Finalized Server Upgrade

[djdwosk97]

I think I've finally decided what I'm going to be doing. My plan is to upgrade my G3250+H81 board+8gb of memory to an Skylake setup. I've been trying to decide whether to go with the X11SSL-O or the X11SSM-O (or -F). From what I understand the SSL supports 6 sata ports while the SSM supports 8 sata ports (while -F adds IPMI). I don't see myself ever really needing IPMI, but the option may arise and for only $10 more on the SSM I would consider it. Are there any other difference I might have missed? And are there any cheaper places to buy either board from? Right now I'm looking at $170 for the SSL-O, $200 for the SSM-O, and $210 for the SSM-F-O all from Newegg.

I already have a sata controller card (Syba Si-PEX 40064 giving me an additional 4 sata ports), and I can't imagine needing more than 9/10 sata ports as it is I only really have three drives -- and in the future I would be planning on adding 8tb Seagate archival drives. So I really can't see a need for more than 9/10 sata ports, and as such I'm leaning more towards the SSL-O, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't overlook anything important.

Does FreeNAS check the integrity of the boot drive in case I decide to use my old hard drive as the boot drive since FreeNAS doesn't supports USB booting on Skylake.

P.s. here's the memory I was going to get, I just wanted to double check that it would be compatible.
16gb memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148855

P.p.s. I'm hesitant to get a UPS as I'm afraid to put a battery in the location where my server is, so what would be the likely outcome of a power failure (keeping in mind that I'll be using the server for permanent backup and media storage).

 

[tvsjr]

Why are you worried about a UPS? You realize there's a better chance of a laptop or phone with a LiIon battery catching fire than a UPS battery with an old-school SLA.

 

[Dice]

Does FreeNAS check the integrity of the boot drive

As far as I've understood, the bootdrives runs ZFS too. If you use 2 drives for mirror, where one is slightly more dodgy than the other - you are thinking along the lines I myself will be attempting soon (until I found something that speaks strongly against it).

(-Is it meaningful to scrub the boot drives? can it be done?)

 

[djdwosk97]

Why are you worried about a UPS? You realize there's a better chance of a laptop or phone with a LiIon battery catching fire than a UPS battery with an old-school SLA.

Well, yes and no. The UPS would be in a precariously flammable position whereas a laptop would not be. Don't ask why, but that's where the server has to be.

Alright, well, my plan is this:
i3-6100, X11SSL-O, 16gb RAM (linked above), and a 120gb Adata SP550 for the boot drive.
I would just like to double check that the RAM is in fact compatible.
Also, do usb keyboards not work with FreeNAS either (has that been shown or is it still speculation?)? I don't have any other way of interfacing with the server other than a USB keyboard (unless of course I go the X11SM-F-O route and use IPMI).

P.s. how would I setup the server and/or my desktop (windows 7) to control my server over IPMI? Do I just connect the IPMI port to my router and....?

 

[Dice]

of course I go the X11SM-F-O route and use IPMI

;)

 

[Ericloewe]

Also, do usb keyboards not work with FreeNAS either

Possibly. IPMI is said to work properly, though.

 

[djdwosk97]

Possibly. IPMI is said to work properly, though.

How would I set and configure up IPMI? and any guesses as to the RAMs compatibility and/or if there are any other unforseen issues with Skylake and FreeNAS 9.3 (when would you be willing to jump on board Skylake).

Also, what would be the best process for installing freenas on a new SSD and setting up FreeNAS again with my current drive/storage/settings?

 

[Ericloewe]

nd any guesses as to the RAMs compatibility

That RAM is registered. Definitely will not work. You need unbuffered. I recommend you check out the QVL for the board and get something that's in there.

How would I set and configure up IPMI?

You don't, you just log in to the IP address the BIOS tells you (or you grab off your DHCPserver). Just don't forget to change the login credentials.

or if there are any other unforseen issues with Skylake and FreeNAS 9.3

Well, they're unforeseen, so I wouldn't know about them. :p
I am going to be assembling a new server with an X11SSM-F in February, so I expect to have some preliminary data by the end of that month (maybe sooner, depending on how well everything goes).

Also, what would be the best process for installing freenas on a new SSD and setting up FreeNAS again with my current drive/storage/settings?

Backup config, install FreeNAS on the SSD, move pool over to the new server, upload the config.

 

[djdwosk97]

That RAM is registered. Definitely will not work. You need unbuffered. I recommend you check out the QVL for the board and get something that's in there.


