Many Questions about a ZFS Build.

[aCuria]

• Can I use ZFS over usb3? For example run a USB3 cable from a ZFS box to my Workstation for a faster connection than 1GBE

• I plan to start with 2x8TB in RAID-1, and add disks 2 at a time in the future. Is it better to use RAID 1 or RAID 10?

• What is the reccomended DDR4 RAM to get? (preferably available here: http://www.newegg.com/global/sg). On Newegg, there is only one stick listed as "Unbuffered", which is only 4GB http://www.newegg.com/global/sg/Pro...0242116&cm_re=DDR4_ECC-_-20-242-116-_-Product

• Can SATA-3 HDDs saturate a 1GBE connection? Would a 10GBE motherboard be worthwhile, and get a 10GBE switch in the future when prices come down?

• Is it ok to use these drives (External WD8TB), ripping out the internal drives over the WD-RED? They contain 5400RPM HGST 8TBs, and cost allot less than the REDs: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B6BN0Q2/?tag=ozlp-20

 

[Mirfster]

1. Not that I am aware of, but have not even tried personally... However, I am not thinking this is going to be as fast as assumed. Willing to be corrected though.
   
2. RaidZ1 is not really recommended, Mirrors are okay.
   
   • RaidZ2 is a very good balance.
     
   • However, all of this depends on your actual "Use-Case"... Is it just file storage, VM storage, you plan on using iSCSI, etc..
     
   • More details about what you plan on using it for would assist in us providing more tailored answers
3. Would depend on what MotherBoard you are using... Providing System Specs would help
4. Yes, If it is comparable in price... maybe.., Depends...
5. I think some others have done the same or similar thing, but I am not sure. Search the forums

 

[m0nkey_]

Can I use ZFS over usb3? For example run a USB3 cable from a ZFS box to my Workstation for a faster connection than 1GBE

Please don't do this. There are many examples in the forums where people have tried and failed. USB3 is not suitable for a ZFS array.

Can SATA-3 HDDs saturate a 1GBE connection? Would a 10GBE motherboard be worthwhile, and get a 10GBE switch in the future when prices come down?

Yes, you will be able to saturate GbE.

 

[aCuria]

1. Not that I am aware of, but have not even tried personally... However, I am not thinking this is going to be as fast as assumed. Willing to be corrected though.
   
2. RaidZ1 is not really recommended, Mirrors are okay.
   • RaidZ2 is a very good balance.
     
   • However, all of this depends on your actual "Use-Case"... Is it just file storage, VM storage, you plan on using iSCSI, etc..
     
   • More details about what you plan on using it for would assist in us providing more tailored answers
3. Would depend on what MotherBoard you are using... Providing System Specs would help
4. Yes, If it is comparable in price... maybe.., Depends...
5. I think some others have done the same or similar thing, but I am not sure. Search the forums

#1 hmm I'm wondering if there's a technical reason why this is not possible, can't think of one other than "not implemented yet"
#2 use case would be a file store (pictures, videos, documents), svn server, media server, backup server and maybe web hosting (I have a static ip)
#3 I'm thinking of the x11SSH-TF, or otherwise some other model in the X11 series

 

[Jailer]

#1 hmm I'm wondering if there's a technical reason why this is not possible

This has been answered in depth more than once on these forums. Search for posts from @jgreco and @cyberjock for more info.

 

[Mirfster]

Just to be clear, you are talking about trying to access FreeNAS shares via USB 3 and not actually having FreeNAS use hard drives that are connected via USB correct?

 

[aCuria]

That's right, internal HDDs in RAID-1 and USB3 for faster direct access to the NAS if needed. Quite a common feature in off the shelf NAS units

Just to be clear, you are talking about trying to access FreeNAS shares via USB 3 and not actually having FreeNAS use hard drives that are connected via USB correct?

