Server Z420 hot swap

[-simon-]

Hello,

I'm thinkin to use a Z420 as server. I've some workstation to network, in the machine specification is supported the raid card, I wold use two SATA disk raid1. (I need datas everything backuped and readable in a minute also if there are some disk bugs)

Is possible to configure the disks hot swap ?

I never used windows server, do you suggest me instead of windows 10 pro?

Thank you in advance for your support!

[DGroves]

while the windows RSTe driver can hotswap, this is not the way to go for your needs

buy a LSI 9286  (ext SAS/SCSI) /9270 (internal SAS/SCSI) both are PCI-e 3.0 cards and can be found with 4 or 8 ports

they do hardware RAID, support SSD's and support hotswap, hotspare options

you can use a 2 bay 5.25 hotswap enclosure that holds 4 .3.5/2.5 devices.

note that such bays are not cheap, but you get what you pay for in this case ignore the chineese/far east no name enclosures stay with name brand, the build quality is much higher

Supermicro: (Perfered)

http://www.supermicro.com/products/accessories/mobilerack/CSE-M35T-1.cfm

 haven't used but name brand/reseller

https://www.startech.com/HDD/Mobile-Racks/removable-4-drive-backplane~HSB4SATSASBA

https://www.amazon.ca/StarTech-Aluminum-Trayless-Backplane-3-5-Inch/dp/B00OUSU8MI

heres a 2.5 SAS/ SATA enclosure

http://www.supermicro.com/products/accessories/mobilerack/CSE-M14TQC.cfm

you can also go with a external box, but again avoid buying on price, as cheap or no name units have bad cooling poor connectors/latches and other design faults

[-simon-]

Really thank you DGroves for the exausing description, but after I saw the pricing I think for me it's better buy a new HP microserver, the price is cheaper than raid card more mobile rack. What do you think?

Do you know if there is some problem to updare the network workgroup after 1803 windows update?

Thank you again!

[DGroves · Accepted solution]

i'm not sure where your pricing is comming from but a HP microserver gen 8 (current is gen 10) from amazon is about 1500.00 dollars new for a single drive base model w/8gb ram

https://www.amazon.com/HP-ProLiant-MicroServer-Server-783958S01/dp/B00LGJ9NHK

and around 400.00 as a starting bid on ebay for a used system w/one drive 4gb or less ram

a lsi 9270 card off ebay is around 200.00 or less

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LSI-MegaRaid-9270-8i-1GB-RAID-PCIe-3-0-6Gbps-Controller-Raid-Card-LSI-9271-...

and a 4 bay hotswap enclosure from supermicro   mobile rack series  CSE-M35T-1 is 140.00 on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Supermicro-CSE-M35T-1B-Mobile-Rack-Black/dp/B00009ILU1