Hey, Bruce. Thanks for your recent talk on the audit daemon, BTW -- that was a good companion to your SELinux talk.
On Friday 19 October 2007, Bruce A. Locke wrote:
> I'm thinking about putting together a small server running a number of
> small services such as file serving, vpn, mail storage, etc.
>
> I'd like for it to be as quiet and cheap as possible. Since it will be
> in my small apartment and on all the time I'd really like something
> quiet.
>
> I figure something along the lines of a VIA 1GHz x86 processor, 1gb of
> ram, a couple small hard drives with software raid, and a copy of Fedora
> would fit the bill nicely. Unfortunately I have no experience with
> systems in such form factors.
>
> Does anyone here have any experience with fanless or really quiet ITX,
> micro-ATX, etc systems? Or have any alternatives? My attempts at quiet
> systems in the past have been rather... loud.
>
> Any suggestions?
Okay, I think I understand what you want. Did some reasearch 'cause I got
curious to see how difficult it'd be.
I've put together several systems that are either quiet or silent; I
especially appreciate quiet systems now, because in 2/3rds of the
environments I work in have the systems very close to where I sit to work.
While I'm at it: I've found that small fans like those you'd find in most
1U switches eventually become *very* loud and annoying. In that ilk, I just
want to pass along a GigE switch I've found:
- SMCGS16 - fanless, rackable, 16-port, internal power supply, $160.
Doesn't do jumbo frames; there are (more expensive) alternatives that
are fanless and do this if it's important. [Most often it's not.]
Back to your quiet/silent home server...
CPU
=-=-=
I see why you chose the VIA C7 for CPU; looks like the right choice.
Pentium-M, Celeron-M, and AMD Geode LX800 work too but are more difficult to
find motherboards for.
I found some fanless setups for the VIA C7 CPU with gigabit ethernet;
Mini-ITX form factor; all have SATA available.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153080
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153072
one more, but it's "OPEN BOX":
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813181019R
Hard disks
=-=-=-=-=-=
If you want quiet for hard hard disks -- look for ones that have a fluid
bearing [or "whisper quiet" in the specs]. The fluid bearing seems to be the
biggest factor in noise that I've found. Geerally speaking, both Seagate or
Western Digital seem like good choices in terms of quiet. [BTW, being that
SATA has become most popular, Seagate is halting manufacture of IDE hard
disks by the end of the year.]
Power supply
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
I've been happy with the Enermax "Whisper" or "Noisetaker" supplies. These
both come with a small knob on the outside of the PS to set the variable fan
speed; this lets you set it for the best cooling vs noise. [But here I'm
speaking of Desktop hardware; you'll probably be stuck with whatever comes
with the Mini-ITX case.] BTW, IMHO trying to get a truly *fanless* power
supply for Desktop hardware is just not worth it.
Case
=-=-=
A little more difficult to find and the biggest area that likely will need
research; most Mini-ITX cases only have one 3.5" hard drive bay. Found a
couple that have 2 x 3.5" drive bays:
- Serener GD-L01 Fanless Mini-ITX case ($316 -- ouch) [And NOTE:
one of the two drives must be a LOW PROFILE 3.5" drive. Ewww.]
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/gd_l01
- Morex Venus 668 Mini ITX Case ($80) [One internal 3.5" drive bay,
but I bet you could use the "external" 3.5" bay for another drive.
Also note that this case is not fanless, so it might need mods.]
http://e-itx.com/morex-venus-668-cube-mini-itx-case.html
Not easy choices: the fanless case is pricy, the other may have a power
supply with a loud fan that there may or may not not be a good alternative
for. You might be able to replace the case fans with something quiet, or get
a speed controller to slow them to get 'em quiet.
I tried to find a larger case meant for a Micro ATX or other type that
would also take a Mini-ITX; couldn't find one. If you're a little more
ambitious and handy, you (theoretically) could look for another case that
matches the external ports, and drill/tap the holes necessary for the
Mini-ITX board to make your own custom mounting.
Or maybe there's another motherboard for a fanless VIA C7 in another case
type.
Hope this helps at least a little.
If you get a solution that all works out, please post it. ;-)
-- Chris
--
Chris Knadle
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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