Help building a new linux server

[ahqie]

Hello


I run Ubuntu server on a desktop PC. The following services are run:

• Node-red automation (for my home) with a mix of WIFI/zigbee comms.
• Plex
• Backup scripts that run for my cloud server (once a month)

Specs for the PC are as follows:

• Intel i5 3.2/3.6GHZ CPU
• ASROCK B75 motherboard
• Seagate 2TB SATA3 7200 RPM drive
• 8G DD3 RAM

The PC sits at 18.8% RAM consumed and 2.3% CPU usage and consumes around 7W (all day long). The PC sits in my linen cupboard where I have 4 extraction fans. The cupboard never reaches above 30degC and typically hovers around 28degC.

I built the PC from new in 2012 so I am concerned that at some stage it will fail given that it is now 12 years old. This is something I cannot afford to happen, although I do have it thoroughly backed up.

It may last another 10 years or it may last another 10 minutes, but I want to proactively replace it as this will be far easier than changing it out once it has failed.

I am looking for recommendations for a replacement. I do not want to build something from scratch and prefer to buy something pre-built.

Looking for recommendations for hardware. My priorities are:

• Reliability is number one
• Budget - I prefer not to spend more than $1k AUD (however I don't want to overspend unnecessarily).
• Form factor is not an issue, I have plenty of space.
• Noise has to be low.

 

[Raluxs]

Hi, I think that in your situation a business desktop PC should work for you. The Dell Optiplex or Lenovo Thinkcentre models can be found new or second hand once their business lease is over with similar specs as your actual system, and these usually work well with linux, just add a new hard drive.
Another option is a second hand server but they consume lot more energy and the fans usually are really loud.

Good luck

 

[APTI]

I use optiplex or a gaming system for servers. I have had them last for many many wonderful years but like you I do update the hardware before it dies. I would go with an I-7 chip at least a gen 6 with 16G RAM. I like to have 8 core for the server and that can be virtual cores included. Linux Fedora does not need much so I run Samba for sharing and a couple of my own programs to manage the system remotely. I would however update the system to use 2 SSD's. One small one of maybe 250G for the OS and separate drive of 2T or 4T dedicated for data storage. I use GRsync to backup the data drive weekly to external drive. And REDO to create an image of the OS drive that is only updated maybe once a year. OS drive does not get much change to it other than OS updates.
That is how I set them up, hope that helps.

 

[ahqie]

Thanks for the replies. I think the optiplex and thinkcentre HDD's aren't big enough for me? I need min. 2TB (apologies - I should've specified that!)

 

[APTI]

Thanks for the replies. I think the optiplex and thinkcentre HDD's aren't big enough for me? I need min. 2TB (apologies - I should've specified that!)

you can replace HDD and SSD, you are not stuck with the ones that come with it nor the sizes. I have a 80G SSD for the OS which is Fedora 39 and a 2T SSD for data. You can put in different sizes. The drives are not set in stone any more than the RAM size is. SATA is SATA is SATA.

 

[ahqie]

Thanks I will look into it, there are different form factors and models of the optiplex. Is there any I should go for in terms of reliability and power consumption? I don't really need to expand in future, a 2TB HDD with min. 8gb RAM should do me forever.

 

[gvisoc]

Looking for recommendations for hardware. My priorities are:

• Reliability is number one
• Budget - I prefer not to spend more than $1k AUD (however I don't want to overspend unnecessarily).
• Form factor is not an issue, I have plenty of space.
• Noise has to be low.

I have a home server in an intel NUC with an i3-1315U and a 1TB M.2 that is consuming about 5W idle, which is about A$0.20/day. That holds a single-person usage of a Mastodon, a Castopod, a FreshRSS, a LinkWarden, a NextCloud, ActualBudget , Forgejo, Ghost and WriteFreely instances on Docker.

If you get an N100 and are conservative about the RAM I think you can build something silent and very performant for under A$600 --mine was about A$900 with 32 GB of RAM

 

[gvisoc]

Indeed, I found the order in Scorptec -- I hope this helps you. It was April this year.

 

[gvisoc]

In terms of reliability, I'd say better invest in working out a backup strategy than in expensive hardware and RAID configurations. Bang for buck, M.2 sticks are pretty impressive left and right, and easy to replace.

 

[ahqie]

Having looked around at these units, I think the price point would justify me procuring parts and building myself.

1. My current CPU is an i5-3470 (4 core 4 thread) from 12 years ago and I never see it jump to more than 30% usage.
2. I only have 8GIG of DD3 RAM and I never reach >16% usage.

Performance shouldn't be an issue with a basic intel i5 CPU and 16 gig of DDR4 RAM.

My only concern is reliability. If I were to build my own PC with a standard case, an i5 4.4ghz 12th gen 6core/12 thread CPU, 2TB SATA HDD (not sure which HDD would suit my needs) and 16GIG of DDR4 RAM and basic motherboard, what would be the difference between this and say the NUC or optiplex?

That build would be approx. $450? The NUC or optiplex are much more expensive

​

 

[dos2unix]

what would be the difference between this and say the NUC or optiplex?

NUCs have very small air/fan cpu coolers. Because of these they tend to run a little warmer than other computers.
I have a NUC and so far it hasn't been a problem, but I worry how long it will last.

The other thing about a NUC is no expandability. You have a couple of USB ports, a network port, and a video part.
Want to add a video card? Too bad. If you want to add more than 3 or 4 peripherals, you'll run out of USB ports.

