Pratamaputra’s Weblog

Referring to my previous idea about a server with has redundant backup of data real-time, I’ve choose to build a server with IBM New x3200 M2 server.

It’s a new dual core processor server with Intel Xeon E3110 Processor, 1GB ECC DDR2 PC5300, 250GB SATA drive, DVD rom, 2 PCIe slot (4x & 8x), 1 (optional) PCI-X slot, 2 PCI slot.

I want to build it into 500GB mirrored harddrive, 2 GB memory and scalability to expand into more larger space for data.

Tight on budget, i do pick a custom option which are not an IBM Label Option.

I choose 1GB visipro ecc ddr2 pc 5300 modules. Price is almost 1/6 comparing to 1GB memory module from IBM.

For the harddrive, I choose western digital 500GB sata II harddrive (wd5000aaks), with price is almost 1/7 from IBM label. the funny is, IBM labeled harddisk is also a western digital harddisk. I bought 2 unit of 500GB so i can configure it into mirrored harddisk. But of course custom harddisk has no bracket to make it simply to swap.

The last part is a RAID Controller. I’m not going to use IBM internal controller. it’s a software controller. It will not be able to do a raid 5 configuration. plus, it’s a sloppy and slowly…

I choose the latest raid controller from adaptec. Adaptec 3405 PCIe SAS/SATA Raid Controller. It’s an economical true raid controller, supporting up to 128 SAS/SATA harddisk using sas expander. It has battery feature option to kick write operation through write cache enable, able to do many raid variation, 0, 1, 1E, 1EE, 5, 5EE, 6, 60, 10, JBOD, etc … with PCIe interface, 3405 able to do transfer rate up to 3GB/s. just go check it out by your self here

With all the custom part i used, cost for building the server was cut down into 1/2 of normal cost. But of course, cheap is not always easy. There many problem installing custom part into IBM machine. Go check out my next blog to find it out.

I dialed some of Indonesian IBM Distributor like DATAMATION, MITRAINFO, BHINEKA, GRIYASIS, MYONLYDISK, and of course IBM Indonesia After Sales Support. They give no solution for activating PCI-X slot on IBM X3200 M2 Server.

IBM guys named Joko who contacted me through the phone from Malaysia, told me the part number or FRU number for the card i’ve been looking for. But too bad he can’t give information where i could buy the card. I try to search Internet many time and even try to email and make international call to IBM USA. frustrated, i go to plan B. changed the RAID card to another interface. And that will be PCI Express.

So, don’t choose x3200 if you want to utilize PCI-X slot, even though x3200 M2 had a PCI-X slot. x3200 has 2 PCIe slot, 8x and 4x. and both working excellent with my new Adaptec 3405 PCIe SAS/SATA Raid Controller.

PCIe or PCI express was built by Intel team at  2004, used to replace old interface slot (PCI, PCI-X and even AGP). Yes, indeed PCIe is more better than PCI-X.

There are many type of PCIe, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, 32x, Each indicate number of lane to use for transferring data. 32x is much much faster than 1x, and since 1x equal to
250MB/s, 32x = 8GB/s in each direction.

A PCIe slot are backward compatible. Mean, 1x Card wil fit into 2x slot, 4x slot even 32x slot, but of course it’s not vice versa.

for more information about PCIe, you may take a look at wikipedia