BUILD Advise on Setting up a FreeNAS box

[piracyx]

Hi everyone. I have been active on the forums but only registered today to join in and discuss and now I have a few questions to ask the pros!

First off I have already been running a FreeNAS test build for a couple of weeks in the following config:

HP DC7900 SFF with 4 sata ports
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66ghz E7300
4GB PC6400 1x4GB Non ECC
Intel NIC 82567LM-3 Gigabit
750GB HDD Single disk

I now want to continue using FreeNAS but on a larger scale as this current box can only fit 3x 3.5" HDDs inside but can infact connect 4 with no way to mount the 4th drive except outside or open. I have 8x 2TBs Samsung HDDs from my desktop and uncle all about 3 years old and all work fine.

I plan on using existing components I already have so can't really afford new drives at this time.

Cheap Micro ATX case
Asus P5Q Deluxe w/8xSATA ports total
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93ghz E7500 or Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66ghz
4GB PC6400 1x4GB Non ECC (I only have DDR2 memory in 1GB sticks and only 4 slots :( )
6x 2TB Samsung HD204UI | 2x 2TB 2TB HD203WI all in RAIDZ2 12TB
500w PSU (My uncles PSU so not sure what brand yet)
2x Gigabit Marvell 88E8056/88E8001 LAN

This setup will mainly be used by 3 users mainly myself for storing all our media. I want to install the plex server aswell to work for the samsung blu-ray player. I know the memory is going to a issue on the size of the array.

The only thing I'm willing to buy is a new case for it to be installed in. I'm looking for the smallest possible ATX case which can fit 8+ HDDs and be very quiet as it's going to sit behind the TV media cabinet in the living room. Cases i've looked at;

Coolermaster Silencio 452 Black Silent Mid Tower
Coolermaster N300 Black Mid Tower
Fractual Design Define R4 Black Pearl Mid Tower

If anyone can give me any advise or hardware recommendations that would be great :)

 

[Whattteva]

With those specs, I would probably steer clear from FreeNAS cause it's not really an OS meant for half assing.
You could probably look into something like Zentyal Linux though.

 

[piracyx]

With those specs, I would probably steer clear from FreeNAS cause it's not really an OS meant for half assing.
You could probably look into something like Zentyal Linux though.

I don't understand what you mean by that. Apart from low RAM I think all these components are very capable of running FreeNAS. This is only a home storage and I guess I could always look into legacy UFS.

Not heard of Zentyal Linux before so could trial that.

Another option was installing Windows 8.1 and using Storage Spaces but the parity writes are awful!

 

[Whattteva]

Low RAM is a huge concern because if you are using ZFS, you will run into all sorts of stability issues.
Of course, you can always go into UFS, but that is no longer supported.
I guess, if you are still hell-bent on doing it, then more power to you.
Personally, I think using something that is no longer supported is an immediate downer for me.

 

[cyberjock]

Whattteva is basically on the right track (imo).

You can use UFS with your hardware, but as no more FreeNAS releases will have UFS, you're basically going to install the first (and last version) of FreeNAS you will ever use. Big mistake if there are later known security vulnerabilities in FreeNAS.

So Whattteva is right, either you need to stop and look at another OS or basically continue with trying to setup FreeNAS for your function but realize you are deliberately stabbing yourself in the foot every single day for as long as you use FreeNAS.

And choosing to use ZFS is just plain silly and asking to lose your data.

 

[piracyx]

Thank you both for your helpful responses.

Are we just talking about lack of RAM here and nothing else? I'm not going to pour money into this system as its not worth it. If I could source cheap ddr2 ram great but its expensive as hell.

Just because its no longer supported doesn't mean its bad as people use older components to use as a NAS or whatever. I don't have server grade components at my disposal else I would use them.

Using Win8.1 was the choice but parity writing is really bad unlike FreeNAS

 

[Dennis K.]

FreeNAS is designed to be used with ZFS. ZFS needs a minimum amount om RAM, depending on your setup. That RAM needs also be ECC RAM. ECC RAM is only supported by subset of mainboards and CPUs

Not to be rude or something, but you might be better of with alternatives to FreeNAS like http://www.openmediavault.org/ for example.

 

[malcolmputer]

And choosing to use ZFS is just plain silly and asking to lose your data.

I am going to quote this typo for a very long time.

 

[Whattteva]

I am going to quote this typo for a very long time.

I don't think that's a typo. It just wasn't clarified.
I think what Cyberjock meant was that using ZFS WITH low RAM is just plain silly.

 

[malcolmputer]

I

I don't think that's a typo. It just wasn't clarified.
I think what Cyberjock meant was that using ZFS WITH low RAM is just plain silly.

I thought he meant UFS was silly and dangerous.

 

[cyberjock]

Yeah, should have clarified that with the quantity of RAM being discussed in this thread it's just asking the server gods to smite your data.