Home Server Build Log

Hi guys, you've probably seen a couple of my threads over the last few months asking for help with Sever Components and advice on the OS, anyway I've finally finished researching and advice seeking and I'm now about to order and assemble the server over the October Holiday (If you don't live in the UK that's the 12th to the 21st).

Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone that contibuted to those two threads your comments were all extremely helpful and contributed greatly to the choices I made. I'd also like to especially thank tycoonbob, his advice and knowledge of Servers in general and more specifically RAID have been a massive help to me, many thanks good sir.

My house was totally renovated over the last 6 Months so we have brand new CAT6 cable behind the walls with wall points that feed back to what I'm calling my server cupboard, where I've had to use switches I bought these Netgear Prosafe (or the 5 port version depending on needs) and in the server cupboard we have everything feeding back to the 16 port Netgear Prosafe. I'm using a Draytek Vigor 120 Modem and the Netgear N900 as the main Router, I live in an old Victorian house so a second AP was a must and for that I have the Apple Airport Extreme.

Now you've got some background lets get down to business

What the Server will be used for:

1. File Server
2. Backup
3. Media streaming (Mainly iTunes library host & HD video)
4. VPN
5. Personal Web Hosting
6. Mail Server
7. Running a virtual machine for my OU course
8. a little Minecraft on the side

Components:

• Case: X-Case RM 400/10 V2 (With Extra 5 Drive Hotswap Caddy) Price: £132 PURCHASED October 5th
• Motherboard: ASUS P8B-X Price:£121 PURCHASED October 6th
• CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1240v2 Price:£191 PURCHASED October 8th
• RAM: 4GB, DDR3 PC3-12800 ECC X4 Price: £30 each (30 x 4 = £120) PURCHASED October 8th
• PSU: Corsair TX550M 550W Modular Price: £72 PURCHASED October 8th
• RAID Card: MegaRAID SAS 9261-8i Price: £250 ($380) PURCHASED October 6th
• HDDs: RAID: 5x Toshiba DT01ACA100 Price: £58 Each (58 x 5 = £290) PURCHASED October 8th
• OS HD: Intel 60GB 330 Series SSD Price: £58 PURCHASED October 8th

OS: I'll be using Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition as I get a free 2 Year licence through the MS DreamSpark website which I have access to through the OU who I'm currently doing a MS Server technologies course with.

Estimated Total Cost = £1,300

As you can see I've already ordered the case and I'm going to be buying the rest over the next couple of days so I'll update as each component is bought and then when it arrives.

Post Order

1. Some pictures of the network just now, server cupboard (work in progress), Router/ Modem and a couple of the switches from around the house
2. Un-boxing of the components
3. Building and install of the server
4. Final Server cupboard arrangement (after cable tidying etc)

This is not only my first Build Log it is also my first Server Build so wish me luck guys! Any comments, suggestions and criticisms are entirely welcomed, hope you guys enjoy this as much as I will!

Michael

Update #1 October 8th

I've finished ordering all the components and I expect the first to arrive on Wednesday so it's just a case of waiting now

I've only had one hiccup so far, the motherboard BIOS. The P8B-X does support Ivy Bridge CPUs but only after a BIOS update and unfortunately I don't have a spare Sandy Bridge processor kicking about that I can use to boot and flash the BIOS. Not a problem however as a computer store in Edinburgh (Silicon on Dalry Road, just in case there's any locals reading this) that can do it for me.

Update #2 October 15th

I now have all the components and the Motherboard has been flashed to the latest BIOS just this morning so I'm ready to begin assembling everything.

I've already replaced the stock fans on the case so I'll post those pictures just now and then get to the good part Should have some more pictures up by tonight!

* For the sake of convenience I'll be taking the pictures with my iPhone 5 from here on out, as you can probably tell I've taken quite a few of the pictures with it already.
Edited by Mikeeeeyj - 10/15/12 at 10:01am

Okay so here are some shots of my network as it currently exists.

'Server Cupboard'


This is the current state of the server cupboard to be, I'll be cleaning it out and adjusting the shelving before all the new hardware goes in.


The 16 port Netgear ProSafe GbEthernet switch that everything feeds into. There's a lot of spare ports as not all the wall points are connected just now, we'll also be putting a Sonos bridge in here.


