Rack Server QUESTIONS!

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henyobarker

27 posts

Geek

#87377 27-Jul-2011 14:55

Hey!
if this is in the wrong category pleese correct me :)
i have just brought this of trademe, http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=394072261
it is an IBM eServer xSeries 336 1UI am new to servers and such and have allways used a desktop computer, but i want to upgrade to rack mounts so i thouhgt this would be a good idea, i have a few questions, if you can help with any that would be awsome:

1. can i use any standard 3.5 sata drive in this?
2. can i use a 1tb 3.5 sata drive in this?
3. do i have to install ram in couples? like the same model?
4. if i choose to install another processor, can i use a generic heatsink or do i have to use ibm?
5. will this run windows server 2008rc?

if you can help with any of these, thank you!

Regs

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Snowflake

#498550 27-Jul-2011 15:28

i think i have one of those servers here.

1. you can only use scsi disks internally, from memory, but you could extend the sata connnection externally and hook up sata disks.

2. as above

3. yes i think you do need to install the ram in pairs. you also need to use specific ram for these too, from memory. use the memory search on the kingston.com site to find compatible memory etc - http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/modelsinfo.asp?SysID=19831&mfr=IBM&model=eServer+xS...

4. be careful swapping out processors, the bios might not support them

5. my one ran windows 2008 OK, both 32bit and 64bit varieties. It ran VMware ESX ok too. Wont run hyper-v or VMware for 64bit guest OS's though as the procs dont have the virtualisation options

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henyobarker

27 posts

Geek

#498567 27-Jul-2011 16:26

thanks, by specific ram can i just use some ddr2 3200 400mhz or do i need to buy ibm? Thanks that really helped :D

kyhwana2

2566 posts

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#498570 27-Jul-2011 16:41

henyobarker: thanks, by specific ram can i just use some ddr2 3200 400mhz or do i need to buy ibm? Thanks that really helped :D

No, you need to buy PC2-3200 ECC DDR2 SDRAM registered DIMMS specifically..

henyobarker

27 posts

Geek

#498594 27-Jul-2011 17:10

ok, ill keep that in mind :) sorry, im new to this whole thing, so would something like this be suitable? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Servers/Server-components/auction-394701229.htm

henyobarker

27 posts

Geek

#498597 27-Jul-2011 17:14

right i finally get what you were saying, does it Have to be sdram? can it be dimm?
because its really difficult to find sdram, thanks for your help guys :)

kyhwana2

2566 posts

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#498607 27-Jul-2011 17:34

henyobarker: right i finally get what you were saying, does it Have to be sdram? can it be dimm?
because its really difficult to find sdram, thanks for your help guys :)

It's DDR2 SDRAM. (DDR* is also SDRAM..)

Keep in mind it'll have to be ECC RAM. You only use ECC ram in servers, so it might be hard to find/expensive.

henyobarker

27 posts

Geek

#498609 27-Jul-2011 17:37

Oh right! sorry im good but im not used to having to find so much specific hardware, thanks about that :) its pretty easy, ive seen a few allready, does anyone know if i can use a pci card in this server, it says it has two pci-x but i want to use a pci card in it to get some more sata ports.

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Regs

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Snowflake

#498693 27-Jul-2011 21:04

you can use a pci card, but it has to be loaded sideways on a special bracket i think (or be super low profile)

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Regs

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Snowflake

#498695 27-Jul-2011 21:07

and that kingston compatible memory component is listed at over $200 at pbtech for 4GB:
http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MEMKIN1005154&name=KINGSTON-4GB-SNGL-Rank-Kit--(Chipkill)

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Zeon

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#498713 27-Jul-2011 21:47

Regs: and that kingston compatible memory component is listed at over $200 at pbtech for 4GB:
http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MEMKIN1005154&name=KINGSTON-4GB-SNGL-Rank-Kit--(Chipkill)

It's funny because I can get 4Gb of DDR 1333 ECC for like $60. TBH while on the face of it cheaper secondhand server hardware looks appealing sometimes its not worth it.

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Regs

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Snowflake

#498726 27-Jul-2011 22:22

Zeon:
Regs: and that kingston compatible memory component is listed at over $200 at pbtech for 4GB:
http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MEMKIN1005154&name=KINGSTON-4GB-SNGL-Rank-Kit--(Chipkill)

It's funny because I can get 4Gb of DDR 1333 ECC for like $60. TBH while on the face of it cheaper secondhand server hardware looks appealing sometimes its not worth it.

It probably costs more to get ECC registered, rather than just ecc, but your point is well valid. The older the server, the harder it is to find compatble memory and the harder it is to get it for a good price. Right now it costs me twice as much to fill a 3 year old bl460c hp server blade with 24GB memory than it does to fill a current model one with 48GB memory. And it costs even less to stick memory in a current desktop model (although they usually dont handle that much memory)

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Snowflake
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Twitter: @nzregs

henyobarker

27 posts

Geek

#498759 28-Jul-2011 00:12

Regs: and that kingston compatible memory component is listed at over $200 at pbtech for 4GB:
http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MEMKIN1005154&name=KINGSTON-4GB-SNGL-Rank-Kit--(Chipkill)

sorry about it, but here is some that will work fine: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Servers/Server-components/auction-393463518.htm

or this:http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Servers/Server-components/auction-394121159.htm

look its not to hard to find :)