[Performance issues] Can I downgrade from 9.1 to 8.3.1?

[Frederico]

Hello everyone,

I just setup my first home NAS and could use some help. I'm running FreeNAS-9.1.0-RELEASE-x64.
First of all, this is my machine config:
- Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz
- 2 Gb RAM
- 1x 4Tb HD (yes, just one for now)

I got a CIFS share but when I try browsing the folders on Windows (or even on my mac), performance is very bad - it takes several seconds for the contents of the folders to appear.

While doing my research, I found a thread in these forums saying that this performance issue might be because of my crappy CPU, and it recommended using version 8 instead because it's lighter.

Question #1: With this machine, should I be having performance issues running v9? Should I use v8?

Question #2: If yes, can I downgrade or will I have to reformat my HD and copy everything again?

Question #3: I'm only using 1 HD at the moment but I plan of installing another one later on and have it as a mirror. Is that possible?

Question #4: What should be my priority in terms of upgrading this hardware? Getting more RAM first or a better CPU?

Thanks in advance!

 

[gpsguy]

You probably overlooked the RAM requirements.

If you're doing ZFS, you'll need at least 8Gb of RAM (see the doc's). And, with less than 4Gb of usable RAM, pre-fetching (caching) will be disabled.

2 Gb RAM

 

[Frederico]

So, if I upgrade to 8Gb, will my performance issues be fixed?

 

[cyberjock]

It will be "better". How much better depends on alot of factors(and your definition of "fixed"). Some people would be happy with 20MB/sec. Others won't take less than 60MB/sec.

I wouldn't expect more than 20MB/sec under ideal circumstances because of the age of the CPU.

 

[cyberjock]

Question #4: What should be my priority in terms of upgrading this hardware? Getting more RAM first or a better CPU?

What you really need is both. And when I say a better CPU, I mean something that is an i3/5/7/xeon(which kind of means a whole new machine). Pre Core-i3-5-7 stuff is very obsolete and limited to 8GB of RAM tops. You really should be looking at 8GB as the bare minimum with opportunity to go higher if needed.

 

[russnas]

If I was you, I would try get some free ram or borrow some, reach 8gb and see if that would improve, since your going to have 8tb mirror your setup should be alright,
Try that before you spend any money on it,

What's your cpu? I have a g2020 which is equivalent to a duo e8400 excluding memory spec, so anything lower is not ideal

If you want to upgrade, buy a 1155 supermicro board, sandybridge-ivy supported which will give you more space to increase storage

 

[William Grzybowski]

If your issue is the folder taking several seconds to appear your problem is probably something else. There a several subjects about this in the forum and in the internet.

 

[Frederico]

Would changing to a UFS filesystem instead of ZFS improve my system's performance due to my RAM limitation? I thought the whole point of this DYI home NAS solution was to use an old computer you had lying around and not spend money buying a new computer... now I'm reading at least 8gb of RAM, server grade HW with ECC and etc. I mean, I'm running a home NAS that holds some movies and music, not a database for a bank... :(

 

[diedrichg]

Question #1: With this machine, should I be having performance issues running v9? Should I use v8?

Question #2: If yes, can I downgrade or will I have to reformat my HD and copy everything again?

If you followed the docs upgrade page to the T and thus upgraded your ZFS pool to the new version ("Upgrading a ZFS Pool" paragraph), then no, you can't downgrade because 8.x can't read the new zfs version. You would need to backup externally, reinstall to 8.x and then recreate your pools and then copy all your data back over.