2TB possible for Snap Server 2000?

[suprgruvn]

Hi, new to the forum, great resource!

I recently rescued 3 Snap 2000 units from the dumpster, all in perfect working order. All three units have OS 3.4.805, BIOS 2.0.252, and H/W version 2.

Here is the question:

ASSUMING that these units are the later 2000 version that can get around the LBA48bit limit, is it possible to install (2) 1-terabyte drives? I know I couldn't create a single volume exceeding ~1TB (based on the wiki article here: http://wiki.procooling.com/index.php...%27s_Snap_2000 ), but the article at least implies that the 2000 could potentially work with 2 volumes of 1TB each. The dream is to create a 1TB mirrored volume.

I tried searching the forum, with no success. Does anyone have experience with this, or thoughts on the subject?

Thanks,
Phil

[blue68f100]

1 TB in mirror will work. The bigger problem may be that the PS will not carry the larger HD's.

[suprgruvn]

Thanks for the quick reply; now I am faced with the problem of dealing with the power shortfall. I've poked around the forum a bit and I've seen some fairly outlandish solutions to the problem. Is there a "drop-in" upgrade for these units, perhaps from a later model?

Short of an upgrade that would fit inside of the stock case, I might be better off just using a spare PC with software RAID. My main attraction to the SnapServer is the compact, self-contained form factor (and the cost ) It would be a shame to carve up these little beasties and negate that benefit.

Thanks for your help!

-Phil

[blue68f100]

No replacement that I'm aware of. If I recall the all the problem is with startup current. Once there spinning all works ok. So if you go this way make sure it's on a UPS and never shut it down. The newer drive with the new recording tech does not spin as many platters to get capacity. So all you have to deal with is startup currents. The old power supplies handled over current pretty good.

Good luck.

[suprgruvn]

Thanks again, blue (if I may call you that);

There are lots of compact and fairly powerful aftermarket PS out there, and physically grafting in a new one and adapting the internal wiring (and likely upgrading the fan) would normally be no big deal. But while the 2000 doesn't use a "soft-off" (i.e. uses a mechanical switch), there does appear to be a shutdown sequence of sorts after you flip the switch off, and if this functionality is integrated into the stock PS itself, replacing it could be non-trivial. This might explain why I haven't been able to find any examples of the factory PS being eliminated altogether.

We're renovating a "reverse in-law" apartment (we're the ones moving in with the in-laws) and part of that is an A/V rack & network closet. Space is at a premium, hence the interest in a compact backup/storage appliance. It was destined to hold ~400GB of audio files serving a touch screen jukebox I'm working on, along with the usual smattering of archived email, docs, portfolio work, etc.

We've got a ways to go, so I can revisit this one on a later date. Thanks for the great information!

-Phil

[blue68f100]

The snap os does control the shut down when the PS is turned off. Without this you will be faced with a fsk every time you start, not good.