Question : Problem: Dell Powervault 224F need help

Hello everyone

I have a question I hope will be simple.

I currently have a dell 1550 1u rackmount server.

I am looking at buying a used Dell Powervault 224F

I have fedora core 3 loaded on the 1550 server.

What I would like to do is use the Powervault to do remote backups is this dependent on the server or software on the server or the Powervault can the powervault be used this way ?    I would like to create my own remote backup server for friends and myself to backup their computers data to my server remotely.


Thank You In advance

Answer : Problem: Dell Powervault 224F need help

>I am looking at buying a used Dell Powervault 224F

I would strongly advise **against** buying one of these. It is a Fibre Channel disc shelf (not SCSI) so you'll need FC Host Base Adapters (QLA2200F for example) and copper FC cables. It is a *minimum* of 3 years old. The box was probably used 24x7 in a data centre and you will likely start seeing disc failures. The PV660F was of dubious reliability when it was new, and it will be worse 3 years (or more) on.

The 224F was designed to be an expansion disc cabinet for the PV660F which is a system best avoided - especially second hand. Dell no longer support it and, last time I looked, none of the supporting software that made it work was available fro download.

This thing will be HEAPS more trouble than it is worth - especially when you could get a pair of SATA II 500GB drives for similar money. Don't touch it!!!!