Question about server hard drives
-
I'm crap with titles, sorry.
I was wondering something about using Dell drives from older Dell PowerEdge servers and using them in new servers. Does it really matter at all? Is it ok to mix different server drives with different servers? I ask this because when I shop for server hdd/sdd replacements online (xbyte, servermonkey, dell), you have to choose the server make/model and then select your drives from what's available based on that.
The only thing I can think is that maybe it's a firmware thing that provides extra support with that particular server or something?
Basically I want to order a new R640 rack but I already have a pile of SAS drives from older servers which are in great condition. I would use them if it's ok, otherwise I will have to purchase drives with the new server.
Anyone know?
-
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
-
In most servers of this type, drives don't even connect to servers, they connect to RAID controllers. So what would potentially matter is the drive and the RAID card, not the drive and the server.
-
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
Newer Dell servers are far less picky about that firmware. We frequently order cheap drives from Amazon that work fine in 12th and 13th generation machines.
edit: the hot swap trays might be different, watch for that.
-
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
Right and I get that. I'm just not really clear on if it's ok to use, for example, a mix of older drives from PowerVault MD and R720 servers with a new R640.
-
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
Right and I get that. I'm just not really clear on if it's ok to use, for example, a mix of older drives from PowerVault MD and R720 servers with a new R640.
It's fine, because the drives aren't really "from" those servers. They are just drives.
-
@scottalanmiller said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
Right and I get that. I'm just not really clear on if it's ok to use, for example, a mix of older drives from PowerVault MD and R720 servers with a new R640.
It's fine, because the drives aren't really "from" those servers. They are just drives.
I know they aren't actually "from those servers", but they are listed as choices under those servers, as stated in my original post. If I want to replace a drive from the R720, I have to specify that when purchasing. I just wanted to know why it was like this. Is it just to help corral customers or is there actually some level of compatibility or something involved?
-
@rojoloco said in Question about server hard drives:
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
Newer Dell servers are far less picky about that firmware. We frequently order cheap drives from Amazon that work fine in 12th and 13th generation machines.
edit: the hot swap trays might be different, watch for that.
There are a lot of things that "work fine", that shouldn't be done, or done sparingly. Things tend to work fine until they don't.
-
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
@rojoloco said in Question about server hard drives:
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
Newer Dell servers are far less picky about that firmware. We frequently order cheap drives from Amazon that work fine in 12th and 13th generation machines.
edit: the hot swap trays might be different, watch for that.
There are a lot of things that "work fine", that shouldn't be done, or done sparingly. Things tend to work fine until they don't.
Yeah, trays I can understand.. lol
-
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@scottalanmiller said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@obsolesce said in Question about server hard drives:
The important part is that they are enterprise drives, that they have the Dell firmware in them.
Right and I get that. I'm just not really clear on if it's ok to use, for example, a mix of older drives from PowerVault MD and R720 servers with a new R640.
It's fine, because the drives aren't really "from" those servers. They are just drives.
I know they aren't actually "from those servers", but they are listed as choices under those servers, as stated in my original post. If I want to replace a drive from the R720, I have to specify that when purchasing. I just wanted to know why it was like this. Is it just to help corral customers or is there actually some level of compatibility or something involved?
This is just a guess, but may have to do with server specific HCLs or it may have to do with marketing.
-
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
I know they aren't actually "from those servers", but they are listed as choices under those servers....
Right, but presumably you aren't attaching them to your server, but to a RAID card, right?
-
@scottalanmiller said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
I know they aren't actually "from those servers", but they are listed as choices under those servers....
Right, but presumably you aren't attaching them to your server, but to a RAID card, right?
Right. I did also consider that so I didn't think it would matter since it's not directly connecting to the server, but then I considered that maybe there was some firmware that had to do with the motherboard of the server, and thus would still indirectly be tied to that model (or range of models).
-
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@scottalanmiller said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
I know they aren't actually "from those servers", but they are listed as choices under those servers....
Right, but presumably you aren't attaching them to your server, but to a RAID card, right?
Right. I did also consider that so I didn't think it would matter since it's not directly connecting to the server, but then I considered that maybe there was some firmware that had to do with the motherboard of the server, and thus would still indirectly be tied to that model (or range of models).
I wouldn't put it past most vendors to pull such stunts. I've never had an issue running any sort of drives in a Dell, including those I really shouldn't have been (REDs and Seagate NAS).
-
@travisdh1 said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@scottalanmiller said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
I know they aren't actually "from those servers", but they are listed as choices under those servers....
Right, but presumably you aren't attaching them to your server, but to a RAID card, right?
Right. I did also consider that so I didn't think it would matter since it's not directly connecting to the server, but then I considered that maybe there was some firmware that had to do with the motherboard of the server, and thus would still indirectly be tied to that model (or range of models).
I wouldn't put it past most vendors to pull such stunts. I've never had an issue running any sort of drives in a Dell, including those I really shouldn't have been (REDs and Seagate NAS).
Yeah and now that I think of it, I believe one of these relevant things is that if you use non-Dell drives, the LED wont blink on predicted failure, or something along those lines.
-
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@travisdh1 said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@scottalanmiller said in Question about server hard drives:
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
I know they aren't actually "from those servers", but they are listed as choices under those servers....
Right, but presumably you aren't attaching them to your server, but to a RAID card, right?
Right. I did also consider that so I didn't think it would matter since it's not directly connecting to the server, but then I considered that maybe there was some firmware that had to do with the motherboard of the server, and thus would still indirectly be tied to that model (or range of models).
I wouldn't put it past most vendors to pull such stunts. I've never had an issue running any sort of drives in a Dell, including those I really shouldn't have been (REDs and Seagate NAS).
Yeah and now that I think of it, I believe one of these relevant things is that if you use non-Dell drives, the LED wont blink on predicted failure, or something along those lines.
Right, if not similar reasoning in that no Dell firmware means less diag/monitoring/etc will work with Dell's stuff, like iDRAC, OMSA, or their RAID cards and such.
-
We make you specify the server model, so we can include the correct tray.
-
@bradfromxbyte said in Question about server hard drives:
We make you specify the server model, so we can include the correct tray.
Because @BradfromxByte is awesome.
-
Your old SAS drives should work. Just need 14th generation trays.
-
@bradfromxbyte said in Question about server hard drives:
We make you specify the server model, so we can include the correct tray.
If that's the only reason, I'd think it would be better to just let someone choose the drive they want (interface/speed/capacity) first and then at the end, choose the type of server it will go with.
-
@dave247 said in Question about server hard drives:
@bradfromxbyte said in Question about server hard drives:
We make you specify the server model, so we can include the correct tray.
If that's the only reason, I'd think it would be better to just let someone choose the drive they want (interface/speed/capacity) first and then at the end, choose the type of server it will go with.
When ordering from xByte, just email them what you want. Then the order or process is whatever you like.
