BUILD First NAS Build - Home Use - Backup, file sharing, Media

[thebigjdoe]

About to put together this build. This will be used for backup, file sharing, live tv recording location, and sharing tv/movies to media extenders. eventually will set it up so my phone/tablet can access media remotely. Have Comcast (Xfinity) 27.5mbps down 7.5mbps up, gigabit router. Wan't to know if I'm skimping/going overboard anywhere.

I plan on running the 4 drives in raidz2 with the option to add 2 more later. So 4 x 4TB should give me almost 8TB usable space in raid2z? Also, would I just use one of the plugs on the network adapter, or plug both into the router?

Case: LIAN LI PC-Q25B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112339

PSU: SeaSonic SSR-360GP 360W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151117

Mobo: ASUS P8H77-I LGA 1155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131841

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220T
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0093H8JCM/?tag=ozlp-20

LAN: Intel E1G42ET Dual Port Server Adapter (From staples $40off coupon + $140 rewards that are expiring end of month) overboard?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106035

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233246

HDD: (4) x Seagate STBD4000400 4TB 64MB Cache (already have)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822178326

 

[jgreco]

For the cost of the dual port server adapter, you could quite possibly just buy a decent 1155 board with an onboard Intel ethernet. I don't have any mini-ITX suggestions handy but I bet someone's got to sell such a board. The dual won't help you if you have a basic "router" (they're actually NAT gateways) and you're unfamiliar with networking, but could be nice if you happen to need to run a dedicated gigE to a PC or laptop for backups. But the dual is a great bit of hardware if you can get it for almost nothing.

No other significant thoughts except that heat is a constant problem in small cases.

 

[Z300M]

What do you mean by "the option to add 2 more later"? It's my understanding that a pool cannot be expanded once it's been created -- other than by replacing each drive by a larger one, sequentially, and resilvering after each replacement.

 

[jgreco]

You can add two more drives, yes, but it happens as a mirror (RAID1) vdev added to the pool. You cannot expand the width of the RAIDZ2 vdev. This is a good point that I missed.

 

[thebigjdoe]

Ya the adapter is expensive, and could grab another 4TB instead with the same store credit but gotta receive the adapter, return it, and order a drive before the 31st...

HHmm, now I'm wondering if I should grab 2 more and do 6 in RAIDZ2. I only use about 4TB right now, but that is without backups, and I'll be adding more media. hhmmmm

As far as heat, I hear this case is good at dealing with that. It has a 140mm fan blowing directly on the drives and 120mm exhaust. The 3220T shouldn't get very hot.

 

[Caesar]

What do you mean by "the option to add 2 more later"? It's my understanding that a pool cannot be expanded once it's been created -- other than by replacing each drive by a larger one, sequentially, and resilvering after each replacement.

You can expand a pool by adding drives. You cannot expand a vdev unless you replace each drive and resilver after each replacement.