Question:

How to choose a suitable server for file storage and other tasks?

I have a Poweredge R730 as my primary DC and application/file server, and a Poweredge R530 as my secondary DC and SQL server. The R730 is running out of space on the VM that hosts the file server, so I need a third server to handle the file storage and possibly other duties in the future. My budget is around $4-5k, excluding the windows server license. I have about 100 users who work with large files, and I need at least 10-20TB of storage capacity.

I have been considering some refurbished R740/XD/XD2 models on ebay that cost around $2K and come with 2x Gold 6152s, 384GB MEM, and 8x 960 GB SSD. However, I am not sure if this is too much or too little for my needs. I also wonder if it would be better to buy a bare bones server and customize it with my own processor, ram, and drives. The previous administrator set up the existing server as a RAID5 with 1 hot spare. Is this a good configuration for my scenario, or should I use a different RAID level or strategy?

I would appreciate any advice or suggestions from experts on how to choose the best server for my situation. Thank you in advance.

Answer:

Choosing a suitable server for your file storage and other tasks depends on several factors, such as your budget, performance requirements, scalability needs, and reliability expectations. In this article, we will discuss some of the options and trade-offs that you should consider when making this decision.

Budget

Your budget is an important factor that limits your choices of servers. You mentioned that your budget is around $4-5k, excluding the windows server license. This means that you have to balance the cost and quality of the server components, such as the processor, memory, storage, and network.

One option that you have been considering is buying a refurbished R740/XD/XD2 model on ebay that costs around $2K and comes with 2x Gold 6152s, 384GB MEM, and 8x 960 GB SSD. This seems like a good deal, as you get a powerful processor, a large amount of memory, and fast storage for a relatively low price. However, you should also be aware of the potential risks and drawbacks of buying a refurbished server, such as:

• The warranty and support may be limited or nonexistent, which means that you may have to pay extra for repairs or replacements if something goes wrong with the server.
• The quality and condition of the server may vary depending on the seller and the previous usage, which means that you may encounter issues such as faulty parts, degraded performance, or compatibility problems.
• The availability and delivery time may be uncertain, which means that you may have to wait longer or pay more for shipping and handling.

Another option that you have been wondering about is buying a bare bones server and customizing

it with your own processor, ram, and drives. This may give you more flexibility and control over the configuration and quality of the server components, as well as the opportunity to save some money by choosing cheaper or used parts. However, you should also be prepared for the challenges and costs of building your own server, such as:

• The compatibility and integration of the parts may be difficult or complex, which means that you may have to spend more time and effort on researching, testing, and troubleshooting the server.
• The performance and reliability of the parts may be lower or inconsistent, which means that you may have to compromise on some aspects of the server functionality or stability.
• The warranty and support may be limited or nonexistent, which means that you may have to pay extra for repairs or replacements if something goes wrong with the server.

Performance

Your performance requirements are another factor that influences your choice of servers. You mentioned that you have about 100 users who work with large files, and that you need at least 10-20TB of storage capacity. This means that you have to consider the speed and throughput of the server components, such as the processor, memory, storage, and network.

One option that you have been considering is buying a refurbished R740/XD/XD2 model on ebay that comes with 2x Gold 6152s, 384GB MEM, and 8x 960 GB SSD. This seems like a good option, as you get a powerful processor, a large amount of memory, and fast storage that can handle the workload and data volume of your users. However, you should also be aware of the potential limitations and bottlenecks of this option, such as:

• The storage capacity may be insufficient for your needs, as you only get 7.68TB of usable space (assuming RAID5) from the 8x 960 GB SSD. This means that you may have to add more drives or upgrade to larger ones to meet your 10-20TB requirement.
• The storage performance may be affected by the RAID level and the number of drives, as RAID5 introduces some overhead and reduces the write speed of the array. This means that you may have to choose a different RAID level or use more drives to improve the performance and reliability of the storage.
• The network performance may be limited by the bandwidth and latency of the connection, as the server may have to transfer large amounts of data to and from the users and other servers. This means that you may have to upgrade to a faster or more reliable network interface or switch to optimize the network performance.

