Digestly

Dec 31, 2024

Upgrade Your Server: Quieter, Efficient Tech Tips ๐Ÿ”งโœจ

Deep Tech
Linus Tech Tips: The video discusses upgrading an old server setup to a quieter, more efficient hybrid system using modern hardware and custom modifications.

Linus Tech Tips - My Home Server is REALLY Stupid and I Need to Fix It

The presenter has transformed his home into a tech haven, but his server setup, consisting of two outdated machines, was inefficient and noisy. To address this, he consolidated the servers into a single, quieter, and more powerful system with the help of Kokio's CD8 Gen 4 Enterprise NVMe drives. The new setup involves retrofitting an old Storinator chassis to accommodate both hard drives and high-speed NVMe storage, significantly reducing noise and improving efficiency. The project also involved custom modifications, such as creating a new front plate and using a Noctua edition power supply for quieter operation. The server now supports a hybrid storage system with both SSD and hard drive pools, optimized for performance and reliability, using the Hexos NAS operating system. This upgrade not only enhances the server's capabilities but also makes it much quieter, dropping noise levels by almost 20 dB.

Key Points:

  • Consolidate outdated servers into a single, efficient system using modern NVMe drives.
  • Retrofitting old hardware can save money and improve performance without buying new servers.
  • Custom modifications, like new front plates and quieter power supplies, can significantly reduce noise.
  • Using a hybrid storage system with SSDs and hard drives optimizes performance and reliability.
  • The upgrade reduced server noise by nearly 20 dB, making it more suitable for a home environment.

Details:

1. ๐Ÿ  Designing a Tech-Savvy Home

  • The speaker has spent over two years transforming their home into a tech-centric environment, featuring custom water-cooled gaming machines for the family. These machines manage heat through a titanium heat exchanger that directs it into an outdoor pool, although a leak has occurred in the system.
  • The current server setup, crucial for smart home functions and personal media storage, consists of two outdated, inefficient decade-old servers that create excessive noise (70 dB) and heat.
  • The speaker is considering consolidating the two servers due to advancements in modern server capabilities, questioning the need for both. They plan to use Kokio's CD8 Gen 4 Enterprise NVMe drives to retrofit old storage systems, aiming for improved performance and noise reduction.
  • Strategically, the speaker views the server consolidation as an opportunity to enhance both energy efficiency and the overall technological infrastructure of their home, leveraging modern hardware to solve issues related to noise and heat.

2. ๐Ÿ›  Tackling the Server Dilemma

  • A new hybrid server from 45 Drives was considered but found unnecessary due to minimal upgrades from the original storinator xl60, which is still functional after 7 years, showcasing its longevity.
  • The new server model's hybrid chassis with vertically mounted SSD slots enhances space efficiency, but existing back planes from a front-loaded case pose compatibility issues with new SSDs, potentially blocking airflow.
  • To resolve airflow issues, the solution involves removing two rows of hard drive mounts to accommodate NVMe cages in the front, ensuring proper airflow while utilizing existing infrastructure effectively.

3. ๐Ÿ”ง Customizing the Storinato Server

3.1. Customization Options

3.2. Technical Specifications

4. โšก Power Supply Solutions

4.1. Power Supply Noise Reduction

4.2. Transition to Seic Power Supply

5. ๐Ÿ”— Cable Management and Connections

5.1. Noctua Edition CIC TX600 Power Supply

5.2. Custom Cable Harnesses for CIC TX600

6. ๐Ÿ›  Hardware Testing and Final Adjustments

  • Conduct thorough testing of all hardware components to ensure they meet the required performance standards.
  • Implement necessary adjustments and modifications to optimize hardware functionality and reliability.
  • Utilize detailed performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the hardware after adjustments.
  • Ensure all testing and adjustments are documented for future reference and quality assurance.
  • Incorporate feedback from testing to guide final adjustments and improvements.

7. ๐Ÿ”ฉ Ensuring Perfect Hardware Fit

  • Utilize magnetic mounts for easy and clever hardware placement, allowing for flexible adjustments.
  • Resolve clearance issues by trimming edges and using tools like a hammer for precise adjustments.
  • Employ alternative fastening methods by placing 632 nuts inside slots, ensuring a secure fit without compromising hardware integrity.
  • Achieve a near-factory finish with precise alignment by focusing on edge clearance to ensure a perfect fit.
  • Ensure perfect slide fit by concentrating on edge clearance and alignment.
  • Utilize mini SAS 8i for connectivity, providing eight PCI lanes to dual oculink, optimizing connection efficiency.

