Re-purposing an old server

[Mick]

I've just finished a general equipment upgrade for a small office. As a result of this, I do now have an old SBS 2003 server machine surplus to requirements. It is quite a well-specced machine with a 2TB RAID 1 set up and 16GB RAM. Rather than consign it to the skip, I'd like to use it as an on-site back-up machine (just general file-storage, not a NAS as such) for their new Synology box, which is a DS 916+. I have Hyper Backup installed on the Synology, but it only really seems to like talking to other RSYNC enabled devices. Of course, the old server is not natively RSYNC enabled and in any case, this would be an improper use of it in its current state. So, this is what I'm thinking of doing: Removing SBS 2003 from the computer and replacing it with a Linux distro - which does natively support RSYNC. Putting it back on the network and pointing the Hyper Backup at it.

My question is: Anyone see a problem with this approach, or maybe know of a better/simpler way of doing this - ore even a better use for this machine?

 

[Markverhyden]

Sounds like a perfect FreeNAS box to me. When I moved my production stuff to a R710 I re-purposed the custom made server for bakcup storage. Added some more RAM and bigger HD's. Did that again early this year. Now it's got around 15tb of storage space. Use it for my Time Machine backups as well as other file storage and backups.

 

[Altster]

Use it for my Time Machine backups

Really? I never knew, Mark.

 

[Your PCMD]

Sounds like a perfect FreeNAS box to me.

^ This. I have 2 Dell PowerEdge 2950's with 12 TB storage each as FreeNAS box's and another 2950 with another 12 TB and that is an XPenology box - basically its Synology's OS on non-Synology equipment.

 

[Mick]

Thanks both. I'd originally thought of just a straight-forwards 'file-pile' usage for this old machine, but I guess it may as well have the added functionality of a NAS. I've never used either FreeNAS or XPenology (although the latter's dl sites seem to be currently down). Would either of you be in a position to give an opinion on which is best (or, at least, which you'd recommend), and why?

 

[HCHTech]

One thing to keep an eye on - those old servers are very power-hungry and noisy. I had a 2950 I played with for a bit after I got it from a client's upgrade, but it was just too damned noisy to have in my shop - it was like sitting next to a running leaf blower!

 

[Mick]

Hah! No worries - this one'll be in a nice little room of its own.

 

[trevm999]

I like your original idea, that's pretty much what I'm doing for offsite backup. Pretty simple and lightweight, the Synology box takes care of the details. However it definitely doesn't need as much juice as that server has. I'm running mine with 512 mb.

I didn't really like XPenology, it seemed to hacky for my liking.

Alternatively, it would make a great LXC container server, then you could try out all sorts of things with it.

I have the list of bash commands I used to setup rsync if you're interested.

 

[Your PCMD]

but it was just too damned noisy

Mine arent. See below:

although the latter's dl sites seem to be currently down

I use Xpenology 5644. I love the thing and have no reason to upgrade it to 6.xx as they have been working fine for over a year. If you want to use what I use, download it here from my site. Disclaimer though. I'm not responsible for your use of it. See the video below on how to use it.

 

[Markverhyden]

Really? I never knew, Mark.

Who would have thunk? Me using an Apple product... LOL!!!!


Never used XPEnology. But been a FreeNAS user some 8-9 years now. Back in the day it was less than user friendly, like other OSS projects such as ownCloud. Now it's very mature, easy to use. I've had several drive failures over the years and never had a problem doing the replacement. Just be aware that it's not a h/w based RAID, BSD based software RAID. In fact they clearly state you should not use real RAID cards. I guess my only concern would be data recovery scenarios. I seem to remember some to the data recovery people on here commenting about having a concern with the ZFS filesystem.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

My question is: Anyone see a problem with this approach, or maybe know of a better/simpler way of doing this - ore even a better use for this machine?

Honestly..it's hard to say. Dunno the hardware specs of the machine. I see it has lots of RAM, but since it has 2TB of RAID1 storage..guessing it's not server hard drives but desktop SATA hard drives. (ouch..SBS on a single SATA spindle..= slow)

Problem with "old" servers...especially one built for SBS2003...is..it's old..and usually waaaay outdated, hungry as heck for power compared to todays much newer multi core servers.

I'd say if it was a higher end server with a hardware RAID controller and multiple disks setup in a RAID 1/RAID1, or a RAID1/RAID5, or a RAID1/RAID10...go in and rebuild it, practice pulling drives, rebuilding RAID, expanding RAID, etc etc.

For a NAS, you don't need much CPU power or much RAM, just decent disks and a good NIC.

 

[Mick]

I can't be too definite about the precise specs of this machine. It is a custom-build by their previous IT guys. It is also, I now discover, Kensington locked and - of course - no-one has any idea where the key is...

However, from what Windows will tell me, it looks like a software RAID and the BIOS and disk management shows only two disks, both of which are reported as Seagate Barracudas. Interestingly, according to Seagate, these particular models were not released until 2013, so I'm guessing either a re-build or expansion took place around around that time, because I think the rest of this thing is older. The previous support guys seem to have vanished and all the employees can tell me is that they used to 'pop in now and again and do stuff'.' Since I actually have a spare desktop as a result of this office reshuffle, as well as this server, I'm going to try FreeNAS on the server and XPEnology on the desktop, just to see how they compare. Thanks to all for the various links and opinions, not to mention the vids!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Can tell if it was software RAID by logging into the server (assuming the SBS03 is still installed)...start...run. diskmgmt.msc
Windows Disk Mangler..you'll see if it's RAID done within the WIndows OS, or not.
Or perhaps there's a software (fake RAID) utility running in the system tray for some basic onboard RAID.

I'd check the disks...see what models they are, and if they're decent enough quality drives (as in..3 year or 5 year warranty)...perhaps it's worth your time to reconfigure it as a NAS. Depending on the CPU...may be too much of a drain on your 'lectric bill though. Dunno if I'd consider a Xeon system for a NAS.

 

[Mick]

It's deffo software Raid. This will only be serving as a back up to a back-up (if you see what I mean) and there's no capital outlay since we already have it...so I think I'm going to try it on the grounds that there's nothing to lose. Even if it doesn't work, or claps out after a few months, they'll be in no worse a situation than they are right now.

EDIT

Oh - I have got one question: Anyone know if you can remote to FreeNAS? I know you can with Synology etc.

 

[Markverhyden]

Yes, FreeNAS has the full suite of access. FTP, TFTP, WebDAV, SSH, etc.

 

[Mick]

Cool! Thanks, Mark

 

[GTP]

It is also, I now discover, Kensington locked and - of course - no-one has any idea where the key is...

It's in the hardware store, next to the bolt cutters.

Kensington locks use a specially hardened (wire)
cable that is not easily cut with bolt cutters.
You may need to look on the top shelf for the "Angle Grinder!"