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PowerMac G5 as a server? Good idea?

Here we go again!

After a long slow hold out (waiting for a cheap one to pop up), I've purchased a Sawtooth PowerMac G4 I found on craigslist for $30!

It came with:
400MHz G4 Processor
256MB RAM (soon to be upgraded)
80GB 7200rpm IDE HD

I'm still looking to use this thing as a File Server, so here are the changes/adjustments I am going to attempt to make in checklist form:

Install all updates in Software Update (to run 10.4.11) [Check]

Install the maximum amount of RAM (2GB) [ordering RAM soon]

Add 3-4 3.5" HDD's (and maybe 1 SSD for fast boot because I'm impatient) [after paycheck ]

Install a PCI SATA card to add more hard drives [CHECK]

Run a Ethernet cable from my office into a Gigabit Ethernet switch in the closet in my room [this weekend]

Make the server Desktop Remotely Accessible [CHECK]


Enable file sharing (for iTunes and Time Machine) [CHECK/Need another drive for TM]

Known/Current Issues:

My 250GB IDE HD is only seen as 127.81GB?
I know I've read about this issue before, what do I need to do to fix it? Is it even possible to fix?
 
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alexreich said:
If I want to use anything on the drive I have to reach through my desk to power it on, mount it, use it (for whatever), eject it, then power it off once I'm done with it to save overall life of the drive.
Click to expand...

Keeping drives running is actually not what harms the drives.... what kills a drive is the number of starts and stops.... basically spin-ups put a lot of stress on the drive, and the fewer you have,the better... if you want to save the drive's life, keep it ON, and don't let it spin down.

As has been mentioned G5s sadly use SATA-I. And any SATA-II or III drive MUST be jumpered (on WD drives, for example, the 5-6 pin must be shorted), or it won't even see the drive.

A G4 might be a better bet, as people have pointed out... they can take at least 4 HDDs, without expensive add-ons (well, okay... technically you'd need to buy $99+ SATA cards to use SATA drives... but for more than 2 drives on a G5 you'd need to buy an SATA card AND an expansion toolset which lets you use more drives...)

Also, no, that PCI card you listed won't work, it's PC-Only. You want to find one from OWC or Sonnet (www.sonnettech.com). They are unfortunately expensive.

Edit: To fix your 128 GB limit, you'd need to purchase an PCI ATA card. That'll allow you to address more than 128 GB, and would also give you more headroom for drives.... ATA/100 or 133 will let you run a lot faster than the ATA/66 on board, esp. if you're splitting between four drives.
 
+1 for the G4. I run a 4TB RAID in mine, working as a fileserver.
MacSince1990 said:
Also, no, that PCI card you listed won't work, it's PC-Only. You want to find one from OWC or Sonnet (www.sonnettech.com). They are unfortunately expensive.
Click to expand...
There is an easy way of turning generic PCI 2-port SATA controller into a Mac-compatible one.
FE6704F5-248B-42EA-B3CF-4040712E84FC.JPEG

If the controller runs Silicon Image's SiL 3512 chipset in most cases it can be force-flashed with WiebeTech's Mac firmware. I've had some trouble with flashing the card on the Mac, so I ended up in putting the card into a PC and flashing the Mac firmware from DOS.
I did it with two of them and they both work without any issues, one card having an uninterrupted uptime of more than 3 months now.
They do not boot, however, and also they do not show up in SATA section of System Profiler, but appear as two more IDE channels instead - otherwise no problems, just set up a RAID with the Disk Utility and you're clear to go.
 
MacSince1990 said:
As has been mentioned G5s sadly use SATA-I. And any SATA-II or III drive MUST be jumpered (on WD drives, for example, the 5-6 pin must be shorted), or it won't even see the drive.
Click to expand...

Just to note that this is not true for G5s/some G5s.
SATA 2.0 is backward compatible with SATA 1.0, and SATA 3.0 is also the same SATA interface. Jumpering is required only if there are negotiation interoperability issues, which will typically only affect SATA 3.0 drives on SATA 1.0 interfaces. Whether you have to jumper depends on your Mac and the SATA drive in question.
I have used numerous SATA 2.0 drives in Power Mac G5's without having to set any jumper.
 
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Hey Thread, stay on point.

Nameci said:
Guess so, I am just stating it... zen... cool down man.
Click to expand...
I agree with this man with the beautiful icon, Nameci. Zen and everybody else stop bashing G5's when a person asks how to maximize its potential, please stop telling them to buy other computers. Obviously, there are people who like to make the most of what they have available.
 
Why did you feel the need to revive a year old thread with a comment that isn't on the thread's topic?
 
I'll partake in this thread's resurrection.

I run a late 05 G5 as my home's file/itunes server. It has about 12TB in total attached and built in. It uses roughly 150W @ 120V at any given time. It's a monster. It does everything I need it to do without blinking, but if you're in a small area, I would go with the G4 because the G5 fans can get LOUD!
 
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