I haven’t really done much in the arcade space, but decided to chronical my new home server build and install. Maybe I can get some comments and input from others.
So for over a decade, I’ve been running a Windows Home Server: an HP MediaSmart EX470. A small computer system with an AMD Sempron 1.8 GHz processor (single core), 512MB RAM, and 4 SATA drive bays. Windows Home Server is an offshoot of Windows Server 2003 R2. This unit is designed to be “headless”: all operations, even a new OS install on a blank hard drive, is done from another computer over a network connection. There’s not even a monitor connector of any type without some hacking / mods). It does feature some USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and an eSata port. Also some cool indicator lights.
So what does this server do?
*Network file storage. I can access my files on any of our Windows or Linux systems. Files are automatically duplicated across multiple drives.
*Remote file access. Log in and get my files from anywhere I can get online. Sadly, this usually doesn’t work for me. Probably a firewall setting in my router.
*Daily backups. Our desktops are configured to back up their data to the server every night (actually around 2am). The software intelligently only copies new data, so subsequent backups are quick. Even similar data from different computers work this way. I can of course skip certain directories, file types, or whole drives.
*Restore. I can open a backup and pull what files I need relatively painlessly. In extreme cases, I can do a “bare-metal restore.” This means I can restore an entire drive, even to a brand new drive (same size or larger.) Even restores the OS drive to perfect running condition (for XP and 7 anyway.)
*Also runs torrent software without tying up our main systems, or having to leave them running.
Now, the server is showing its age. I’ve upgraded the system as far as it can go (upgraded to AMD Athlon 64 LE-1600 [2.2 GHz single core], 2 GB RAM, and 4 2TB drives [this OS can only recognize up to 2TB drives, both as server storage and as volumes to back up on other computers]. The OS is out of date, and I don’t think it’s getting any more security updates. (Changing the entire OS without a monitor is doable, but it’s a pain. With its current specs, it’s not really worth upgrading anyway.) I’ve maxed out on internal drive space, and though I’m only using half, I’d like room to grow. I’ve had to open it and replace the power supply at least twice (one time the PSU died, it took the OS hard drive with it. Had to replace both.) And bare-metal restore doesn’t work with the OS drive for newer systems like Windows 10 (which make up almost half our active computers now.) Oh, and Windows Home Server has a 10-computer limit for the backup service. We’re not too far from that limit now.
Also want to try stuff on a server that needs more power, like running a Plex server, and hosting a Minecraft server for my friends.
So I’ve been looking at building a replacement Server for a couple years now (especially since that one PSU incident). Oddly enough, it was finding a good computer case that was holding me back. I wanted a case that could hold a lot of removable drives. And at a recent garage sale, I got my wish for cheap.
For a total of $40 cash, I got both these units. Complete computers, only lacking any RAM, and one with no hard drives. The silver one just would look cool as a server (which I’m sure it actually is a case for), and the black one has that 5-drive bay . So I took a chance and bought them both.
First I looked at the silver one. I found a hard drive in the removable drive bay (not in a removable tray, it was just lying in there.) Inside the computer was an Asrock A75 Extreme6 motherboard. Not a real server motherboard, but not a bad unit. The front part of the case has a locking panel, covering the power, USB, and external drive bays. It was unlocked, so it opens easily. I just didn’t have the key to lock it. Not that I have any plans to lock it for home use, but it’d be nice to have the option.
I borrowed some compatible RAM from another computer (looked up the specs on Newegg.) I connected the hard drive. Also did the monitor, keyboard, ect. And it fired right up.
Turns out it’s an AMD A4-3300 dual core, 2.5 GHz. The OS is Windows 7 Pro 64-bit, fully registered. Looks like the OS was the only thing installed, because there was nothing else on the drive. The computer name was listed as “Musicserver” (no music found, though.)
Most interesting. Of course, I used software to extract the Win7 product activation key and copy it to a safe place, just in case I use this in a Win7 system instead.
Looking at the black computer, the 5-bay unit is actually an aftermarket addon to the otherwise standard tower case. It takes up all 3 of the external 5.25 bay. Some of the individual tray handles are broken, but I can still pull each one out easily enough, even with a drive installed. Still, looking around online, those 5-bay drive units run about $80 new, so I’m happy with what I got.
I tried looking up data on the multi-bay enclosure, but only found ones for sale overseas. No manual to help with the jumpers on the back or anything. Hope it’s set up properly already.
The motherboard is green, making me think it’s a board from a “normal” PC maker. Sure enough, some RAM added (borrowed from another system), and I found out the motherboard came from an HP. There’s no hard drive, and thus no operating system. But with the RAM, I could get into the BIOS. Turns out it’s an Intel Pentium E2200 2.2 GHz dual core.
The Asrock is the more powerful of the two, so I decided to try making that a test server, to see if it would meet my needs. The HP motherboard will probably become my general “testing” computer. I’ll also be putting in that 5-bay removable drive unit into the server case.
I tried putting Windows Server Essentials 2012 R2 on there. However, the system just wouldn’t start the install. I tried burning two different install discs (one was “with update.”) Tried starting the install from within Windows 7. Also restored default settings to the BIOS. Every time ended in failure. Just stopping at a Windows logo on the screen. Didn’t even make it to any screen to click “Install.”
Looks like the Asrock won’t be the new server. Don’t know why it wouldn’t load the installer, but I didn’t feel like messing with it any further.
So new plan. I did test the install discs with my main desktop. I didn’t actually install it, but I got to the menus and the “select drive to install to” menu.
I‘ve decided to upgrade my main desktop, and move the existing motherboard/processor/RAM to the server case. I ordered new hardware for my main system (I’m putting in an Intel i7-8086K 6-core 4Ghz, ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero motherboard, plus 16GB RAM and other stuff.) The new server (my old desktop hardware) will be an AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad core (yes, it’s said to be way slower than the i7 I ordered, but should work well as a server), on an MSI A88X-G43 motherboard with 16GB RAM. The motherboard has 8 SATA ports, so it should handle all the drives easily.
Next post, I’ll start detailing the process of changing the computers.