Hi! I’ve never had a server, except for a raspberry that I use as a DNS (pi-hole), but I’ve been wanting it for a long time. The other day I found something that is kinda old, but very cheap, and I’ve been thinking about buying it since then.
It’s an IBM System x3500 M4. It has an E5-2620, 32 GB of DDR3, and 7 wonderful 900 GB SAS hard drives (don’t know if actual hard disk or solid state), which would fulfill all of my linux ISOs needs for at least the next year (probably a bit more), and a RAID controller ServeRAID M5110. All for 210 euros, which I think is very cheap.
From what I know, the E5 is power hungry for modern standards, and the SAS drives are not exactly friendly for replacement parts. How much would that (mostly the SAS part) be a problem?
Also, what can I expect concerning RAID? That is definitely the most concerning thing for me, as I’ve never worked with it.
Another huge part is, I do not care about accessing it from the outside, but I’d be sharing this system with my brother, in another city, so we would have to figure out a way of doing it. Normally I’d use port forwarding, but we’re both behind CG-NAT. Is there any way of not using a third party server as a proxy/VPN/whatever? If not, what service would you recommend for this purpose?
Another thing, my brother just happens to have a probably working, 16 GB ECC DDR3 stick laying around, except that it’s 1600MHz, and the CPU only supports up to 1333MHz. I’m pretty sure that if I’d put two sticks with different frequencies, the CPU would use the lower one, but is that the case even if the CPU does not support the frequency of one of the stick? (in short, would putting the other stick work?)
If you have any other pointers or anything, let me know. Thank you :)
Old desktop pc would be ideal, for exactly the problems you pointed out. The only thing that is making me consider this is the already included drives, which is where i’d end up spending most of my money (especially now, thanks ai)
I mean, the same capacity would cost WAY too much more. For a similar capacity + the system i’d have to spend at least double :(
Are 22TB Exos derives around 400+ monies (double the price from a year ago). 6TB are only half that? Idk even where to look for prices bcs stock is weird. Red Plus (not Pro, which are loud) have similar prices.
Yeah, these are dark times, evey gen things get worse instead of advancements ppl can use.
Still, keep in mind that those “wonderful” SAS drives are still slow & might have been in operation for 12 years.
But I see your point & don’t really have any advice for you.