Low power network storage
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:25 am
I'd like to build my own network server. Available NAS devices are too limited in functionality for my needs or too expensive for my budget. As the device has to run 24h/day I don't want to reuse an old AMD PC, consuming a lot of power and making a lot of noise.
I'm thinking of building a fanless Mini-ITX system with a VIA C3 like CPU.
Most important request: The system should be low power consuming, especially when in idle mode (i.e. not serving files) and it should be quite.
Performance of graphics- and soundcard can be quite low, as the systems will run as a headless server most of the time.
Medium CPU performance (500 MHz - 1 GHz) should be quite enough for file serving.
A 100 MBit network connector should be onboard to save additional network cards.
2x 3.5" harddrive bays and 1x 5.25" bay for CD-ROM (for OS installation) should be enough. Otherwise the case could be as compact as possible.
Powersupply should be fanless and could be external as well. In case 2 harddrives and 1 CD-ROM are too much for a fanless powersupply, I could live with a single harddrive and an external CD-ROM just for installation as well. If the BIOS supports network installation of the OS, the CD-ROM could be omitted completely. Probably a bootable flashcard slot could be helpful as well in that case.
The system should work seamless with the bigger Linux distributions (RedHat, SuSE etc.)
Well, and the system shouldn't cost more than $ 300 without harddrives, RAM and OS (already have these components), better less.
I'd like to hear some recommendation especially for CPU/MB, power supply and case from people, who have build a similar server already.
If there was a similar thread here, please point me to that. I couldn't find a thread that answers my questions in the postings from this year.
Cecco
I'm thinking of building a fanless Mini-ITX system with a VIA C3 like CPU.
Most important request: The system should be low power consuming, especially when in idle mode (i.e. not serving files) and it should be quite.
Performance of graphics- and soundcard can be quite low, as the systems will run as a headless server most of the time.
Medium CPU performance (500 MHz - 1 GHz) should be quite enough for file serving.
A 100 MBit network connector should be onboard to save additional network cards.
2x 3.5" harddrive bays and 1x 5.25" bay for CD-ROM (for OS installation) should be enough. Otherwise the case could be as compact as possible.
Powersupply should be fanless and could be external as well. In case 2 harddrives and 1 CD-ROM are too much for a fanless powersupply, I could live with a single harddrive and an external CD-ROM just for installation as well. If the BIOS supports network installation of the OS, the CD-ROM could be omitted completely. Probably a bootable flashcard slot could be helpful as well in that case.
The system should work seamless with the bigger Linux distributions (RedHat, SuSE etc.)
Well, and the system shouldn't cost more than $ 300 without harddrives, RAM and OS (already have these components), better less.
I'd like to hear some recommendation especially for CPU/MB, power supply and case from people, who have build a similar server already.
If there was a similar thread here, please point me to that. I couldn't find a thread that answers my questions in the postings from this year.
Cecco