[SOLVED] Want to make RAID server as a hobby project.

[nirrtix]

How much would it cost to make a RAID server on the cheap as a hobby project? I do not need a high end one server just one that works decently enough to backup data and have reasonable redundancy.

Basically I am wanting to make this to learn how to manage a server as well as have it be useful for home backup.

 

[mdd1963]

Depends on which OS you want to use, and whether or not you already have any extra PCs sitting around....; if you just want the functionality of having a location for backups (with redundancy), WD makes little devices that hold a pair of drives. You an spend much more on 4-8 drive units from SYnology or QNAP if you wish (each of which use their own custom Linux OS), but, if you wish to learn about a specific server OS, YOU can get WIndows Server 2012R2/2016/2019 for a free evaluation download good for 6 months, and/or, there are a plethora of Linux variants that are available.

 

[nirrtix]

Linux for the OS. The only extra PC I have sitting around is a Pentium 4 LOL. This is as much about learning how to manage the server as it is a hobby.

 

[mdd1963]

You could easily install Virtual Box and tinker with whatever Linux and /or NAS OS variants you would like on your existing system. (The P4 is a tad weak for today's Linux OS variants that want about 2-4 GB of RAM to work well, although some will work with 1 GB..)

 

[nirrtix]

You are right htat is true while I am working on making the actual RAID server I can do that. However I also want to learn to manage a actual raid server, which I cannot do on my current machine as those harddrives are in use by the current machine (at least I think that is the case.) The other problem is I am not sure Virtual box runs well on my machine. I may need to reinstall it.

 

[mdd1963]

Let's first separate the terms "RAID" and "server", although certainly many servers and desktops make use of RAID in various levels. If you just wan t practice at management, disks can be 'created' within Virtual BOx as well, and managed in the OS as though they were real. If you want an actual additional server, RAID card, disks, etc., you can sometimes buy a 5-6 year old Dell or HP coming off of lease for $100-$200....

 

[nirrtix]

while the virtual box would be decent for practice, I was wanting to have a physical box. I will look into what you are talking about getting an older one. It doesnt have to be new or high end.

 

[S Haran]

With a P4 your options are limited. An older version of FreeNAS or NAS4Free will probably get you going. Give it 2 drives for a RAID1 and you have your RAID server.