| TechWareLabs Builds a Server |
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TechWareLabs Builds a New Server
We recently built a new server for our hosting needs at TechWareLabs and decided to record the build for our readers. It only took us 1 Minute 35 Seconds to create this powerhouse for you guys. A Video in Quicktime or in MP4 is available for you. If you are subject to motion sickness, or are feint of heart I suggest you check out whats on the Disney channel instead. Those with Rock hard stomachs and wills of steel feel free to click on the links after you strap yourself and your computer to something stable. If our passengers are ready for take off then we are ready to begin. No smoking please.
As will often happen when hosting a site you will find that over time you have the need to upgrade, rebuild, redesign, and change hosts. We had the need for a new server with both more space and more processing power. Building a server is not the same as building a desktop. There are many considerations and variables that come into play when selecting and building a server. For example:
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Form Factor (Rack Mountable or Standard Desktop Tower)
- Single, Dual, or Quad sockets for processing power
- Platform choice (motherboard) and operating system
- Onboard options such as Raid, SAS, SATA, and more
- Power requirements
- Storage Requirements (SATA, SCSI, SAS, IDE)
Having answered the questions above and more we selected the following components:
- 2U Rack Mountable ANTEC case.
- Tyan S5370 Motherboard
- 2GB Kingston FB-DIMM Memory
- (2) Intel Xeon 5110 Processors
- (2) Western Digital 160 GB SATA Hard Drives
- (2) CoolJag 2U Heatsinks
As we have stated in previous reviews the single most important component in your system is the motherboard. We selected Tyan for its long history in the server market and the reputation of their motherboard for stability and performance. The S5370 supports the Xeon Dual Core 5110 processors running at 1.6Ghz per core. The S5370 also has the following features:
Processor Chipset Memory Expansion Slots Integrated I/O BIOS
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System Management Integrated LAN Controllers Integrated SATA Controller (ESB2) Intelligent Platform Management Interface (optional) Form Factor Power |
As you can see the S5370 is a capable motherboard with features that allow for growth and scalability. The selection of the Xeon 5110 processors gives TechWareLabs enough power to drive not only our site but also allows for future enhancements.
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