 

[CraigD]

Maybe freeNAS is not for you, if you do choose to try freeNAS a lot a learning will need to be done

Sometimes the easiest solutions is the best

A mutli-bay DAS with some form of RAID, even maybe a preconfigured NAS is a better solution if web hosting

Either way, Have Fun

 

[aCuria]

Hm

Maybe freeNAS is not for you, if you do choose to try freeNAS a lot a learning will need to be done

Sometimes the easiest solutions is the best

A mutli-bay DAS with some form of RAID, even maybe a preconfigured NAS is a better solution if web hosting

Either way, Have Fun

Hmm I prefer to build my own hardware, have done it with desktops for many years hence the attraction to freenas. Pretty sure a 10GBe build is significantly cheaper diy though

 

[CraigD]

Hm

Hmm I prefer to build my own hardware, have done it with desktops for many years hence the attraction to freenas. Pretty sure a 10GBe build is significantly cheaper diy though

Building is better than pre-made systems every day of the week

The more you learn about freeNAS the more you will like it

Start with @cyberjock introduction it is great https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ning-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/

I also loved this: https://www.familybrown.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=fester:intro

 

[Mirfster]

That's right, internal HDDs in RAID-1 and USB3 for faster direct access to the NAS if needed. Quite a common feature in off the shelf NAS units

Yeah, I understand you now. As far as I know there is not a way to connect in that manner. Might be a good thing to have, but not too sure it is something the devs are willing to consider.

You could do something like toss in a 10GB NIC in the FreeNAS Server and one in your PC; then direct connect them.

Just keep in mind that connection speed alone is not everything. Performance is dependent on your hardware, vDevs, Drives, etc. as well.

 

[aCuria]

Hmm I didn't think about direct connecting 10G NICs.

What board would be good for 10G capable workstations? There is no X11 motherboard with x16 PCIE, M.2 slots and 10GBE together...

What kind of setup is needed to benefit from a 10G NIC over a 1G NIC? ( eg: performance > 3G )

Teaming is possible on FreeNAS right? (Eg: 2/4 lan cables running in parallel to a 2/4 ports router.

 

[Mirfster]

Don't need a new motherboard as long as you have available PCIe slots. Just grab some Intel NICS and put one in the Server and one in your workstation.

As far as teaming, it is not gong to go the way you think so I would avoid that for now.

Again, keep in mind that speed depends on more than just the connection.

 

[Stux]

This has been answered in depth more than once on these forums. Search for posts from @jgreco and @cyberjock for more info.

There is a difference between mounting usb drives to make a vdev, and accessing a NAS via USB.

I'd like to use iscsi via thunderbolt networking, but I don't think that is implemented either

The compromise I came up with was to go with 10gbe instead.

 

[aCuria]

Im interested in accessing a NAS via USB. Using external drives. Mounting USB drives for use as a vdev sounds like a terrible idea

 

[aCuria]

Don't need a new motherboard as long as you have available PCIe slots. Just grab some Intel NICS and put one in the Server and one in your workstation.

As far as teaming, it is not gong to go the way you think so I would avoid that for now.

Again, keep in mind that speed depends on more than just the connection.

I have to build a new workstation anyway hence the question. Those Intel NICs are expensive:

10GBE NIC: $300
https://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16833106044

10GBE mobo: $350
https://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16813182992

 

[Stux]

Im interested in accessing a NAS via USB. Using external drives. Mounting USB drives for use as a vdev sounds like a terrible idea

I don't think that capability is implemented.

 

[Mirfster]

Check eBay and search the forums for "10 GB Primer". Sorry on cell so not providing full answers.

 

[danb35]

Im interested in accessing a NAS via USB.

That's not a NAS, that's a DAS. FreeNAS doesn't do that. As @Mirfster suggested, 10GB Ethernet would be a high-bandwidth way to make the connection, and need not be terribly expensive. Here's the thread he mentioned.

Edit: Even if FreeNAS had the code to do this (which it doesn't), which computers have USB device ports? It isn't a valid configuration to plug a USB host into another USB host. There are probably cards out there that would add such a port, though I'm not finding any with a quick search. But I've never seen a standard computer motherboard that included one.

 

[ChriZ]

I think he meant he needs to plug an external usb 3.0 disk and transfer data from NAS.
Either way, I haven't seen many usb disks tranferring faster than 100MB/s, so even the 1G network is better.