Was just given a server

[Mestropil]

Hello, my neighbor just gave me a 400 Mhz digital server, and though he's not actually handed it to me and I dont have every detail about it on hand. Im inquiring in several places trying to educate myself to see whats in store for me. I have been told its a SCSI, it has 7 hard drives all 9 gigs each and that its equipped with a RAID controller. Im going to be using this to network 4 computers together for a music company. My question is, in this server, I have 7 drives but they are not as large as I need. With this type of server, can I just go out and by larger drives to install in it? If so, do they have to be a special kind of hard drive? Next question is, if I bought a Maxtor OneTouch 300.0 GB External FireWire and USB 2.0 Hard Drive, does this work? Downsides to having external drives? I need to increase the size of the hard drives in this server. Recommendations for a system going to be used by DJ's? In addition to that, he gave me a CENTRCOM 3612TR 10BaseT Hub and two functional computers, both of them also only having 9 gig hard drives in them.

[Mestropil]

Thought more info might be useful. My goal is to use the server for music storage. With 2 (main PC's) using music playing software to DJ with. If each of the drives in the server ar eonly 9 gigs each. Thats 54 gigs and is alot of space for simple MP3 files, but believe it or not, not enough. My goal is to remove the music from my PC's to free up space in them. My confusion at this point is. I have a friend whose an admin at a major site, speaking to him online, he says with this type of server I'll pay through the nose to upgrade the drives, saying the cost of the drives for SCSI is going to be expensive. I see reasonable hard drives at bestbuy and the prices are fair, but is he saying that I cant use the standard store bought drives for this server? also in the same conversation, others in the chat room were telling me. If I opted to go with a 300 gig external like the one I stated above, that there would be a delay in getting data. I could use a professional opinion on that, cause doing music live in front of an audience, I need there to be no lag or hiccups in the music played, or that could be embarassing. Details on the 300 gig external are. 2MB cache buffer, 5400 RPM spindle speed for fast read/write capabilities, firewire maximum data transfer rate up to 400 Mbps, USB 2.0 maximum data transfer rate up to 480 mbps, Just press one button to make back up copies of files, flexible hot-swappable add-on storage for home or office, automated backup with dantz retrospect express software. Will using something like this as more space, cause me more difficulties in this line of work or no?

[gunderstone]

There is really no cut and dry answer here.

A 300 gig external drive with a 2MB cache buffer, 5400 RPM spindle speed for fast read/write capabilities is not a better way to go when considering a 7200 RPM drive with an 8MB buffer.

Also, while a firewire setup can have a maximum data transfer rate up to 400 Mbps and USB 2.0 maximum data transfer rate up to 480 mbps you need to verify that this old system (yep 400MHz is old) can handle those external soruces at those speeds.

You're almost better with two internal IDE drives (as SATA are not going to be found in that system) striped with what you're trying to do here

[Mestropil]

Thanks for the speedy reply. Yesterday I spent the majority of the evening in Yahoo computer chat rooms and got quite a bit of advice there also. Im beginning to wonder if using this server for this purpose is rather pointless. Im probably better off just upgrading two PC's for my use. You know what they say, if its free, its good. But usually means, its old and handed down. Generally Im getting feedback that says, its easier to increase my hard drive space of my PC's, than it is to upgrade this old server. Which, is an alright thing to. At least, I have the server to back up the music while I upgrade these internal drives in the PC's. Thus not a loss and still a good thing. Thank you very much for your help.

Alright, so I have these 5 extra 9 gig hard drives for this server. Someone suggested I get an external rack? and put them to use to increase the space of the server. Think you could give me an idea of how expensive that should be? When I go talking to someone to do, I dont want to get taken.