Anyone got Dell Poweredge servers?

[sidewinder]

Im looking for a basic server to replace my backup server and Im currently looking at a Poweredge SC1420

Few questions though because of Dell's reluctance to provide any details about the system board etc

- Does the board have PCI-X sockets? I suspect the answer is yes, but I wanted to check

- How many drives can fit in the case? Ie how many internal 3 1/2 bays are there?

- I want to install a PCI-X SATA RAID card and have an array of 5 or 6 drives. Could the PSU included support this many?

- A general question about SATA raid arrays - Would I be better off with a case that has room for hot swap caddys/bays?

[SYSMAN_MK]

Storage
Hard Drives:
Support for up to four (4) cabled 1" internal hard drive bays
73GB, 146GB and 300GB 10K SCSI hard drives
40GB, 80GB, 120GB and 250GB 7.2K SATA hard drives

Maximum Internal Storage:
1TB SATA
584GB SCSI

Tape Backup Options:
PowerVault 100T Tape Drive, internal

Drive Bays
Hard Drive Bays: Up to 4 hard drives

Slots
6 total I/O slots (five available)
2 PCI Express slots (one x8, one x4), 2.5GHz
3 64-bit/100MHz PCI-X slots 3.3V, 1 32-bit/33MHz PCI slot 5V (this slot is contains ATI Rage XL video card)
Slots are full height and half length

Drive Controllers
Embedded dual channel SATA, optional PCI SCSI controller

RAID Controllers
CERC SATA 2s (SW RAID), CERC SATA 6ch, SCSI HBA (SW RAID), PERC U320

Communications
Single embedded Intel 10/100/1000 Gigabit NIC
Intel PRO/100 S
Intel PRO/1000 MT Gigabit NIC (copper)
Intel PRO/1000 P dual port server adapter

Power
460W non-redundant

Cooling
Four cooling fans

[sidewinder]

Ah, thanks
Where did you find all that? (I was probably being stupid and missed it in an obvious place)

[Dos_Box]

I have 4 Dell Poweredge 2650, and damm nice they are too. Incredibly reliable.

[Face-Man]

I take it money is tight if not have a look at the website

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...bsd&cs=ukbsdt1

It looks like it can have a raid card factory installed and can have upto 4 hard drives. why not have it included in your purchase and get it covered under their warrenty

[wesleyw]

We've got 5 Dell Poweredge 1850 they seem to be running very well indeed.


Wes

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...266&l=en&s=pub

Just click on the details link at the bottom of the page.

[pete]

Mostly dells here, never had a problem. Service has always been prompt and my account manager has clue.

Buy the 3yrs onsite service, it'll save your bacon when your server gets toasted by lightning.

[kingswood]

We have five PE Servers and they are brilliant. :-)

[sidewinder]

I take it money is tight if not have a look at the website

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...bsd&cs=ukbsdt1

It looks like it can have a raid card factory installed and can have upto 4 hard drives. why not have it included in your purchase and get it covered under their warrenty

Nah money isnt tight, far from it

The thing is though, if I go wth one of their SATA RAID configs, it doesnt give me the option to have a SCSI controller as well, and after all the trouble Ive had with them recently, thats the bit I really want guaranteed to work and be covered

Hence why I was going to buy the basic SCSI version and do the SATA RAID myself

Unless anyone can recommend a very good, reliable SCSI controller for less than a few hundred quid? (Doesnt need to be a RAID controller)

[wesleyw]

Adaptec 39320?


Wes

[plexer]

I've got a Poweredge 2800 this year and so far it's been rock solid. 800GB RAID5 array.

Ben

[Geoff]

Always sworn by Mylex raid controllers personally. They are now know as LSI Logic. In paticular the MegaRAID range is what you should be looking at.

http://www.lsilogic.com/products/meg...id_320_0x.html

[Irazmus]

We've got a pair of PowerEdge 2800's and I love em

[djm968]

I have installed PE 1425's 1850's 2850's DELL PoverVault DAS 220s and PV 122 autochangers, never had a problem with them.

At one site the air-con in the server room failed and cooked the Dell rack, an hour after nice cold air had been restored, all servers fired up with no signs of any issues and have been running fine for 3 months.

I would recommend them to anyone.