On 18/04/12 14:06, Russell Coker wrote:
http://etbe.coker.com.au/2012/04/17/zfs-btrfs-cheap-servers/ Interesting read. It was actually the T410 that I had spec'ed from Dell. Why do you want a redundant PSU and hot-plug disks? If it's a home server then why not just take some downtime if a PSU fails and schedule downtime for disk replacement?
A few years ago, downtime of the server wouldn't have been an issue. These days the server is used for all phones, TV, Internet connection, Lighting control (CBus). We're in the bush without a decent computer store nearby so a failed PSU is likely 1-2 days downtime. Hot-plug disks is mainly a convenience. Not only from replacement of failed disks but also upgrading of each disk in the array with larger disks sometime in the future which would be a pain without hot-plug disks.
If that's your only reason then just having a second PSU packed away in a cupboard at home resolves the "1-2 days downtime" issue for less cost. We had a pair of redundant PSU's both go at the same time not long ago, which were harder to replace at short notice! We've also had a PSU backplane go, with similar consequences. That said, if you're like me and have better things to do than replace cold plug power supplies I would still highly recommend the redundant PSU's if you have the cash. They are just easier, and only marginally less efficient than a single PSU (last time I checked, which was a while ago, ymmv). James