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kiwifidget

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#272072 8-Jun-2020 14:02
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There it is, my beloved WHS2011 box has finally bitten the big kumara.

 

The case has a sticker dated 2007 on it, it spent a few years being a workstation before regenerating as a WHS.

 

It has been resuscitated a few times, desperately on occasion,  but now it is DNR.

 

It has done well all things considered.

 

 

 

The OS and backup disk are both fritzed.

 

The 4 disk Drivepool array appears to be intact though.

 

I would still like to use these 4 drives and Drivepool in a new system.

 

I am enamoured with the Inwin Microserver Chassis, which it seems will take only an ITX mobo.

 

I've been googling and it seems there are very limited options for this type of board in NZ, and I cant find one with all the things I think I need.

 

 

 

4 Sata3 ports for the drive array.

 

1 sata or M2 for the OS disk (Windows10Pro probably, I cant justify the cost of the new server softwares).

 

Something for an ODD to connect to.

 

USB3 ports (2 for front, some for back)

 

At least 1 USB-C port (back)

 

DVI or VGA

 

GBe (1 is plenty, though I see some have 2)

 

Intel core i3/i5 capable

 

 

 

I thought I was on to a winner with the Asus Prime H310I-Plus R2.0.

 

But fortunately I read the user manual, and if you use the M2 slot you lose a Sata port. Not cutey cutey!

 

Also, Asus web shows pictures of a USB-C port, but no NZ site seems to.

 

Am I expecting too much from a weeny mobo?

 

 

 

I've trawled through the usual suspects, Mighty Ape, Ascent, Paradigm, Playtech, Computer Lounge, PBTech.

 

I'm a bit reluctant to try overseas given the current state of international air freight.

 

A fresh set of eyes would be much appreciated.

 

 

 

 





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engedib
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  #2500630 8-Jun-2020 14:09
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What are the main features you were using on the server?

 

I would go down the path of HP MicroServer or Synology 4 bay NAS.





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kiwifidget

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  #2500633 8-Jun-2020 14:14
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My drives are not all the same capacity. Hence the use of Drivepool.

 

I have a Drobo 5N2 NAS already.

 

I was backing up the NAS to the WHS, and utilising the client backup feature of WHS.

 

I started experimenting with Veeam Windows Agent last week when I realised it was no longer worth reviving the old box. 

 

 





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engedib
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  #2500636 8-Jun-2020 14:18
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kiwifidget:

 

My drives are not all the same capacity. Hence the use of Drivepool.

 

I have a Drobo 5N2 NAS already.

 

I was backing up the NAS to the WHS, and utilising the client backup feature of WHS.

 

I started experimenting with Veeam Windows Agent last week when I realised it was no longer worth reviving the old box. 

 

 

 

 

Yes, the Veeam Agent is pretty good!

 

For a cheap solution I would get an older 2nd hand 4 bay Synology like the 416j, that can handle the 4 different capacity drives in SHR.

 

Then just set the Veeam agents to backup to this share.




kiwifidget

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  #2500641 8-Jun-2020 14:29
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Thank you @engedib , I shall consider that.

 

I hope to still go with plan A at this point.





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Andib
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  #2500647 8-Jun-2020 14:50
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Have you considered AMD?
There are a number of B450 based ITX board that have both 1/2 PCIe M.2 and 4 sata ports.





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engedib
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  #2500648 8-Jun-2020 14:51
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kiwifidget:

 

Thank you @engedib , I shall consider that.

 

I hope to still go with plan A at this point.

 

 

No worries :)

 

Looks like that M2 SSD and SATA0 disable is an Intel chipset limitation.

 

The ASROCK A320M-ITX ticks the boxes, but not sure if anyone has it in NZ :(

 

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/A320M-ITX/index.us.asp


kiwifidget

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  #2500663 8-Jun-2020 15:15
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Andib:

 

Have you considered AMD?
There are a number of B40 based ITX board that have both 1/2 PCIe M.2 and 4 sata ports.

 

 

Hmm, I have never ever considered AMD in my whole life.

 

Could be time for a change. :) 





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  #2500727 8-Jun-2020 16:37
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more bang for your buck processor wise if you do a lot of multi taking


gzt

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  #2500735 8-Jun-2020 17:07
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Alternatively use pcie sata card.

richms
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  #2500766 8-Jun-2020 18:41
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From memory you only lose the sata port if you use a sata m.2 drive, which you shouldnt be using. I have a itx 310 board in my workshop PC, I can see if the sata ports all work later on in the week. Its using a nvme drive because its foolish not to IMO.





Richard rich.ms

kiwifidget

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  #2500779 8-Jun-2020 18:57
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@richms thank you

 

Why should I not be using a m2 sata drive?





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richms
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  #2500785 8-Jun-2020 19:25
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kiwifidget:

 

@richms thank you

 

Why should I not be using a m2 sata drive?

 

 

Because NVMe is a thing, its not much different in price and the speed difference is amazeballs. 550 meg a second vs 3000. better iops because its not flash storage running on a protocol made for spinning drives and keeps your sata ports free for spinning rust bulk storage.

 

 

 

I just tried moving 4 of my 5 storage space drives to the onboard controller (I normally use it for the injest drives since it handles hotplugging better than my PCIe card) and it worked. All drives coming from the motherboard, nothing in the PCIe slot. 

 

Click to see full size

 

 





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kiwifidget

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  #2500786 8-Jun-2020 19:31
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@richms thanks for testing that out.

 

May I ask the brand and model of your itx board?





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richms
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  #2500787 8-Jun-2020 19:35
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Purchase history has it as a ASUS PRIME H310I-PLUS Motherboard on mightyape. Out of stock now.

 

Not sure on the version as I have built 2 systems like this and the board version changed between them. Both have an i3 8100 in them which works great for what I need it to do.





Richard rich.ms

kiwifidget

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  #2500792 8-Jun-2020 19:45
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@richms oh, that sounds like the board I mentioned in my original post. 

 

I dont recall seeing anything about NVMe.

 

I'll need to have another look.

 

 

 

EDIT: oh hang on. If the m2 slot is used with a m2 sata module you lose a normal sata port, but if you use a NVMe module you wont???





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