Server - What to go for/What do you have?

Post by **jakkes** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:11 pm

I think that i am on the wrong side of the power draw.....:
HP Proliant ML110 with Raid5 card and 3 * 250 gb in Raid 5 (behind a APC 2200 VA UPS): 160 Watt..... (measured with Plugwise)
3Com 2924 managed switch, ReadyNasPro with 3 TB storage (4 drives in Raid 5), ADSL router and Zywall router: 158 Watt (also measured with Plugwise)

note:
The server is an ESX server with 8 VM's (Ubuntu webserver, Windows 2003 SBS, windows XP client for Plugwise/HS, 2 different mailserver based on KERIO)

Post by **TANE** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:26 pm

Thats 2800 Kw per year 600 euro

If you replace you server with E8500 usage will drop to 60 watt
For the NAS you can have 6 TB with Qnap 439 pro usage 30 watt

Saving > 2000 Kw thats 450 euro per year.

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Twitter http://twitter.com/Chak64%20My%20Domoti ... tane.nl/wp

Post by **jakkes** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:50 pm

When i look at the Netgear site the powerdraw should be 115 W typical with 6*1 Tb drives.
When i look at the powersupply of my ADSL modem (Speedtouch 787) is says a 25 watts....
My Zywall 35 UTM router is also rated for 18 W
The 3Com switch is 35 watts
The linksys WRT54G 6 Watt
So that makes (calculated, not measured...) 72 Watts, not taking in count the powerdraw af an APC750VA UPS

Offcourse you are right about the server....

Post by **drmacchi** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:57 pm

Old Athlon64 , @2400 , 2giga ram, 250gb , asus a7n8-x , old radeon 9200 , dvd-rw, homeseer without problems: 50 watt. i would a try a downvolt to reduce power consumption.............. 35-40 watt?

Post by **Herbus** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:06 pm

@RDNZL What happend with your Asrock? http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3188
The system that you describe isn't the Nettop I guess [?]

@Tailwind
I am looking for a server to run Homeseer, HSTouch server and future Plugwise. Connections do I need for RFXCom, Siemens M10, PMIX35 (all usb or converted rs232->usb). For storage I have a dedicated file server (RAID 1) and a NAS for daily backup. Camera's (not installed yet) will stream to the file server.

In my case the ASRock ION 330 will be enough I think. Hope that this topic will confirm my choice [:D]

Herbus (Jos)

Post by **Bjochems** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:55 pm

This is my setup: Intel Atom330, 2 GB, WD Green disc, Silverstone power adapter and silent Scythe Mini Kaze 3500 motherboard fan.

Runs perfect and fast on Win XP Prof + Homeseer + HSTouch Server + Plugwise, RFXCom, PMIX35 and webserver (LAMP).

Power usage: 36 Watt

Post by **Jeffrey** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:44 am

@herbus: With the requirements you specify even a single core Atom will be sufficient, but to be save a ION330 based machine is the way to go in your situation. Powerusage will be around 35 Watt as you can see from the feedback of other forummers. The ASRock is a nice option, but be aware that a new version is being sold as we speak (it has WIFI and some other additions). The price is also nice. The only thing that concerns me is the little 6 cm fan. In time that can collect a lot of dust and become noisy over time (you can always replace it with a Papst fan which is quiet).

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Post by **Jeffrey** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:57 am

Atom is widely represented as well as full blown pc's, how about laptops?

It's interesting to see that nobody uses a laptop as server. The big advantage is that you can create a self supporting ups laptop thingy.

Just put the powersupply of the laptop on (for example) a plugwise module and create a script which will catch the Windows event when the powerlevel of the battery is getting low to switch the plugwise module on until the battery is charged (put it on for an hour or monitor the battery status from Windows until it's 100%) and than switch the plugwise module off again. This way the laptop is selfhealing (or whatever you want to call it).

I use an older laptop and it's noisy and hot. I do not trust it as 24x7 server. I don't know if the same thing goes for newer laptops.

[?] Basically the question is --> does anyone use a (modern) laptop as 24x7 domotica server, what is the powerusage, what are the specs, how is the noiselevel (fans) and does it get very hot?

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Why Tailwind? Because Jeffrey was already registered ...

Post by **Snelvuur** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:22 am

my gf's laptop is her desktop.. its always on. some laptops do get warm, but if you dont use the screen it saves power/heat (since i have normal monitor hooked up to it) if you do notice heat with your setup you can always buy one of those things you can put underneath it to dissepate the heat. (and looks pretty)

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **j.hoekstra** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:06 am

@tailwind: the reason only little people use laptops is that they are expensive and inflexible.
You can get an atom-board with memory for around 80-100(depending on the version even more) Put in a 1,5 TB drive for around 80, a cheap enclosure for 50 and you're pretty much done.
This will be around 250-300(roughly) where a newer laptop starts it's price...

Post by **jakkes** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:06 am

I would be interested in a Asus T91.
Because of the touchscreen mostly....
And that with the option that Tailwind mentioned......
On battery during the day, charging the battery during the night

Post by **AenG** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:49 am

* Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 motherboard;
* Intel Core I7-860
* 4 GB RAM
* 2 x Intel X25-M 80GB SSD (raid0)
* Asus EAH4770 videocard
* Antec mini P180 Midtower
* Enermax Modu82+ 525Watt power supply

Running Windows 7 (homeseer, plugwise, eumetcast weather-satellite receiving)
Power consumption 85 Watt

http://www.hetweerinboskamp.nl

Post by **RDNZL** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:54 pm

@herbus: Question: What happend with your Asrock? http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3188
The system that you describe isn't the Nettop I guess

Answer: That's right its new hardware, not the nettop. I'm going to install XBMC 9.11 (when VDPAU is fixed) on the ASRock, so I can connect it's HDMI port to my (soon to buy) HD TV and browse/view the media on my new NAS with it.

ATOM, NVidia and Ubuntu is an excellent combination!!!

Actually I just realized my ATOM collection consists of:
Asus EEEBox, Asus EEEPc 1000AH, Shuttle X50 330, ASRock ION 330 and Point-of-View ION 330 DIY NAS. OOPS [8D]

Kind Regards,
Ron.

Post by **Jeffrey** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:32 pm

@j.hoekstra: I didn't know that only "little" people are using laptops [:p] (just kidding...read your post and you see what I mean)
I think you are spot on regarding the price issue. I currently am using a laptop which is an old one that I had left. To buy a new one is another story. That surely explains why laptop's are not used more often as servers.

@jakkes: If you want to go for a touchscreen based machine, than this is the ultimate daddy --> http://asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=DPWRF5hdLVP5bqsQ . Atom 330 (dual core), high resolution, Windows 7, and the list goes on.

@AenG: With that configuration, the consumption is rather high. Especially for the stuff it's doing. Google for underclocking/undervolting, which can lower the powerconsumption.

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Post by **Jeffrey** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:36 pm

I've expanded the starting post. Prices, examples and tips are added. The changes are colored in red.

Please note that some links are not handeled correctly by the forum. Just copy and past the full text (link).

@moderator: I've had more trouble with links. Spaces and ( ) signs are not handled well, also when using the [ url ] tags.

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Why Tailwind? Because Jeffrey was already registered ...