Silencing Servers

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AllNightNerding

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#17975 20-Dec-2007 14:11

We have 2 Rackmount Servers one is an IBM Xseries X305 and the other is a IBM Xseries X306 but both are REALLY noisy. Is tehre anything that you can buy/do to make them alot quiter.

I would like to have them on overnight to do virus scans/backups/internet backups and doing these things during the day just isnt practical.

Any help is much apreciated

Thanks

-- Divett Enterprises -- The Power Of Tomorrow --

cokemaster

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#101051 20-Dec-2007 15:07

Move them into a sound proof room?

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AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#101061 20-Dec-2007 16:00

As much as that would be great... our house doesnt have a sound proof room and putting one in would probably be a bittt to major lol.

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Fraktul

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#101069 20-Dec-2007 16:25

Turn them off.

barf

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#101074 20-Dec-2007 16:47

newert X series have Linux driver for pulse width modulation fan-speed control
bad luck if Windows.

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hellonearthisman

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#101080 20-Dec-2007 17:20

Your will have to work out what is making all the noise then find a solution, this could be new fans or passive HeatSink.

You could build a box around the servers, this could have heat issues. I have heard of people putting there computers into a fridge to keep them cool and quiet.

And then there is acoustic foam and foam.

wazzageek

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#101082 20-Dec-2007 17:21

You're a little limited, as the rack mount units are generally noisy, as noise ouput is not a consideration.

Rather than a sound proof room, you could look at a rack mount cabinet type thing with a good level of sound proofing - if you are looking at purchasing, you will find these to be expensive.

You could also look at changing your hardware - remember bigger (physically) are typically quieter. I guess you could also look at liquid cooling.

Any which way, things are gonig to be a pain in the butt to implement (and generally expensive) - but the main cause it gonig to be ensuring the units are cool enough ... that should enable the fans and cooling systems to work less.

I know all this, as I'm going to have to embark on a project to cool a small office - two machines 24/7 and one of the machines I've had to transfer into a bigger case with bigger fans due to the heat that's coming through ...

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#101253 21-Dec-2007 14:04

There currently in a 25RU cabinet with all our other family I.T. Gear with the other server and cameras and everything. I believe the noise is coming from the Fans (6 in the X306 and 4 in the X305)

Can you get fans that are quite fans so are silent or would i have to look at something a bit differant such as some form of heatsink?

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wazzageek

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#101255 21-Dec-2007 14:28

You can get fans that are marketed as "silent" - but usually this is at the lower RPMs, and generally not in such a large cluster, and not the small ones I imagine are in those systems...

To truly get quieter (you'll never get "silent" ;-)) - you will need to look at massive heatsinks, or look at getting a liquid cooling system ...

Of course - can you build soundproofing around the cabinet? (Ensure you duct cool air in, and hot air out, though ...) - and if you do, you'll need to post some pics ;-)

rscole86

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#101257 21-Dec-2007 14:49

cokemaster: Move them into a sound proof room?

You could try making a sound proof room out of egg cartons and heavy blankets?

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#101261 21-Dec-2007 15:15

I've just thought of one option that might work :P move it into my sisters room.

I think i will look at possibly moving the server as well as configuring wan on lan and automatic turn offs so that there not on all the time.

Could i try maybe oiling the fan to make it spin with less friction and also disconnect maybe 1 fan which isnt in a 'key' place which may quiten them down a bit.

Thanks
Riley

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wazzageek

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#101265 21-Dec-2007 15:35

I think i will look at possibly moving the server as well as configuring wan on lan and automatic turn offs so that there not on all the time.

Could i try maybe oiling the fan to make it spin with less friction and also disconnect maybe 1 fan which isnt in a 'key' place which may quiten them down a bit.

Thanks
Riley

WOL certainly is handy - for windows machines, you can RDP into them, and there is a command line program you can use to perform a shutdown ... if you're not logged in as an admin, then you would use the runas command as well...

Silicon spray I believe used to be the option for less friction on fans.

I would strongly discourage you from disconnecting a "key" fan ... those servers should be controlling the fans as they are needed (my IBM desktop does independantly from the OS) as those fans may be redundant - your going to move the units to "out of sight/mind/hearing" ... so if a fan does stop working, you don't want to suddenly have the box suddenly just stop due to heat ...

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#101282 21-Dec-2007 18:59

I'll have to have a look at something. maybe a stop in at a couple of stores and websites to have more of a look at what is available to be put in.

-- Divett Enterprises -- The Power Of Tomorrow --