 

[Raluxs]

I would be uncomfortable with a NUC if they are going to be continously powered on because of heat dissipation. If it is just ocasionally used then it is Ok. If your are not going for an already built model then get the parts and build one, it is really easy (Even Henry Cavill/Superman built his ) , a minitower case, a 500watt PS, a motherboard, ram and CPU. I would get a smaller SSD for boot and the OS and mechanical 2TB hard drive for storage. I dont like SSD for storage because if they fail, the data is gone, at least in the mechanicals the data is still in there a can be recovered in the case there is no backup.

Good luck

 

[APTI]

Thanks I will look into it, there are different form factors and models of the optiplex. Is there any I should go for in terms of reliability and power consumption? I don't really need to expand in future, a 2TB HDD with min. 8gb RAM should do me forever.

optiplex is optiplex. no matter what one they are only different in form factor (the case it is in). I usually have the small form factor and that has enough physical room to hold multiple drives especially SSD since you can put 2 of those into the opening for one regular drive. You can not run from the model numbers you have to watch the specs. Look for an I-7 with 8 core and you should be able to get one on the refurb market for under $200 and put the SSD's in for about $150 and increase RAM for about $50. A refurb system like that should give you 5 to 10 years reliably and not draw lots of power.

 

[KGIII]

To add to the above, the Optiplex line comes in two different small form factors. There's the traditional mini-ATX type of deal and one even smaller than that one.

Modern versions will likely have an M.2 slot available, though it's oragami to take the darned things apart and it'll be hidden under the drive caddies. (At least in the larger of the two small form factors. I'm not sure where it will be otherwise.)

So, you can put the OS on an M.2 and there's still a regular 3.5" caddy available for an HDD.

(I spent way too much time looking at refurbs before I finally took the plunge. It was my first refurb. It will likely be my last but that's not because of a poor experience or lack of value for my dollar. I just prefer stuff that's slightly closer to bleeding edge - but not quite. I used to do the bleeding edge of tech but I'm too old to put up with the hassle at this point.)

 

[gvisoc]

I would be uncomfortable with a NUC if they are going to be continously powered on because of heat dissipation. If it is just ocasionally used then it is Ok.

That doesn't need to be the case. Modern CPU and low power series do very well on a NUC. Reportedly, the NUC that come with an N100 don't even make it to 50C, and my i3 (it's an -U, so it's low power) is consistently operating at 51 C which is a perfectly fine termperature for a system, and with no fans turned on unless I run an rsync backup.

 

[ahqie]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll steer away from the Dell machines, sounds like they're difficult to maintain (especially the smaller form factors). I'm not really keen on a refurb unit (although I understand the cost benefit). Prefer to buy new, but I think the best avenue to go down is to built my own and not pay the Dell price tag for something new. The NUC's are great, but if something fails, I'm up for a new one lol.

The server does alot for us at home and having it fail will be a real pain in the back (hence the proactiveness in replacing my current server).

I've doing some research and I have found that pretty much any modern motherboard with an intel i5+ and some RAM will be just as reliable as any other setup (unless someone else can shed some light)? The weakest point of failure is likely to be the HDD or the power supply. Reading about HDD's is very opinionated and many of the HDD manufacturers will hold their cards close to their chest.


Here's what I am thinking so far in terms of specs:

- CPU - Intel (not sure what generation, but plex states that they require an intel core i7 at 3.2ghz for single 4K transcode). A 12th gen i7 4.9ghz is $379 then a 14th gen is $499. Then there are i5's with similar frequency ratings.

- HDD: I was thinking the standard SATA WD blue 2TB?

- Case: https://www.centrecom.com.au/deepcool-macube-110-tempered-glass-matx-case-black

- Motherboard: Gigabyte H610M H V2 DDR4 LGA1700

- RAM: Kingston KVR32S22D8/16 16GB (1 x 16GB) 3200MHz DDR4 SODIMM

I will try to calculate the power consumption of all this. But interested to hear if anyone has any tips to keep power consumption low, noise low and any recommendations on the equipment itself?

 

[KGIII]

That doesn't need to be the case. Modern CPU and low power series do very well on a NUC. Reportedly, the NUC that come with an N100 don't even make it to 50C, and my i3 (it's an -U, so it's low power) is consistently operating at 51 C which is a perfectly fine termperature for a system, and with no fans turned on unless I run an rsync backup.

I had an older NUC for a while and even that one, an i3, didn't get hot - even with a 'moderate' CPU load.

As for this subject, with a wee bit of effort they could probably do everything they're wanting to do with one of the new Raspberry Pi computers. Man, those have come a long way.

 

[KGIII]

I've doing some research and I have found that pretty much any modern motherboard with an intel i5+ and some RAM will be just as reliable as any other setup (unless someone else can shed some light)?

Hmm...

I have a silly idea. Well, not silly - but it may seem so at first.

The tools you're going to use, are they available for the ARM64 platform? If you want energy savings, longevity, and low temps - then the ARM stuff is looking mighty viable these days.

 

[APTI]

Hmm...

I have a silly idea. Well, not silly - but it may seem so at first.

The tools you're going to use, are they available for the ARM64 platform? If you want energy savings, longevity, and low temps - then the ARM stuff is looking mighty viable these days.

yes using a Raspberry PI which you can install ubuntu or fedora on will make a server. You can install standard SSD on them however they will not be the best performance but they will power off cell phone charger but you will need different power on the SSD as the pi doesn't have enough to power it also.

 

[KGIII]

but you will need different power on the SSD as the pi doesn't have enough to power it also.

My understanding is that the new Pi (version 5 now) has the ability to be powered by USB C and should then have enough power? I could be wrong with that. I do know they'll happily support an M.2 NVMe drive now, which I find pretty exciting.

I'm going to have to get one to tinker with.

I had some of the original ones but the missus tells me that I gave them away 'during the holiday season' - which I assume is code for 'while you were drinking'.