Got a cheap R420 1U server for pennies on the dollar. It seems this server takes a registered DDR3 DIMM which is on the way and upgrade things as I go. It’s a generation older than my current server, but considering it was so cheap, I can utilize it as a docker server.
However, I wanted to ask the following:
Currently the server has 1 NON-hotswap caddy installed and no backplane. Does it make sense to install a backplane and then get 4 hotswap caddies instead?
I checked ebay and it seems that the backplane is pretty cheap at under $20 and the same for 4 hotswap caddies.
I would argue yes, as long as it’s physically compatible, if this requires getting a RAID/HBA card please also pick up an HBA card only for TrueNAS. something on the lines of a 9207-8i.
Yes, it’s likely to have adequate compute for some random services running via docker, however since the CPU is old and it’s a 1U form factor I would highly advise you to do some math on the power consumption and how much it will cost you, it’s likely to be pricey for the compute.
for reference, you can make a very affordable 4-bay NAS out of a Dell optiplex Minitower, as long as it’s one that has 5.25 bays to be reupurposed into another 2 HDD bays. it will be designed to idle efficiently, and be almost silent. it’s usually my goto recommendation as you can often find these for almost free locally on places like Facebook marketplace/etc. IMO these are a great starting machine to find what your needs are.
you will have less maximum RAM and PCIe on such a platform, and lack ECC RAM though.
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I am unable to edit my post, but I had a typo. I have a 1U R420 and not a R410.
I have a rack that hosts my TrueNAS and the backup TrueNAS and also my firewall, Proxmox server etc. Also I plan to make this a SSD only server. I’ll put in 4 caddies with 3.5->2.5 adapters (just wondering if I should use hotswap or just plain non-hotswap) along with a backplane. Will SATA SSDs be ok with hot-swapping. Don’t want to unnecessarily degrade the life of the drive if that’s not the case. Not that I’ll be hot-swapping willy-nilly, but still.
Noise is therefore not a major concern as it will be in the basement. Power, yes, but at 13c/kWh, I think it’s fine.
Why do you need hot swap? Is this a server that can’t be powered down or you just want that feature. You want it, buy the parts. The drives should be fine with it
I don’t think I “need” hotswap, but the server came with only 1 non-hotswap caddy, so I’ll have to buy at least 3 anyway. That’s why I was thinking maybe I can add another backplane to the cost and get hot-swap too.
EDIT: I can now edit my posts 