Fellow server-builders out there, this is for you. :) I was trying to build a cheap JBOD type storage solution running CentOS. Ended up snagging a Supermicro SC826TQ-R800LPB 2U case (12 drives slots) and a Supermicro X7DBE-O motherboard. Unfortunately, without thinking I snagged a 3ware 9650SE-12ML SATA RAID card which is a full height card and thus does not fit in my case.
I have a few options here:
- Go with a 3U case instead. Now I have a 16-drive case with only a 12-way card. :-) - Return the 3Ware and order two of the 8-way cards which are half-height. This means I love some of my space now however as I have to have an extra spare drive per card. - Get a PCI-E riser.
The riser option I like, except I also have the BBU unit for my RAID card meaning I need to ensure that I have enough clearance and support for it when the card is mounted horizontally. You can mount the battery elsewhere, but not the logic module...
Most of the PCI-E 8x risers I've seen out there seem to be pretty small profile and I'm not sure if they'd give the clearance needed (see the Supermicro provided CSE-RR1U-E8). It looks like I need around 35mm of clearance to get the card in sideways with the BBU attached...
Another solid option would looke to be a 2U riser, but I am having a harder time finding somethign reasonably priced. The RSC-R2UE-A3E8 from Supermicro looks perfect and would definitely give me the clearance I need, but is priced 10x higher than the 1U riser!
Any advice?
Apologies for the off-topic post.. this *will* be running CentOS however and there doesn't seem to be a more appropriate mailing list for general stuff like this.. :-)
TIA, Ray