I want to build a proper server with room for 40+ HDDs to move my media server to and have RAID 1. I know a lot about PCs and software, but when it comes to server hardware I have no clue what I’m doing. How would I go about building a server that has access to 40+ RAID 1’d HDDs?
You could consider a couple of those SuperMicro server cases and link one as a JBOD via a SAS card… see things like https://www.servethehome.com/sas-expanders-diy-cheap-low-cost-jbod-enclosures-raid/ I picked up a 12bay CSE-826 with a SAS3 backplane and two 80 Platinum redundant power supplies for $300. I know you’d need a larger one, but eBay is a great place :-)