ITX (it was a steal at $29 w/ free shipping so I'm keeping it for a future ITX project).
The RAM does what it's supposed to do, and the case is tiny & rather well made. The way you fit the hard drive is a bit odd but I guess it works. Only thing I don't like about the case is how it says "Compact Disc" on the flip-down cover for the optical drive. It can probably be removed easily enough.
At any rate, the build is right up my alley: small & cheap :)
Quote from: derspiess on March 08, 2010, 10:00:45 AM
I built a home server using this mobo/CPU combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135247
That's actually the board I'm buying for the workstation. I'm normally leery of ECS, but this seems like a good product.
Also, I went to Fry's today and browsed the motherboards. I've decided to go with the Intel D510M0 board (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121399) instead, which will allow me to go with 4GB of RAM. The mini PCI Express connection has promise, but I don't know what I'm going to do with that yet.
Install ESX on it, virtualize the forum server and use it for your own workstation too. But add more ram.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on March 09, 2010, 11:07:35 PM
Install ESX on it, virtualize the forum server and use it for your own workstation too. But add more ram.
My longer term plan is to build a high-end workstation and run the forum server as a virtual machine on it via KVM, though that is subject to change depending on how the Atom experiment turns out.
derspicey's donated case has arrived and the new server has been assembled. I won't have time this morning to load the OS. If it wasn't for the LED on the front panel I wouldn't know the thing was on. :w00t:
With the release of Ubuntu 10.04, the next long-term support release, just six weeks away I'm going to wait to put this box into production. That way I can upgrade without the down time. In the meantime I'm going to test run SMF 2.0 RC3.
:thumbsup: I was wondering how quiet that tiny PSU would be.
I forget my home server is even there, until I hear its loud hard drive start chugging from time to time.
Cool. How OS are you using?
Answer: *very* OS :smarty:
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on March 18, 2010, 07:36:29 AM
derspicey's donated case has arrived and the new server has been assembled. I won't have time this morning to load the OS. If it wasn't for the LED on the front panel I wouldn't know the thing was on. :w00t:
With the release of Ubuntu 10.04, the next long-term support release, just six weeks away I'm going to wait to put this box into production. That way I can upgrade without the down time. In the meantime I'm going to test run SMF 2.0 RC3.
You're a bigger man than me. Not sure I could wait that long. :) I want something new to tinker with too. :cry:
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on March 18, 2010, 01:00:29 PM
Cool. How OS are you using?
QuoteWith the release of Ubuntu 10.04, the next long-term support release, just six weeks away I'm going to wait to put this box into production.
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on March 19, 2010, 07:12:49 AM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on March 18, 2010, 01:00:29 PM
Cool. How OS are you using?
QuoteWith the release of Ubuntu 10.04, the next long-term support release, just six weeks away I'm going to wait to put this box into production.
Sorry. Like I said, I was sleepy. Daylight savings time = poor sleep adjustment.
Quote from: Vricklund on March 19, 2010, 01:27:00 AM
You're a bigger man than me. Not sure I could wait that long. :) I want something new to tinker with too. :cry:
I have some old celeron processors & 478 socket mobos I could send you, along with some 100mhz ram :P
Quote from: derspiess on March 08, 2010, 10:00:45 AM
I built a home server using this mobo/CPU combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135247
I have to say I'm pretty impressed with what the dual-core/hyper-threaded Atom can do. I used the same RAM you have listed, and actually bought that case not realizing it was ITX (it was a steal at $29 w/ free shipping so I'm keeping it for a future ITX project).
The RAM does what it's supposed to do, and the case is tiny & rather well made. The way you fit the hard drive is a bit odd but I guess it works. Only thing I don't like about the case is how it says "Compact Disc" on the flip-down cover for the optical drive. It can probably be removed easily enough.
At any rate, the build is right up my alley: small & cheap :)
OK, I'm having issues with this board...
Its only recognizing 3300MB out of the 4GB I put in it. On top of that, it has the memory clocked at 177MHz (:blink:) instead of 266MHz. Did you run into anything like this?
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on March 20, 2010, 12:03:04 PM
OK, I'm having issues with this board...
Its only recognizing 3300MB out of the 4GB I put in it. On top of that, it has the memory clocked at 177MHz (:blink:) instead of 266MHz. Did you run into anything like this?
The ECS 945GCD-M? I think I read that the memory controller is only 32-bit even though the processor supports x64. Can't remember where I read it; maybe it was in a Newegg review.
I only went with 2GB RAM for my WHS build, and I never checked to see how the speed appeared in the BIOS (will do that when I get a chance).
Quote from: derspiess on March 19, 2010, 08:56:33 AM
Quote from: Vricklund on March 19, 2010, 01:27:00 AM
You're a bigger man than me. Not sure I could wait that long. :) I want something new to tinker with too. :cry:
I have some old celeron processors & 478 socket mobos I could send you, along with some 100mhz ram :P
Heh, thanks for the offer but I'm not that desperate yet. :)
Quote from: derspiess on March 20, 2010, 08:25:43 PM
The ECS 945GCD-M? I think I read that the memory controller is only 32-bit even though the processor supports x64. Can't remember where I read it; maybe it was in a Newegg review.
I only went with 2GB RAM for my WHS build, and I never checked to see how the speed appeared in the BIOS (will do that when I get a chance).
My poking around on the internet gave me similar indications. I haven't seen an explanation for the reduced memory clock though. I'm going to try pulling a DIMM out and see if the clock goes up.
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on March 21, 2010, 07:40:17 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 20, 2010, 08:25:43 PM
The ECS 945GCD-M? I think I read that the memory controller is only 32-bit even though the processor supports x64. Can't remember where I read it; maybe it was in a Newegg review.
I only went with 2GB RAM for my WHS build, and I never checked to see how the speed appeared in the BIOS (will do that when I get a chance).
My poking around on the internet gave me similar indications. I haven't seen an explanation for the reduced memory clock though. I'm going to try pulling a DIMM out and see if the clock goes up.
Okay, stupid question. How do you know what speed your RAM is running? I poked through the BIOS but couldn't find it anywhere. I'm using a 2GB stick of DDR2 800 so I'm sure it's running slower than that, regardless.
Quote from: derspiess on March 22, 2010, 09:56:36 PM
Okay, stupid question. How do you know what speed your RAM is running? I poked through the BIOS but couldn't find it anywhere. I'm using a 2GB stick of DDR2 800 so I'm sure it's running slower than that, regardless.
I got it from memtest (http://www.memtest.org). Its possible, since I used version 2.11, that memtest didn't properly detect the RAM speed. I seem to remember seeing the proper speed when I ran it on the new server, though.
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on March 23, 2010, 07:32:38 AM
I got it from memtest (http://www.memtest.org). Its possible, since I used version 2.11, that memtest didn't properly detect the RAM speed. I seem to remember seeing the proper speed when I ran it on the new server, though.
I downloaded 3.5 last night & will try it out tonight. I'm going to install a spare TV tuner card in mine and see how it runs Orb. I have PlayOn running on it, to stream Hulu & whatnot to my Xbox 360 and it does okay. Hopefully Orb doesn't tax it too much.
Okay, I ran memtest & only get 177mhz as well, instead of the 200mhz I should be getting. I didn't see anything in the BIOS to manually adjust the memory clock-- did you?
Good news is that it ran for 6 hours with no errors.
edit: duh, I found it, but it only lets me select between 400mhz or 533mhz. Selecting 400mhz drops me down to 133mhz in memtest, and selecting 533mhz brings me right back to 177. Didn't really mess with the other settings; not sure what the timing should be.