I recently inherited a Dell PowerEdge R540 server. I'm not completely sure how old it is, but I know it still functions well. I'm considering deploying the Veeam Hardened Repository ISO on it, with plans to install large 3.5" disks, totaling around 70TB, and possibly add more RAM. My question is: do you think it's worth the effort to set this up?
5 Answers
2017 is the release year for the R540, so it's relatively recent. If your budget is tight and your organization often struggles to approve new gear, this could be a solid plan. Parts are also abundant online if anything fails. However, if your organization has the budget for supported hardware, they might lean towards a newer server.
There's definitely still some life left in the PowerEdge R540! If you're using it for a home lab or small business, I'd say go for it! But if it's for production, you might want to think twice. You wouldn't want to face scrutiny if something goes wrong with a server that's out of warranty.
You should definitely check the Dell support site with the service tag. It'll give you a better understanding of the server's age, original parts, and warranty info. That will help you make a more informed decision.
We've been using a Dell R730 for a similar setup and it works like a charm. We configured it as a Veeam hardened repo, isolating it from the network to keep it secure. Just a tip - keep a spare disk handy in case of failures. We had a ransomware attack, but our backups were untouched. So, if budget allows, it's a great solution, but any backup is better than none!
In theory, the Veeam setup should work fine on your R540, especially if it can run Rocky Linux. Just make sure to check the Veeam knowledge base for compatibility as there might be a specific list of supported hardware. Worst case, you could set up Linux as a Hardened Repository independently.
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