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.