- Joined
- May 17, 2014
- Messages
- 3,611
Anyone modify the FreeNAS Mini, (current generation with the Avoton board), to include eSATA ports?
My old NAS, (ReadyNAS 1000S), had a serial console connector on the inside. I modified the back panel
to include a stock DE-9M. Then wired that to a terminal server. Useful during boot when it was slow,
(having to run it's occasional FSCKs). So I am not new to modifying sheet metal hardware.
What I was thinking, was that since this board has 12 SATA ports, with in general only 7 usable in the
currently supplied chassis, I would get an adapter cable for bringing another 2 to the back panel. That way
I can use eSATA for backups to external drives without resorting to USB 2.0 speeds. Probably limit those
ports to the 3Gbps SATA channels... (more than enough for external drives).
Here is sample of the device I had in mind;
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IU8Y9AG/?tag=ozlp-20
Of course someone could do it the easy way, and simply use a PCI card back panel. Since I intend at some
future date to add another network port, I'd want that free. Thus, the need to consider modifing the back
panel.
My old NAS, (ReadyNAS 1000S), had a serial console connector on the inside. I modified the back panel
to include a stock DE-9M. Then wired that to a terminal server. Useful during boot when it was slow,
(having to run it's occasional FSCKs). So I am not new to modifying sheet metal hardware.
What I was thinking, was that since this board has 12 SATA ports, with in general only 7 usable in the
currently supplied chassis, I would get an adapter cable for bringing another 2 to the back panel. That way
I can use eSATA for backups to external drives without resorting to USB 2.0 speeds. Probably limit those
ports to the 3Gbps SATA channels... (more than enough for external drives).
Here is sample of the device I had in mind;
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IU8Y9AG/?tag=ozlp-20
Of course someone could do it the easy way, and simply use a PCI card back panel. Since I intend at some
future date to add another network port, I'd want that free. Thus, the need to consider modifing the back
panel.