You don't, you just log in to the IP address the BIOS tells you (or you grab off your DHCPserver). Just don't forget to change the login credentials.


Well, they're unforeseen, so I wouldn't know about them. :p
I am going to be assembling a new server with an X11SSM-F in February, so I expect to have some preliminary data by the end of that month (maybe sooner, depending on how well everything goes).


Backup config, install FreeNAS on the SSD, move pool over to the new server, upload the config.

That's what I thought, but all the DDR4 ECC sticks on Newegg (and pcpartpicker) show up as registered, so I just assumed the DDR4 spec didn't differentiate between registered and not. So I guess: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/x11ssm-f/CT7982341

So would I ssh into the IP address of the server (that's displayed on the monitor) and then somewhere in the FreeNAS setup menu set a static IP as well as change the login credentials?

Would I have to detach the current pools first, or would that not matter? And which section is backing up/uploading the config under? and I assume I would just back it up to another flash drive?

 

[Ericloewe]

So would I ssh into the IP address of the server (that's displayed on the monitor) and then somewhere in the FreeNAS setup menu set a static IP as well as change the login credentials?

No, not at all.

IPMI is, in essence, a completely independent system running alongside your server. The BIOS setup menu (maybe even the POST screen) will tell you what the BMC IP address is. Or look up the MAC from the sticker on the board in your DHCP leases list.

Would I have to detach the current pools first, or would that not matter? And which section is backing up/uploading the config under? and I assume I would just back it up to another flash drive?

You want to keep a copy of the config file backed-up at all times, to easy recovery should the boot device fail.

Under System, you should have the option to download or upload the config file.

So I guess: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/x11ssm-f/CT7982341

It should work, but Supermicro might bug you if you contact them for support, since it's not on their QVL.

 

[djdwosk97]

No, not at all.

IPMI is, in essence, a completely independent system running alongside your server. The BIOS setup menu (maybe even the POST screen) will tell you what the BMC IP address is. Or look up the MAC from the sticker on the board in your DHCP leases list.


You want to keep a copy of the config file backed-up at all times, to easy recovery should the boot device fail.

Under System, you should have the option to download or upload the config file.


It should work, but Supermicro might bug you if you contact them for support, since it's not on their QVL.

Would I SSH into it or is it another web GUI?

Ah, gotcha.

Alright, so this would be better then? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MDZL2B6/?tag=ozlp-20 I wonder why pcpp or Newegg doesn't have any unbufferred dimms.

 

[pirateghost]

Would I SSH into it or is it another web GUI?

Ah, gotcha.

Alright, so this would be better then? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MDZL2B6/?tag=ozlp-20 I wonder why pcpp or Newegg doesn't have any unbufferred dimms.

IPMI has it's own web interface. You don't ssh to it.

 

[Ericloewe]

Would I SSH into it or is it another web GUI?

Web GUI.

Alright, so this would be better then? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ue&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A3LKWIQ3PBTNT2 I wonder why pcpp or Newegg doesn't have any unbufferred dimms

That's registered, too.

 

[Ericloewe]

For X11 boards you'd want:

MEM-DR416L-SL01-EU21 / Samsung M391A2K43BB1-CPB

or

MEM-DR416L-HL01-EU21 / Hynix HMA82GU7MFR8N-TF

 

[djdwosk97]

Web GUI.


That's registered, too.

So I'm either looking at the untested crucial memory for $130: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/x11ssm-f/CT7982341 or $200~ for anything Supermicro listed?

Edit: Looks like here's one for $140: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018CZWVVU/?tag=ozlp-20

 

[ser_rhaegar]

IPMI has it's own web interface. You don't ssh to it.

You can SSH into the IPMI, many (if not all) support SSH in addition to the web GUI.

Never mind, I see this is more about remote access to the FreeNAS console. The web gui using the Java viewer would be the best option. Though you could use SoL like: https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...-freenas-mini-idiots-guide.26867/#post-214579

 

[Ericloewe]

You can SSH into the IPMI, many (if not all) support SSH in addition to the web GUI.

Sure, but it's not the primary user interface.

 

[pirateghost]

You can SSH into the IPMI, many (if not all) support SSH in addition to the web GUI.

Which you can't really do much with.

 

[ser_rhaegar]

Sure, but it's not the primary user interface.

Which you can't really do much with.

I corrected my post. I rarely use the web GUI as most of them are riddled with Java. I use SSH and SoL for my servers since I don't install Java on my laptop.

 

[djdwosk97]

Anyway, am I right in that this is the cheapest unbuffered kit? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018CZWVVU/?tag=ozlp-20