Help me design the ultimate portable server.

[Ash_Williams]

So, I'm going to America at the end of the year and I actually want to not have to pay the hotel to watch a movie, so I'll be taking them with me.

What I want to do it build a server that is so portable I'll be able to take it on the plane, keep it safe and have maximum storage capacity. Don't go recommending one of those HP micro-servers, I'm going all out on this and want to call something my own. I may look into making it somehow battery powered much like a laptop.

My starting point specs:

Xeon is a must, let's face it. I freaking love Xeon's!
8GB memory max.
Built-in Wireless Router, yeah.. I can wifi.
At least 4TB of storage space, I might get one of those 4-bay 2.5" hotswap bays.
On-board video, wouldn't it be cool if I could make like a HDMI cable coil inside that you pull out?

QUIET! This would have to be a quiet PC, I'll pretty much passively cool it with a quiet front and rear fan with space permitting.

Help me get this thing designed and built! Intel this sucker (http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?mai ... s_id=20016) so that's my absolute starting point.

Let's get to it!

[Ash_Williams]

Here is where we can start from a 'made-as-is' without anything custom build:

https://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?ma ... wish_lists

(You have to sign in to see it)

[ashman1991]

You want to build and entire server, cart it half way around the world, just so you can watch movies in a hotel from it?

Two things I would honestly like to point out:
1) Heard of a laptop + external storage? Heaps smaller, cheaper and easier to cart around.
2) With 4TB of storage, you are going to end up with hours and hours and hours of movies on there. Either you won't end up watching anywhere near that amount, or, if you do, why the **** are you going to america to just watch movies?

edit: let's keep it constructive, hey guys? Sathias

[Ash_Williams]

I maybe should've made it more clear that while this mini-server will be coming to America with me it does have a purpose outside of this. Please allow me to list them for you:

a) A test model for a future product
b) A test on server/infrastructure portability
c) Being able to work abroad with data from home or work that requires a server
d) File-serving on holiday with a 3G/Wifi connection built-in, no having to setup your laptop or whatever, just turn on the mini-server and away it goes.
e) It's a freaking awesome idea.

Who else has built a 'consumer'-grade portable server? Nobody that I can think of. Name one consumer laptop that can have as much capacity and usefulness as a mini-server? None under $3500? You'd be right.

edit: let's keep it constructive, hey guys? Sathias

[Nightstaar]

Doesn't portability conflict with the entire idea of a server...

Working abroad? Terminal server?

No one has built a consumer-grade portable server because WHY

[ashman1991]

b) A test on server/infrastructure portability

Do you mean like a laptop? Or going against the entire idea of the internet/cloud technologies, and bringing everything (hardware & data) with you physically?

c) Being able to work abroad with data from home or work that requires a server

Like a laptop with an internet connection RDP'ing/VNC/VPN into home/work?

Also, does work know you plan on taking a copy of their entire system with you abroad? I highly doubt they would be happy with that [if they knew...]

d) File-serving on holiday with a 3G/Wifi connection built-in, no having to setup your laptop or whatever, just turn on the mini-server and away it goes.

Again, wtf.

So either:
Spend thousands of $$$, setup 'server' here, then join to network once in america.
or
Setup laptop here to act as a simple file server, join to network once in america.

A 'server' doesn't just install and turn on and go "**** yeah, already setup and ****."

e) It's a freaking awesome idea.

Subjective.


Did you even end up getting that amazeballs laptop? Or the "because they're cool" Macbook?

[Tydus]

I don't understand the whole point of this, how would a laptop/with portable HDD not do all of this + more + just as cheap + (didnt you already go and buy a massive awesome laptop).

However, if your mind is sold on this which it sounds like it is then it sounds like your basically just building a media sever, but just, not a very good one. Being limited to 2 2.5 inch hdds would i imagine get pretty annoying.
No option for incorporating tv tuners, capture cards or sound cards?
And why the xeon? honestly cant see why you would want this over an i5 with the higher clock, cheaper but mainly the HD4000 which is substantially more powerful then the HD2500 the xeon uses.

Seriously tho, try and sell me on it im interested in what niche you think its filling, cause from here it looks to be the worse bits of both laptops an media servers combined.

[diamondd]

Well I immediately thought of this: http://wiki.daviddarts.com/PirateBox

although you seem to want something a bit more juiced up.

[steve_rogers42]

OK, first off Ash, you need to narrow the scope for what you need the server for, Vs the want.

Then you need to factor and build in logistics, IF your planning on moving this between countries there is a lot to bring into it.

First off, the state's uses different voltage/power standard than we do, how are you going to get around this? You could build in a switching/sensing UPS so that all you would need to worry about would be the wall socket, down side would be weight.

Second, have you checked US policy on bringing in data/digital media through via the airport? last time i heard they were able to seize forms of digital media if it breeched copyright etc, not sure if this is still happening, but an electronic box coming over in plane cargo... bit suss...

So if that's the case are you going to build it over there, or ship it independent? What are your COSTS associated with freight? r are you planning on carrying it onboard with you? (see BOX ON A PLANE)

If its a test model for a future product, who are you aiming at? you say consumer, but what kind of person who has server grade knowledge would be willing to carry around one with them, when its easy enough to host it up on cloud storage? ALSO Privacy/security? sates is leagues ahead of us for wardriving etc.

B) is an interesting point, needs more explaining.

