Need a cheap server supporting 5410 Xeons and DDR2 ECC 800 / 667 Ram

jibbajabba

I need a test ESX cluster soon ish ... I have a SAN available, a bag full of 5410 Xeons, countless DDR 2 ECC 800 / 667 Ram dims and SAS / SCSI disks (and Areca / Adaptec cards to the max), all I need is the server hardware itself (1 or 2U, mobo, PSU etc.).

Can someone suggest a cheap rack-mountable server which supports above hardware so I can go eBay hunting ?

It is always easier to look for something if you know what to look for

Our own range of hardware is simply too expensive to be used as test server and I therefore have all the other bits, just not the necessary chassis / mobo etc..... My boss doesn't mind if I take the server we got, but I want to avoid someone suddenly asking for them because we need a spare or something .. So I rather spend a few bucks and put them in our datacenter and don't have to worry about the rest ...

I would build a normal PC for cheap money, but they have to be rackmountable !

tiersten

Finding a server on eBay without the CPU, RAM and HD might be a little difficult. How cheap is cheap anyway?

Can't you just get a rackmount shelf and stick a regular PC on it?

blargoe

You might be better off to just get a barebone from hp or dell or ibm (whoever your company deals with) with the minimum specs and upgrade them with the stuff you already have. I know dell has a site where they sell returned/refurbed server equipment.

jibbajabba

With cheap I mean under $500 / server
I don't mind getting one with CPU anyway, as long as the motherboard supports CPU upgrades with the 54xx series.

We don't use neither HP, Dell or IBM ... I will have a look at the refurb ones .. Trouble is, a barebone system we normally sell is at least $800 already .. which is a bit steep for a test server (which I will need for about 6 month only)... and that is just our buying price ...

jibbajabba

Actually thinking outside of the box, I just search for general systems on the HCL with 54xx series CPU

BADfish10

The problem with going hp is you will most likly not be able to use the CPU's you have without buying HP special heat sinks also cant re-member if hp still need the Daughter cards for each Xeon you install.
dont get me wrong i love HP but they are right goyts about CPU upgrades oh and HD as well.
I would look barebones supermicro if i were you as they are cheep fast and well made. also has the plus's of being generic screw your own hdd in controller cards and CPU. also there 1U have a riser for 2 Pci Express that you will probably want 1 is SFF so keep in mind. that will give you 2 onboard Intel nic's "expandable" 1 slot for HBA and 1 for NIC.

Hope this helps

J

jibbajabba

Funny you mention Supermicro I just found two old 6025-B SCSI systems and a couple of 5130 CPU, Ram and a bunch of 10k 73GB SCSI disks Firs host is done, second in a bit and a collleague will be installing the lot in the datacenter on Friday. As iSCSI storage I will be using one of our WUDSS Server which are connected via Gigabit link. Not perfect, but good enough to learn the new ESX4 stuff so I can renew my VCP