Thinking of using FreeNAS, will this setup work

[Ben Edwards]

Hi, I'me thinking of using FreeNAS at a small charity and wondering if the following setup will work (and have a few questions).

We have a Dell DC7700 1.8Ghz dual core PC which we can put 4GB of memory in. We will only 4 users (maybe 6 at some future time). Hopefully this is OK. We will mainly be storing documents and possibly some photos (not planing on using it for video). We will be using a 2TB drive for subsystem and files (I dont think the PC can take 2 drives).

We will be using windows clients (windows 7 but will probably be 10 soon). Wondering if it would work with XP (trying to avoid this my be good to know). Planing on using SAMBA.

We wish to have external access via VPN. Thinking of getting a Cicco RV42 router but could run VNS server on FreeNAS. Found references in FreeNAS documentation, does it work well/is it reactively east to set up. Not sure how this works in terms of wiring broadband router etc. Am I correct in thinking if I run VPN on FreeNAS box I would have to put it in DMZ, which makes me thing using the Ciso hardware may be better.

We also want to do offsite incremental backups (Apple timemachine style so we can go back easily to get previous version of files). Am running a second box offsite for this (possibly a laptop wit USB3 external drive). If there is a good FreeNAS plugin could use this otherwise was thinking of using Win7 and Genie8 Genuine timeline backup software.

Regards,
Ben

 

[SweetAndLow]

Didn't read past 4GB of RAM. So no this will not work and dell machines usually don't work out very well. Read the requirements and rules, 8GB minimum and 16GB recommended.

 

[zambanini]

ben, take the time and read the sticky posts in the forum. then you have the question for your answers. btw: serving data and only one drive: that is not smart. disks die.

 

[mattbbpl]

If you're locked into this hardware (and having worked with non-profits myself, I understand that you might be), FreeNAS isn't the solution you're looking for.

With those specs, you'll want something that uses a different file system (something like UFS/NTFS) and something with good hardware support for the Dell board you're using (you're probably looking at Windows, on this point).

Regardless, I'd definitely recommend a second drive for redundancy.

 

[gpsguy]

Thinking along the same lines of mattbbpl, what part of the world do you live in?

Here in the U.S. 501c3 charities can get fantastic pricing on Microsoft software. If you are interested - I can give you my reseller's contact info.


Sent from my phone

 

[Ben Edwards]

Didn't read past 4GB of RAM. So no this will not work and dell machines usually don't work out very well. Read the requirements and rules, 8GB minimum and 16GB recommended.

Wow, that brutal! Guess I will go for a simple Linux server. Why are the memory requirements so high?

 

[diedrichg]

Wow, that brutal! Guess I will go for a simple Linux server. Why are the memory requirements so high?

The ZFS file system

 

[Ben Edwards]

If you're locked into this hardware (and having worked with non-profits myself, I understand that you might be), FreeNAS isn't the solution you're looking for.

With those specs, you'll want something that uses a different file system (something like UFS/NTFS) and something with good hardware support for the Dell board you're using (you're probably looking at Windows, on this point).

Regardless, I'd definitely recommend a second drive for redundancy.

Thanks, probably go for Unubtu server. Will have to open up the box and see how to attach a second HD. Guess punting a SATA card in and using eSATA may be the only option.

Ben

 

[gpsguy]

Btw, the model number you gave us sounds like a HP. I believe I had one at work a long time ago.


Sent from my phone

 

[mattbbpl]

Thanks, probably go for Unubtu server. Will have to open up the box and see how to attach a second HD. Guess punting a SATA card in and using eSATA may be the only option.

Ben

Before you crack the sucker open, this may help you. Look at the last response. You'll just need to know/determine what type of D7700 it is. http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Busine...TA-ports/td-p/787021?notmigrated#.Va09QU10xoI