SirLars
Cadet
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2012
- Messages
- 5
Hi, I am looking to build a FreeNAS system for a media server for the house.
I am not a total n00b when dealing with networks or linux but I have never used a NAS or RAID. So I have a few questions....
Currently I am using an old computer with Windows Server and it started out with a 500gb drive for the OS/programs and a 1.5 Tb drive for the media. It adds files by bit-torrent/RSS via u-torrent. I also connect via remote desktop to start torrents or rip my dvds, blu-rays. When that drive filled up I added a portable 1.5Tb drive, when it filled I added a 2tb, when it filled another 2tb... now it is slow to transfer files and the boxee and xbmc hang for a long time when trying to update folders etc.
So I wanted to build a new "always on" FreeNAS server and migrate all the data to it that will have lots of room for storage and be upgradeable.
I need about 6 Tb storage now, so I was planning on building the NAS with;
motherboard with onboard RAID and 6 sata3 ports.
triple core 2.8 processor
8GB 1600mhz ram
using flash drive for OS. (to keep all the sata ports for raid storage)
and several 3Tb sata drives in raid.
My plan is to use the FreeNAS as my main storage server and have windows (or a light linux) in a virtual machine to remote desktop into and handle my bit-torrents that auto-download through u-torrent and RSS and in the near future I will have a windows media (or LinuxMCE / Myth box) capturing HD tv from satellite receiver ripping to the NAS as well.
First, will running the OS off the flash drive be ok, or will performance suffer. If necessary I can use a sata port for an SSD, but would rather not give up the 2.75 Tb storage in losing a sata port.
Second as money is a finite resource, I wanted to start with 3 or 4 - 3tb sata hdds, and then add drives as needed. Is it possible to add drives without a way to externally backup the data? It is nearly half the price to start with 3 drives as opposed to 6.
Now if it's possible to "re-image" the server when adding the drives and it's just down for a 1/2 a day or so while it does that... I can live with that... but I don't/wont have 8Tb external storage to back up the array to add new drives, rebuild array and copy backup back.
Any recommendations?
I am not a total n00b when dealing with networks or linux but I have never used a NAS or RAID. So I have a few questions....
Currently I am using an old computer with Windows Server and it started out with a 500gb drive for the OS/programs and a 1.5 Tb drive for the media. It adds files by bit-torrent/RSS via u-torrent. I also connect via remote desktop to start torrents or rip my dvds, blu-rays. When that drive filled up I added a portable 1.5Tb drive, when it filled I added a 2tb, when it filled another 2tb... now it is slow to transfer files and the boxee and xbmc hang for a long time when trying to update folders etc.
So I wanted to build a new "always on" FreeNAS server and migrate all the data to it that will have lots of room for storage and be upgradeable.
I need about 6 Tb storage now, so I was planning on building the NAS with;
motherboard with onboard RAID and 6 sata3 ports.
triple core 2.8 processor
8GB 1600mhz ram
using flash drive for OS. (to keep all the sata ports for raid storage)
and several 3Tb sata drives in raid.
My plan is to use the FreeNAS as my main storage server and have windows (or a light linux) in a virtual machine to remote desktop into and handle my bit-torrents that auto-download through u-torrent and RSS and in the near future I will have a windows media (or LinuxMCE / Myth box) capturing HD tv from satellite receiver ripping to the NAS as well.
First, will running the OS off the flash drive be ok, or will performance suffer. If necessary I can use a sata port for an SSD, but would rather not give up the 2.75 Tb storage in losing a sata port.
Second as money is a finite resource, I wanted to start with 3 or 4 - 3tb sata hdds, and then add drives as needed. Is it possible to add drives without a way to externally backup the data? It is nearly half the price to start with 3 drives as opposed to 6.
Now if it's possible to "re-image" the server when adding the drives and it's just down for a 1/2 a day or so while it does that... I can live with that... but I don't/wont have 8Tb external storage to back up the array to add new drives, rebuild array and copy backup back.
Any recommendations?