8. ๐Ÿ“ˆ Optimizing Storage Capacity

8.1. Cable Management and Hardware Utilization

8.2. Drive Management and System Optimization

9. ๐ŸŽฎ Creative GPU Integration

  • Integration of a GPU in a non-traditional location to improve airflow and cooling efficiency.
  • Utilizing 3D printed polycarbonate pieces to secure the GPU, demonstrating innovative use of materials.
  • The GPU design allows intake from both top and bottom, optimizing airflow by exhausting air efficiently.
  • The placement strategy ensures the GPU receives fresh air, enhancing performance and cooling.
  • Creative use of existing infrastructure (like cutouts) to fit the GPU without needing extensive modifications.

10. ๐Ÿ’พ Expanding SSD and Storage Capabilities

  • The newest CD series SSD drives offer over 7 GB/s read speed and nearly 4 GB/s write speed, enhancing performance and reliability in data centers despite some capacity loss.
  • These SSDs function as ZFS special metadata devices, efficiently managing large data pools by storing metadata and smaller files on faster storage, optimizing data retrieval and system efficiency.
  • Integration into hybrid GPU and NVMe hard drive machines suggests a trend towards more consolidated and efficient server environments, reducing latency and improving data throughput.
  • The SSDs provide a strategic advantage for data centers, enabling faster access times and improved system performance, ideal for high-demand applications and workloads.

11. ๐Ÿ“ฆ Adding Recertified Drives for More Storage

  • Added 18 recertified 18TB Seagate Exos drives, totaling 324TB, tripling the previous storage capacity.
  • The new drives will be integrated into a machine with 30 bays, allowing the old drives to be copied over to the new setup.
  • The setup revitalizes an 8-year-old machine, originally part of the paby project, with enhanced compute, high-speed, and bulk storage capabilities.
  • The upgraded machine promises to be quieter than before, improving the working environment.

12. ๐Ÿ”Œ Power Configuration and Setup Challenges

12.1. Identification of Power Configuration Issues

12.2. Proposed Solutions and Risks

13. โšก Testing Power and System Integrity

  • Testing involved splicing a c-13 to a c19 with the same wire gauge, operating at 240 volts, which results in lower amperage than usual for such deployments, indicating a safe test environment.
  • The plan includes replacing cables later, suggesting that current measures are temporary and focused on assessing initial system functionality.
  • Initial power testing did not result in any fires, confirming the basic safety of the setup and no critical failures under current conditions.
  • An SSD did not light up, which may be due to BIOS configuration not set to bifurcate slots or a loose cable connection, highlighting areas for further troubleshooting and configuration adjustments.
  • The testing environment was controlled and set up to ensure that any anomalies could be quickly identified and addressed, maintaining system integrity throughout the process.

14. ๐Ÿ” Debugging and System Optimization

  • The slot issue was identified as a potential problem, indicating that some slots may not function properly and require further investigation.
  • The fans were set to 100% to test the noise level and airflow, resulting in quiet operation with efficient air pulling across the front.
  • All NVMe drives were successfully detected after adjustments, highlighting the importance of verifying hardware connections before final assembly.
  • A SATA cable issue was discovered, emphasizing the need to test hardware setups thoroughly before installing them into a rack.
  • It is crucial to ensure all components and connections are functioning correctly by loading up software and confirming hardware is operational before finalizing installation.

15. ๐Ÿ’ป Final Configuration and Performance Enhancements

  • TrueNAS HexOS, developed with a respected NAS OS, is in Early Access and aims to enhance user-friendliness.
  • The system supports standard SSD and hard drive pools but lacks non-standard configuration support, which can be bypassed using the TrueNAS interface.
  • Configured three RAID Z1 vdevs with 18 recertified 18TB Exos drives, allowing each group to endure one drive failure without data loss.
  • Added Kioxia CD8 NVMe drives as special metadata devices, enhancing speed for metadata storage while retaining cost benefits of hard drives.
  • Created an all SSD RAID Z1 pool for performance-sensitive tasks like virtual machines and streaming apps.
  • Speed tests show read speeds of 14 GB/s with 86% CPU usage; increasing threads boosts performance to 16 GB/s with 95% CPU usage.
  • Mechanical storage achieved 2 GB/s read speeds without SSD or RAM caching enabled.
  • Recertified drives from different batches have shown no failures across multiple projects, suggesting reliability.
  • Noise levels were reduced by nearly 20 dB, significantly improving the working environment.

16. ๐ŸŽฅ Wrapping Up and Future Plans

  • The segment should provide actionable insights or strategic objectives for the future based on the video content.