If your working with data from home, why wouldnt you have it set the other way around and have the server hosted this side and then terminal or dial in when you get state's side... also work that requires a server? need more info bro.

File serving on holiday makes sense if your looking to transfer happy snaps and video etc, the 3g/4g/wifi also makes sense with this regard, but your going to have to source this equipment over there or find a device that supports the radio networks for both the states and Aus, and change them to suit the country your in. But it would mean a LOT of happy snaps and video to really benefit from having such a server with you...


These are a few things I can foresee being an issue, I think you need to invest in some time with regard to feasibility of this Vs paid server/cloud storage, or server rental. If your looking at making it a product, its going to have to be cost to manufacture vs environmental impact vs production.


Where are you looking at going in the states and when? if you dont mind me asking?

[Ash_Williams]

Generally when someone makes a thread like this with an over-the-top thing to look at, cost is irrelevant and they generally want to make it happen.

UPS idea for it is canned, pretty much at this stage I will be sticking with a standard 'box' that pretty much just houses a mini-server. The work needed to make it function correctly is iffy, plus they wouldn't let it on the plane (Yeah I checked).

Your second point - It is declared from my end as a portable hard disk, that's essentially what the device is. I'm waiting for my travel agent woman to follow it up but at this stage there isn't any rules against it unless they physically want to check it by plugging it in.

Building - The server itself is rather small (see my second post) it's designed to fit in pretty much any confined space, so carry-on or your stowaway depending on what you want to do. I've got a pretty sturdy tactical briefcase that it will stay in, being lightweight helps as well.

In regards to being a test model - It's aimed at people who possibly have a home server and want to be able to work outside of home wherever they end up. Your essentially looking at a tiny box that can run an ESX lab, Exchange, File serving, web hosting, etc, etc. The list is practically endless in terms of what you want it to do. The whole idea of testing it overseas is to see how useful it is. I'll be running it as basically a hub for us to all work with for photo dropping and the capacity to allow me to do some work from home with various things (I won't go into detail because I would rather not have my ideas stolen).

B)/Why? Because it's merely a test, and with the work that I'm currently doing having a server right next to me would come in handy instead of having to wait for Australia's infrastructure to speed up so I can quickly access my work abroad. I hate lag and with my current work I'm doing it's just freaking annoying.

My sister has a camera that throws out 30MB photos at a time, so let's say she does more than 1000 photos which is entirely possible. We need a quick way to process and shrink them down, what can do that quickly? A server. She also takes some video sometimes and ends up with 20GB movies because it's capturing in 1080p, let's face it to me the server makes complete sense. The wireless side of things is easy, it's why the server has a USB port on the back. I'll have a little low-profile wifi card inside so that I can serve everyone with their daily network requirements.

The test is how I can see if the idea is feasible, otherwise I might as well not go ahead with it. The initial cost of the test unit is kinda irrelevant to me at this stage but if it works it becomes a matter of refining and making sure things work nicely together before I go out and start marketing it as a 'wonder-product'. Cloud storage in this case isn't feasable, you just can't pump that much data over a wireless connection in another country, you need somewhere local to store and convert or whatever. I looked at server rental and couldn't see how it would be beneficial to be, I'm not a fan of sharing, plus I've already looked at it and it's cheaper to have my own server built and sitting beside me.

I'm going to a few places, haven't quite narrowed down exactly yet but basic places are LA, New York, Hawaii and a few other places I can't remember this morning..

[discobrad]

good luck with it and all that - it sounds to me like you are trying to build a concept to sell this as a product. no one wants to carry a server around, there is a good reason that cloud computing, vmware, citrix, terminal servers etc were invented. whatever you are describing could be achieved by a high end laptop with decent external storage and a VPN link

[Ash_Williams]

I think your missing the point I made where network speeds from other countries -> home are just a touch **** and having a mini-server that's under $1000 that you can take with you is better and compared to the type of laptop you would need, more lightweight and upgradeable.

If you can get a non-laggy connection from say.. New York to Sydney over a 3G connection in the states, then there is no need. But seriously, you expect to be able to do that? If you have a Terminal-type setup then by all means a VPN and a simple netbook will suffice, but when you need something with some grunt it gets a little hard.

[v4moose]

i've spent 5 minutes with an empty reply box with 'if you can't say something nice don't say it at all' - running through my head


sigh...


the OP has made me LOL. this is retarded - but pleas go ahead and waste 3k on this idea. I briefed through your posts and can't find anything a decent laptop and an external can't do.

do you want to do this just so you can tell your buddies your using a server? they arn't that cool

Your second point - It is declared from my end as a portable hard disk, that's essentially what the device is

except it your claiming it has its own processor, OS, and wifi... yeh nah. I wouldn't be having that on my plane if you told me it was a HDD.

I'm going to a few places, haven't quite narrowed down exactly yet but basic places are LA, New York, Hawaii and a few other places I can't remember this morning..

so it is a holiday... sounds to me like you'd have more fun with a coffee and google street view. common dude...

[stanna]

Funniest thread in a long time!

This is a joke right?

[Mekon]

Something else to throw in the mix...

Laptops are designed for portability - all the components are secured in place and can handle some bumping around (within reason), they are lightweight (comparatively) and small. Desktop boxes aren't designed to be moved too much, the PCI cards are only secured at one end (for instance), cooler fans are secure (but can still shear off in transit), cases/PSU are *much* heavier, etc.

I'm thinking this is a solution is search of a problem. Sometimes all that "thinking outside the box" gets you is thin air.