Apple Xserve Raid 14 bay server A1009 "info"

AquaAngel · Jul 12th, 2015, 01:46 PM

Good day all you mac gurus out there.

i'm soon going to get one of those "Apple Xserve Raid 14 bay server A1009" model and just wondering what can be done to this wonderful Server to make it upgradable! like how much storage can i put in there if i upgrade it to a 2.5" hdd with a SATA adapters?

Can I put a bigger HDD greater than 500GB? can I put a 1tb per bay? can i upgrade the CPU? Ram?

I don't want to go to Hardcore on the upgrade, but i wouldn't mind to upgrade the HDD as it will have none in there when i will get it.

I know that some of you will ask why so much storage? well i do a lot of Video editing and Audio editing, graphic design and a lot of back ups as i back up my movies and blue Rays and all my projects and even though i have already 10 tb, 8tb is already used.

So that is why i need a lot of Storage, so if there is a way to upgrade HDD greater than 500 gb per bay? that would be awesome.

Thank you

Angel

John Clay · Jul 12th, 2015, 02:02 PM

Yikes. You're spending money on an 11 year old Xserve RAID?

They're literally obsolete. They only accept UltraATA parallel connection drives, which are all but completely discontinued. If memory serves, it's also only compatible with Apple Drive Modules. If you can even find a working Drive Module, it would be incredibly expensive.

It's also not a server - it's a RAID, only designed to be used with a server of similar vintage. On its own, it's not functional. There's no CPU or RAM to upgrade, as such. They're also very loud and use a lot of power.

Unless you're buying it as a history piece, don't even think about it.

jezzy · Jul 12th, 2015, 02:04 PM

I've had two. Expensive to upgrade if doing the sata to ide adapters. The cheap ones won't work and the good ones are about 20$ a piece x 14 bays! Then they're noisy and huge power hogs. Nice to look at.. But cheaper and faster options out there. No ram or cpu upgrades in these units. Good luck

AquaAngel · Jul 12th, 2015, 05:31 PM

Well, i'm gonna get that Xserve for 150 bux which i think it ain't a bad deal, the adapters as you mentioned "20 bux/pcs" ain't bad. I do have some older HDD for it too that i can take off my older machines.

i do have older models Mac kicking around like my old G4 quicksilvers x2, MDD X2, imac sunflowers X2 and an old PPC G5 dual 1.8 Mac tower water cooled which needs to have it's cooling system replaced soon.

It is not only for the history part that i want to buy it for, but also want to use it. Not going to use it or have it running 24/7.

Or could also use it as a press paper.

as it is about 60 to 100 lbs. not light.

jezzy · Jul 12th, 2015, 06:53 PM

For that price its a good deal. I did like them and they looked great! Have fun!

AquaAngel · Jul 12th, 2015, 07:36 PM

Also forgot to mention that i have 2 Macpros and hoping to use that Xserve to back up my data in there. is there a way to also put it as Wireless back up system?

jezzy · Jul 12th, 2015, 08:28 PM

I ran 2 Xserve with Osx server and enabled time machine server on it with these raid units connected.

John Clay · Jul 12th, 2015, 09:46 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by AquaAngel
	Also forgot to mention that i have 2 Macpros and hoping to use that Xserve to back up my data in there. is there a way to also put it as Wireless back up system?

As I mentioned, without an SFP-compatible host computer, that Xserve RAID is a doorstop. You'd have to have a compatible Xserve, or maybe Power Mac G5, to have a hope of getting it up and running. You keep referring to it as an Xserve, which it isn't. It's an Xserve RAID. Entirely different devices.

AquaAngel · Jul 12th, 2015, 10:39 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by John Clay
	As I mentioned, without an SFP-compatible host computer, that Xserve RAID is a doorstop. You'd have to have a compatible Xserve, or maybe Power Mac G5, to have a hope of getting it up and running. You keep referring to it as an Xserve, which it isn't. It's an Xserve RAID. Entirely different devices.

Not Questioning you or anything, but the guy that is selling me that Xserve claims that it is a Apple Xserve Raid model A1009. So that is why i came here to seek more info about it unless i got things mixed up.

John Clay · Jul 12th, 2015, 10:44 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by AquaAngel
	Not Questioning you or anything, but the guy that is selling me that Xserve claims that it is a Apple Xserve Raid model A1009. So that is why i came here to seek more info about it unless i got things mixed up.

I'm not sure what you're asking. Xserve is a different product than Xserve RAID. Xserve is an actual computer - CPU, RAM, video card. Xserve RAID is a direct attach storage device. It is not a computer, and cannot function independently. It can only send data through SFP to a compatible host computer.

Think of it as a big USB hard drive, with some fancy RAID capabilities, that only works with a full Xserve computer.

What he's selling, assuming it's this ad, are Xserve RAIDs. They are not servers.