Over the last few years, we have been building small servers using Asus barebones systems. They've been great, and we can install whatever CPU we like, disks, memory, flavour of Linux and so on. They have proven to be relatively cheap and highly reliable machines. However, I just can't seem to find them any more! Our requirement is room for at least 3 SATA disks, preferably 4 plus DVD, multi-core CPU, preferably AMD, good PSU, and capable of taking at least 8Gb of memory. I can find loads of tiny machines great for firewalls and so on, but nothing any larger. Even the Shuttles, still easily found, can't hold enough disks. Does anyone know of a reliable supplier of Asus barebones, or something similar? The last thing I want to do is spend 4 figures on an HP and throw away a licence for Winblow$. Yes, I know I can buy a case, mobo and so on, but that's a laborious exercise if regular, and kit becomes obsolete so fast, it has to be repeated almost every time we build a machine. We've looked at Zoostorm, which is the closest I can find, but they aren't barebones, and we don't need a 2tb disk, just because we want 8Gb of memory. With Zoostorm, it seems that the higher the CPU/memory spec, the bigger the disks, and so on, and it's very hard to find out what the mobo is, and whether it's Linux-friendly. Just too many unknowns and potentially expensive pitfalls. Help/guidance greatly appreciated! Cheers, Laurie. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Laurie Brown laurie@brownowl.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------
On 9 January 2013 11:13, Laurie Brown <laurie@brownowl.com> wrote:
Over the last few years, we have been building small servers using Asus barebones systems. They've been great, and we can install whatever CPU we like, disks, memory, flavour of Linux and so on. They have proven to be relatively cheap and highly reliable machines. However, I just can't seem to find them any more!
Our requirement is room for at least 3 SATA disks, preferably 4 plus DVD, multi-core CPU, preferably AMD, good PSU, and capable of taking at least 8Gb of memory. I can find loads of tiny machines great for firewalls and so on, but nothing any larger. Even the Shuttles, still easily found, can't hold enough disks.
Does anyone know of a reliable supplier of Asus barebones, or something similar? The last thing I want to do is spend 4 figures on an HP and throw away a licence for Winblow$.
Yes, I know I can buy a case, mobo and so on, but that's a laborious exercise if regular, and kit becomes obsolete so fast, it has to be repeated almost every time we build a machine. We've looked at Zoostorm, which is the closest I can find, but they aren't barebones, and we don't need a 2tb disk, just because we want 8Gb of memory. With Zoostorm, it seems that the higher the CPU/memory spec, the bigger the disks, and so on, and it's very hard to find out what the mobo is, and whether it's Linux-friendly. Just too many unknowns and potentially expensive pitfalls.
Help/guidance greatly appreciated!
Those little ASUS bare bones units were blinding bits of kit for the money shame that it looks like they've been 'retired', however.... These may help... http://www.novatech.co.uk/barebonebundles/ I'm pretty sure they are flexible with the RAM etc. if you give them a call. Also I'm sure I've seen some Gigabyte barebones about with minimalist plain black cases with just a small Gigabyte logo. if I find a link I'll let you know Cheers, BJ
On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 5:22 PM, John Woodard <mail@johnwoodard.co.uk> wrote:
On 9 January 2013 11:13, Laurie Brown <laurie@brownowl.com> wrote:
Over the last few years, we have been building small servers using Asus barebones systems. They've been great, and we can install whatever CPU we like, disks, memory, flavour of Linux and so on. They have proven to be relatively cheap and highly reliable machines. However, I just can't seem to find them any more!
Our requirement is room for at least 3 SATA disks, preferably 4 plus DVD, multi-core CPU, preferably AMD, good PSU, and capable of taking at least 8Gb of memory. I can find loads of tiny machines great for firewalls and so on, but nothing any larger. Even the Shuttles, still easily found, can't hold enough disks.
Does anyone know of a reliable supplier of Asus barebones, or something similar? The last thing I want to do is spend 4 figures on an HP and throw away a licence for Winblow$.
