File-server a recording/streaming/editing studio - linux/open-source only

Hey all,

Newb here, but I’ve watched Level1Techs for years now. If this needs reformatting or editing, please kindly inform me.

I’m a Linux power-user, if that’s the term, and am getting into homelab stuff (slowly). I work in live performance but not television - various topics and subjects, including the arts.

I’m in a situation at work where I will be the person (likely) choosing gear for our new streaming theater (as I think of it.) I learned about streaming etc during stay-at-home and it’s fantastic, we’ve streamed a lot of live performances. I have built dozens of computers, disassembled/reassembled tens of laptops, done minor electrical repair, etc. Been using Linux since 2004 (whenever Windows started ‘phoning home’, I think.)

I need to build four (or five) computers, get lighting sound and cameras, all peripherals, etc. Ignoring almost everything except one of the computers for this question; what motherboard/cpu should I get for the file-server?

I’m going to need to have a lot of storage for this, and it will grow over time - it may become the archive for an entire department, but will be for at least two sections of that department.

I know enough to want quality equipment for this - the rest of the studio can likely go up and down as actually required. As this edges into enterprise stuff, I am a bit out of my zone. Especially as I want it to all be Linux-compatible - trying to inculcate a move away from vendor lock-in.

This server doesn’t have to be cutting-edge, merely reliable, adequate, easily serviceable and replaceable/upgradeable. It will be in an office with people working and cannot be pounding out heat and noise. It will likely not be servicing more than 3-6 clients at a time although it could be a dozen. It would be sporadic demand (backups, for instance, and normal file-transfers) It would need to endure for at least 5 years before a major upgrade. It should therefore be at least a little over-specced.

In the studio theatre itself I’m hoping for 10-gig networking. To the rest of the world it will likely be limited to 1-gig.

The things I am sure I want: some sort of IPMI access or equivalent. ECC memory. Plenty of PCI-E lanes. At least 2 NVME slots. Some SATA ports for OS/VM storage. I would prefer AMD Zen5, including EPYC but am not opposed to using Intel (especially if IPMI is Intel-specific).

It will probably be built in some sort of standard PC case, and I lean toward horizontal builds - something stackable would be ideal for simple future expansion (I love the Cooler Master HAF XB, for instance and I rock it at home.) Could possible be a 4u or something though, I’m not opposed.

Could I get some suggestions of motherboard/cpu combos I could look at? If I have to lean in any direction, efficiency will win in most contexts. The budget is decent, but, again, it doesn’t need to be top-spec, merely optimal-spec and expandable/upgradeable.

Welcome - I’m fairly new around here too. I built my first EPYC build using Milan not terribly long ago, so I’ll share my thoughts.

This server doesn’t have to be cutting-edge, merely reliable, adequate, easily serviceable and replaceable/upgradeable.

and then

I would prefer AMD Zen5, including EPYC

Strikes me as contradictory requirements here. If you need lots of PCIe Lanes, you’re looking HEDT or Server. That means you’re really only considering Threadripper or EPYC. A Zen5 preference means you’re on the cutting-edge.

Also keep in mind power and cooling demands for Zen5 EPYC - looking through the product stack there’s only a handful of SKUs at or below 200W TDP - maybe stick with the EPYC 9335 or lower? I mention that because you specifically mentioned heat and noise are also a primary concern. DDR5 RDIMMs can pull 10W a stick, so you’ll need to keep good, direct airflow over them as well.

You will need to consider total power envelope versus airflow versus noise - compromises are inevitable. Also, consider the breaker amperage limits in your work areas. Check and double-check total power available with this kind of deployment. What’s your UPS/power-loss plan for a system like this?

All good suggestions!

Power etc are in consideration, honest, we have to deal with lighting too so it’s all very familiar on that end.

ATM I am most interested in figuring out what I should be researching, so I will look at the EPYC 9335 as you have suggested. I was hoping for a low-power Zen5 device of some sort so that it will endure technologically for as long as possible - part of the remit is for it to be long-lasting so that we can grow into it and if we grow faster we have an upgrade path.

I know enough to know I don’t know enough and hence why I have asked for advice. :slight_smile: Thanks!