Home use for a Dell 2950 Gen III Server?

lostsurfer · Dec 21, 2012

Ok so I came across a steal on a Dell 2950 Server here's the specs

Dell 2950 Server

•2x Intel Dual Core XEON 3.73Ghz Processors
•8GB ECC RAM
•4x 146GB SAS Hot Swap Hard Drives
•PERC 5/I RAID Controller w/ 256MB Cache
•DVD Drive and Floppy Drives
•2x Gigabit Network Ports
•2x Hot Swap Power Supplies
•USB and Serial Ports

Havn't bought it yet but going to go look/purchase it after work...
Question is what's some good use's for it?

This is what I have in mind.....

-Media Server
-File/Print Server
-VM Lab
-Game Server for Friends not high user's not a ton of upload bandwidth

What do you think are some good uses for it to validate my purchase???

Hydraulic · Dec 21, 2012

Make it an untangle router! lol

Gallien · Dec 21, 2012

Install ESXI. Create VMs. Make a VM for each purpose?

lostsurfer · Dec 21, 2012

What's an untangle router? Is this server not really worth it? Didn't think $175 was that bad...I dont know much about 2950's and what this server is cable of, so that's why i'm asking.

Oedipus · Dec 22, 2012

2950s are not blades. They're new enough to be useful, though, so don't be afraid to pick it up.

Kolmain · Dec 22, 2012

Where can I get one for $200

Boyboyd · Dec 24, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gallien

Install ESXI. Create VMs. Make a VM for each purpose?

We have a 2850 at work and it won't support esxi. But the difference between the 2850 and 2950 might be that it supports newer virtualization

killabytes · Dec 24, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boyboyd

We have a 2850 at work and it won't support esxi. But the difference between the 2850 and 2950 might be that it supports newer virtualization

It's processor dependant. VT-X would be what's needed.

lostsurfer · Dec 26, 2012

Well I held off on buying this cause I didn't see a real positive response, he might still have a few for sale, thing being I have a spare rig at home that has a core 2 quad I could technically use to setup a server to play around with. But with this 2950 having 2 dual core processor, would they be faster or around the same as the core 2 quad Q6600?

Prices he's asking for the 2950 are 175 for 8gig and 225 for 16gig.

Mootsfox · Dec 26, 2012

VM VM VM.

Probably getting a few of these in a couple months as our current quad isn't really built to do what we make it do.

$175 is a great deal for these. Get two, VM everything. With two you can have replication of VMs, load balancing, attached storage, all sorts of fun things.

lostsurfer · Dec 26, 2012

Hey Moot what kind of power do you think these will pull?

And the 2950 will perform better then the core2quad, even tho it's two dual core processors?

Junior82 · Dec 27, 2012

ESXi 5.0 works well. I am running 4 different vm's on mine currently. It is pretty loud though, but that is to be expected. Make sure you do all the firmware updates when you get it. Planning on getting more storage soon for it.

Mootsfox · Dec 27, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostsurfer

Hey Moot what kind of power do you think these will pull?
And the 2950 will perform better then the core2quad, even tho it's two dual core processors?

From the wall, I'd imagine 150-400w depending on the load.

I believe the Gen III 2950 uses Conroe... I didn't look at your specs until now, but it looks like you are looking at P4-based Xeons, if they are at 3.73Hz. It is my understanding that those CPUs would make it the 2950 II, not III. I would avoid anything older than Conroe for servers unless they are free. You might want to shop around a bit. For <$300 you should be able to find a dual quad core server.

One of many choices from Geeks:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=CS24-SC-XQC233X2-PB-R&cat=SVR
Quote:

Originally Posted by Junior82

ESXi 5.0 works well. I am running 4 different vm's on mine currently. It is pretty loud though, but that is to be expected. Make sure you do all the firmware updates when you get it. Planning on getting more storage soon for it.

I'd imagine that they are. 2U equipment is rarely quiet.

ZFedora · Dec 27, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mootsfox

I'd imagine that they are. 2U equipment is rarely quiet.

But at least 2U+ is typically the loud, mid-pitch tone and not the loud annoying high-pitch sound with 1U's

lostsurfer · Dec 27, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mootsfox

From the wall, I'd imagine 150-400w depending on the load.
I believe the Gen III 2950 uses Conroe... I didn't look at your specs until now, but it looks like you are looking at P4-based Xeons, if they are at 3.73Hz. It is my understanding that those CPUs would make it the 2950 II, not III. I would avoid anything older than Conroe for servers unless they are free. You might want to shop around a bit. For <$300 you should be able to find a dual quad core server.
One of many choices from Geeks:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=CS24-SC-XQC233X2-PB-R&cat=SVR
I'd imagine that they are. 2U equipment is rarely quiet.

That's a great find, I contacted him and asked if he had any quad cores he said only duals....Yea and these are loud, I sleep close to where I would have to keep it...I might just have to hold up till I get a house lol...

killabytes · Dec 27, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZFedora

But at least 2U+ is typically the loud, mid-pitch tone and not the loud annoying high-pitch sound with 1U's

I trick I use is to run the 12V fans on 7Vs for 1 or 2U servers. Since my usage isn't going to be that of an enterprise level I can get away with less cooling.

The blower on my 1U Supermicro would wake the neighbors, on 7V its merely a dull hum, like that of an 80MM.

PhilWrir · Dec 27, 2012

Im using a couple 2950s at work for VM terminals so that myself and the other execs can remote in and work from home or while traveling when we need to, and to allow some of our CSRs to work from across the country.

We upgraded from 2850s a little while back and I was very impressed with what they could handle.
I would say that for $175 the 8GB one is a steal, and the 16GB one isnt a bad buy either.

If you can afford one, I dont see a reason not to get it.
Im probably going to be buying one of our old 2850s from the company and using it as a fileserver/gameserver.

dushan24 · Dec 28, 2012

2950 will run ESXi for sure.

Though be careful, sometimes it won't agree with a PCIe NIC or something, best place to check is here http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php

Home use for a Dell 2950 Gen III Server?

lostsurfer

Hydraulic

Gallien

lostsurfer

Oedipus

Kolmain

Boyboyd

killabytes

lostsurfer

Mootsfox

lostsurfer

Junior82

Mootsfox

ZFedora

lostsurfer

killabytes

PhilWrir

dushan24

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