BUILD FreeNAS micro? 2.5" disk chassis

[Arwen]

I really like the design of the FreeNAS Mini. But for me, it's more about speed and ease of maintenance.
(Meaning I want to be able to login and move things around locally.)

So I don't need 4 x 3.5" disk slots. Since 2.5" disks are now at 1TB, I figure I could get by with 4 x 2.5" disks.
Preferably hot-swap. If done right, I should beable to saturate 1Gbps Ethernet link. Especially if
I use that Asrock C2750D4I system board that the FreeNAS Mini uses.

Does anyone have a chassis suggestion that supports at least 4 SATA 2.5" hot swap disks and a Mini ITX
system board? (With the card slot still available?)

If I can't find anything suitable, then I will likely just bite it, and buy the FreeNAS Mini.

 

[beemaster]

Build one from LEGO
http://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/lego-themed-asrock-c2550d4i-project.20956/
:)

 

[Arwen]

Beemaster, I'd want / need something metal, both for sturdinest and cooling.

Looks like I can use this;

• CFI A2059 Mini-ITX NAS Case with Two 3.5" Hot-Swappable HDD/SSD Drive Bays + 1 x 5.25" bay

And this;

• ICY DOCK ToughArmor MB994SP-4S 4 x 2.5 Inch SATA 6Gbps/SAS HDD/SSD Mobile Rack / Cage in 1 x 5.25 Inch bay

There is a 6 bay version, but has a height restriction on the 2.5" drives. Probably get better cooling with the 4 x 2.5" type.
And if I need more storage, I would have 2 x 3.5" bays. The chassis even has an internal 2.5" bay, which may be suitable for a SSD L2ARC drive.