The mighty Netgear N900, don't particularly like that I have to have it vertical but it's not a big deal.


The Draytek Vigor 120.


The wall trunking that's host to the Ethernet ports, phone line and power sockets. The two double power sockets on the right are on a 'clean line' which basically means they're on a separate circuit from all the other sockets so that if the MCB for the other sockets was tripped the power will stay flowing to these two.

Switchs



So that's the 8 port Netgear ProSafe (Unmanaged as are all the other switches) mounted on my wall behind the stand for my Xbox etc. The red cable is the connection to the wall point, this hooks my Xbox, Apple TV and Blu-Ray player in to the network.


Wall point which connects the 8 port ProSafe. You'll notice the number above each port, these correspond to a number above a port on the trucking in the Server Cupboard.




So that's the 5 port ProSafe located in the kitchen, I'm going to have the AirPort on top of the cupboard and the switch inside it but I've not gotten round to drilling the hole yet. There's also going to be another Sonos bridge connected to this switch. (Sorry for the spare yellow cable on top of the AirPort in the first two pictures)


Lastly the collection of boxes I've amassed.


Hope you guys enjoyed the pictures, I apologise for the quality I set MP size wrong on the camera I'm still in the process of buying components, I snapped up my RAID card and MoBo this morning though

I'll keep updating over the next couple of days till I've ordered everything then I'll probably go quite for a few days while I wait on deliveries
Edited by Mikeeeeyj - 10/6/12 at 10:01am

Un-Boxing

Case - Delivery Date October 9th

Great stuff from the guys over at XCase ordered this on Friday and was informed that it shipped on Monday morning, only paid for a standard delivery and it arrived the next day. I'd definitely check them out for cases etc.

The case feels totally solid, the metal and plastic feel really high quality, the front grill and filter are really nice best of all the lock doesn't feel cheap either which is always good (don't fancy having that break). It also comes with tool-less drive mounting, there's enough plastic attachments for the max capacity of 10 drives. The Caddy which is also from XCase, it's an extra you can buy for the case if you need hotswap access, it also feels very good sturdy and of good quality, my only con for this is that it uses MOLEX for power.














The fan closest to the 5.25" bays will be removed to make way for the 5 drive Hot Swap Caddy.




I'll be replacing the stock fans with my own on the front and back of the case and probably replacing the fan in the Caddy too.



















LSI RAID Card- Delivery Date October 12th


"New Other" stuff is always kind of beat up but it's only packaging.


















Break out cable.

16Gb RAM - Delivery Date October 11th







CPU - Delivery Date October 11th








Stock Cooler

Fans - Delivery Date October 12th




Thermal Compound specs


Replacement for the Stock CPU fan


80mm exhaust fan


120mm intake fan

HDDs, SSD and PSU - Delivery Date October 15th






Intel 330 Series SSD




The PSU is wrapped in a velvet bag.








I've not taken them out of the static bags for obvious reasons, you'll get to see pictures of them when I start the assembly.



Everything, all components assembled and I'm ready to go!
Edited by Mikeeeeyj - 10/15/12 at 9:42am

Building and install

Replacing the stock case fans

So the case came with 2 Intake (120mm) and 2 Exhaust (80mm) fans however one of the intake fans is making way for the Hotswap Caddy. I replaced the existing intake fan with a Be Quiet 120mm PVM Fan and replaced the exhaust fans with 2 Be Quiet 80mm PVM Fans .


120mm intake fans on the front


Space for the Hotswap Caddy


Stock fan attached to the front grill unit before it was removed.


New fan, view from inside the case. This fan will also be moving air over the SSD.


Exhaust fans


Grill removed from left fan




New fan fitted with screwless mount from inside the case.


Same again from the outside.
Edited by Mikeeeeyj - 10/15/12 at 9:59am

RESERVED 4

It's just a stand alone course with the Open University, I'm in my last year of High School so I'm just doing stuff to pad out my Uni application. The course is, TM128 Microsoft server technologies


Sorry I've not had a chance to reply, I've only had time to do some updates to the thread. Yeah I looked into Server 2012 compatibility and also discovered that, not an issue as I can get my hands on Server 2008 and update once to 2012 once the BIOS update comes out