Yes, I know I can buy a case, mobo and so on, but that's a laborious exercise if regular, and kit becomes obsolete so fast, it has to be repeated almost every time we build a machine. We've looked at Zoostorm, which is the closest I can find, but they aren't barebones, and we don't need a 2tb disk, just because we want 8Gb of memory. With Zoostorm, it seems that the higher the CPU/memory spec, the bigger the disks, and so on, and it's very hard to find out what the mobo is, and whether it's Linux-friendly. Just too many unknowns and potentially expensive pitfalls.
Help/guidance greatly appreciated!
Those little ASUS bare bones units were blinding bits of kit for the money shame that it looks like they've been 'retired', however....
These may help... http://www.novatech.co.uk/barebonebundles/
I'm pretty sure they are flexible with the RAM etc. if you give them a call. Also I'm sure I've seen some Gigabyte barebones about with minimalist plain black cases with just a small Gigabyte logo. if I find a link I'll let you know
Cheers, BJ
Ebuyer have done them for quite a while. http://www.ebuyer.com/search?q=bare+bones I've used ebuyer for years now for anything i need and always found their delivery reliable. Never had to return anything yet. james
On 09/01/2013 19:58, James Freer wrote: [SNIP]
Ebuyer have done them for quite a while. http://www.ebuyer.com/search?q=bare+bones
Just had another look, and the only shuttle that can take 3 HDDs and a CD/DVD is 4 years old, and the bottom of the range.
I've used ebuyer for years now for anything i need and always found their delivery reliable. Never had to return anything yet.
Agreed. They regularly beat my trade prices with both Scan and Dabs, and delivery is often cheaper too. Cheers, Laurie. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Laurie Brown laurie@brownowl.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------
On 10/01/2013 14:03, Laurie Brown wrote: [SNIP] Just to put this to bed. I've searched and searched, and I've given up. I'll build a server from scratch. Thanks to all who helped. Cheers, Laurie. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Laurie Brown laurie@brownowl.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------
These may be too small for your purposes, but i recently bought some HP N40L Microservers, for a little over £100 each after rebate from serversdirect, (Cheque came through last week). They are great little bits of kit for the money. On Fri, Jan 11, 2013 at 10:55 AM, Laurie Brown <laurie@brownowl.com> wrote:
On 10/01/2013 14:03, Laurie Brown wrote:
[SNIP]
Just to put this to bed. I've searched and searched, and I've given up. I'll build a server from scratch.
Thanks to all who helped.
Cheers, Laurie. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Laurie Brown laurie@brownowl.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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On 11/01/2013 13:50, Ricky Bruce wrote:
These may be too small for your purposes, but i recently bought some HP N40L Microservers, for a little over £100 each after rebate from serversdirect, (Cheque came through last week). They are great little bits of kit for the money.
You're not wrong! With cashback, these are really cheap. A bit underpowered for this particular client, but thanks for the heads-up. Cheers, Laurie. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Laurie Brown laurie@brownowl.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------
On 09/01/2013 17:22, John Woodard wrote: [SNIP] Thanks BJ.
Those little ASUS bare bones units were blinding bits of kit for the money shame that it looks like they've been 'retired', however....
They were great. I don't think they have been retired, I just think no UK suppliers sell them. I haven't tried the rest of the EU yet., The Netherlands is usually keenly priced and good choice.
These may help... http://www.novatech.co.uk/barebonebundles/
I'm pretty sure they are flexible with the RAM etc. if you give them a call. Also I'm sure I've seen some Gigabyte barebones about with minimalist plain black cases with just a small Gigabyte logo. if I find a link I'll let you know
Will call them tomorrow, some of their stuff looks good... Will see what I can find for gigabyte too. Thanks, matey. Cheers, Laurie. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Laurie Brown laurie@brownowl.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------
participants (4)
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James Freer -
John Woodard -
Laurie Brown -
Ricky Bruce