Another option that you have been wondering about is buying a bare bones server and customizing

it with your own processor, ram, and drives. This may give you more options and possibilities to tailor the performance of the server components to your needs, as well as the opportunity to upgrade or replace them in the future. However, you should also be aware of the trade-offs and risks of this option, such as:

• The performance may be lower or inconsistent than expected, as the parts may not work well together or may have different specifications or quality. This means that you may have to test and benchmark the server to ensure that it meets your performance requirements.
• The performance may degrade over time, as the parts may wear out or become obsolete. This means that you may have to monitor and maintain the server to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.
• The performance may vary depending on the workload and data, as the server may have to handle different types and sizes of files and tasks. This means that you may have to tune and optimize the server to adapt to the changing demands and conditions.

Scalability

Your scalability needs are another factor that affects your choice of servers. You mentioned that you need a third server to handle the file storage and possibly other duties in the future. This means that you have to consider the growth and expansion of the server components, such as the processor, memory, storage, and network.

One option that you have been considering is buying a refurbished R740/XD/XD2 model on ebay that comes with 2x Gold 6152s, 384GB MEM, and 8x 960 GB SSD. This seems like a good option, as you get a scalable and versatile server that can support various types and sizes of workloads and data. However, you should also be aware of the potential challenges and costs of this option, such as:

• The scalability may be limited by the physical and logical constraints of the server, such as the number of slots, ports, bays, and cores. This means that you may have to upgrade or replace some of the components to increase the capacity or performance of the server.
• The scalability may be complicated by the configuration and management of the server, such as the RAID level, the virtualization, and the backup. This means that you may have to adjust or modify some of the settings or processes to accommodate the changes or additions to the server.
• The scalability may be expensive, as the parts may be costly or scarce. This means that you may have to pay more or wait longer for the parts that you need to expand or improve the server.

Another option that you have been wondering about is buying a bare bones server and customizing

it with your own processor, ram, and drives. This may give you more flexibility and control over the scalability of the server components, as well as the opportunity to reuse or recycle some of the parts. However, you should also be prepared for the difficulties and risks of this option, such as:

• The scalability may be unreliable or unstable, as the parts may not be compatible or integrated with each other or with the server. This means that you may have to troubleshoot or fix some of the issues or errors that may arise from the scaling or upgrading of the server.
• The scalability may be inefficient or ineffective, as the parts may not be optimized or balanced for the server. This means that you may have to fine-tune or calibrate some of the parameters or metrics to ensure that the server performs well and consistently.
• The scalability may be insecure or unsafe, as the parts may not be protected or encrypted. This means that you may have to secure or backup some of the data or files that may be stored or transferred on the server.

Reliability

Your reliability expectations are another factor that determines your choice of servers. You mentioned that you have a Poweredge R730 as your primary DC and application/file server, and a Poweredge R530 as your secondary DC and SQL server. This means that you have to consider the availability and durability of the server components, such as the processor, memory, storage, and network.

One option that you have been considering is buying a refurbished R740/XD/XD2 model on ebay that comes with 2x Gold 6152s, 384GB MEM, and 8x 960 GB SSD. This seems like a good option, as you get a reliable and robust server that can withstand high workloads and data volumes. However, you should also be aware of the potential failures and losses of this option, such as:

• The reliability may be compromised by the age and usage of the server, as the parts may be worn out or damaged. This means that you may have to replace or repair some of the components to prevent or recover from the breakdown or malfunction of the server.
• The reliability may be affected by the environment and location of the server, as the temperature, humidity, dust, and power may vary or fluctuate. This means that you may have to cool, clean, or backup the server to protect or restore it from the damage or disruption caused by the external factors.
• The reliability may be reduced by the redundancy and backup of the server, as the RAID level, the virtualization, and the backup may not be sufficient or appropriate. This means that you may have to change or improve some of the methods or strategies to ensure or increase the availability or durability of the server.

Another

option that you have been wondering about is buying a bare bones server and customizing