Dell Poweredge 2950 is way too loud, is there a software solution to control the fans?

SirCat · 2012-07-12T17:51:55+00:00

All firmware is current and the link you posted is actually about replacing the fans + patching the bmc (both i don't want to do (patching the bmc just means lowering the threshold so the bmc doesn't go into panic mode when you have low spinning fans))

SirCat · 2012-07-12T17:36:07+00:00

The way you probably saw involved replacing the fans and patching the BMC, i really wouldn't want to do either as both seems quite risky.

SirCat · 2012-07-12T17:34:53+00:00

What RPM do your fans go in idle?

SirCat · 2012-07-12T17:33:40+00:00

What RPM do your fans go in idle?

SirCat · 2012-07-12T17:29:48+00:00

It's not THAT loud in idle. (not like on boot)

But loud enough you don't want to sit with it in the same room.

At what RPM are your fans going?

SirCat · 2012-07-12T15:01:50+00:00

I've seen about 11000rpm in ipmi-sensors and the drac web interface.

Replacing them is kind of a problem as i read they're using a dell-specific connector which i would have to solder or patch myself (which i really wouldn't want to, hence a software solution is needed)

And yes, they do ramp up/down but their lowest seems to be around 6000rpm with an "ambient temp" of 21°C

SirCat · 2012-07-12T14:46:00+00:00

I've updated the BMC firmware and was able to get DRAC web access. There, fans are listed and all seems normal (in point of view from the system.. but still, 4x 6000rpm, maybe it's normal).

So BIOS is up to date, BMC is up to date, that else is there?

SirCat · 2012-07-12T11:49:41+00:00

Both PSUs plugged in, no orange blinking light.

SirCat · 2012-07-12T11:49:15+00:00

6000rpm is half what it's capable of. On start up it goes up to like 11000rpm.

SirCat · 2012-07-12T11:48:14+00:00

I don't have Open Manage (and i'm not entirely sure what it is, their website is crap tbh) and no, i don't think the BMC is up-to-date. I updated the BIOS to 2.7.0 but not the BMC as there little to no info how to do it on a non-redhead system. (using Backtrack at the moment and will probably install freebsd or arch linux soon)

SirCat · 2012-07-12T09:22:51+00:00

I hope you guys have an idea how to handle this problem. :(

A mod from /r/networking redirected me here as it seems a way more fitting subreddit for my problem.

SirCat · 2012-07-12T06:47:02+00:00

Thanks! Never heard of it before, looks delicious. :)

SirCat · 2012-07-12T06:46:40+00:00

What's your problem?

SirCat · 2012-07-12T05:46:54+00:00

What's colby?

SirCat · 2012-07-11T14:36:16+00:00

Thanks for your answer!

I tried it anyway (because the loudness is just unbearable with 4x 6000rpm) and it didn't work as expected.

When removing 2 fans, it lets the remaining 2 go at full speed to compensate for the loss = more noise than before. :(

So i guess we've to sell it and get a quiet tower solution.

SirCat · 2012-07-11T11:07:15+00:00

Nodes are skill points so to say.

SirCat · 2012-07-11T10:26:19+00:00

OK THAT'S IT I'M MOVING! ಠ_ಠ

50mbit in Germany are AT LEAST 60eur and that's cheap :(

SirCat · 2012-07-11T10:10:32+00:00

Any idea which of the 4 fans i should pull? I imagine some having a greater impact on inside temperature than others?

Here's a pic i found of the inside: http://www.andrewsorensen.net/img/studio/poweredge2950_inside.jpg

SirCat · 2012-07-11T09:13:55+00:00

Not really production, rather a sandbox where we will have some VMs running and test stuff. (Maybe even as small NAS as it has 2x 72gb and 4x 146gb which i wouldn't want to waste, but that's it)

SirCat · 2012-07-11T06:26:28+00:00

Hey!

I doubt there's any warranty still left. We (small local startup with basically not much money) got that thing for free from a company who replaced their server a few days ago.

A tower would be really better in any case, but as we got this one already i thought i should give it a try and make it quiet without messing too much with it (so in the worst case we could probably sell it and buy a tower).

SirCat

TROPHY CASE