FreeNAS with a mini-ITX mainboard

[HollyB]

Hi,
I live in Italy and I would like to create an archive on a disk of my files and photos. I think to build a NAS server using my mini-ITX mainboard with APU E350 (Sapphire PURE White E350).
I will buy 3 HDs with 3 TB and I would like to use FreeNAS with ZFS. This will be a sort of backup station but I will continue to keep backup on DVDs as well (especially for photos).
Currently I have 4 GB RAM but I may buy another 4 GB module, if needed.
As my mainboard has 4 SATA ports, I will use a 40 GB SSD disk as system partition for FreeNAS. Is this a good idea?
Furthermore, I need a bigger cabinet to host new disks because the old one is to small.
So what kind of PSU is good for this NAS? How much power I need? 80, 90, 100 or more Watt?
Do you have some suggestions to implement such server?
What are the bootlenecks and the drawbacks of my idea?
What risks may I expect in the future?

Thank you

 

[Stephens]

Currently I have 4 GB RAM but I may buy another 4 GB module, if needed.

Do this.

As my mainboard has 4 SATA ports, I will use a 40 GB SSD disk as system partition for FreeNAS. Is this a good idea?

Don't do this. FreeNAS boots from a USB stick and once it boots, it doesn't use the system much (it minimizes writes to the system disc). You'd just be wasting an SSD (and slot). Instead, use the extra slot for storage and create a 4x3TB RAIDZ2, which will allow any 2 drives to fail without you losing your data.

Furthermore, I need a bigger cabinet to host new disks because the old one is to small.

So what kind of PSU is good for this NAS? How much power I need? 80, 90, 100 or more Watt?

It doesn't require much, but don't skimp, either. Is the cost savings between 80W and 100W worth risking? I wouldn't go below 100.

What risks may I expect in the future?

Just keep in mind it's costly to expand the server later, so build it with the storage you want. If all your data is backed up somewhere else and you can restore it if a drive fails, you can skip a RAIDZ2 and go for a RAIDZ1. Either way, I'd go ahead and build with all 4 SATA slots used for storage.

 

[HollyB]

Do this.


Don't do this. FreeNAS boots from a USB stick and once it boots, it doesn't use the system much (it minimizes writes to the system disc).

Ok. I will buy a USB pen drive with 8 or 16 GB.

use the extra slot for storage and create a 4x3TB RAIDZ2, which will allow any 2 drives to fail without you losing your data.

It will cost more but it seems reasonable. As this will be a sort of backup.

It doesn't require much, but don't skimp, either. Is the cost savings between 80W and 100W worth risking? I wouldn't go below 100.

Ok.
Can you give me some example of PSU?

Just keep in mind it's costly to expand the server later, so build it with the storage you want. If all your data is backed up somewhere else and you can restore it if a drive fails, you can skip a RAIDZ2 and go for a RAIDZ1. Either way, I'd go ahead and build with all 4 SATA slots used for storage.

Good idea. I will read some documents and wikis to get the benefit of RAIDZ2 solution.

 

[Stephens]

The benefit of RAIDZ2 is you can lose 2 drives without losing your data. There are cases where people running RAIDZ1 lose a drive, and either during the process of waiting for a replacement, or rebuilding the array after replacement (which is VERY taxing on drives), they lose another drive. At that point, they lose the whole array. With RAIDZ2, they (probably) wouldn't have.

As for PSU's, pic something specific and ask for feedback before you buy. I have a OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular (which is WAY overkill as my I've never seen my system even use 100W). I didn't try to go bottom of the barrel because with rebates, I was able to find them ridiculously cheap. Also, I don't like my system ever pulling anywhere close to rated/max. I'd rather my PSU breese through it's requirements. And finally, I wanted one with enough connectors for my 6 SATA drives without me buying splitters. But if you're really trying to go small/low power, some use the PicoPSU. Search the forum as I have no experience with them. Keep in mind power supplies only pull what they need. A 700W PSU doesn't pull 700W unless it needs 700W. Seasonic is considered top of the line. OCZ and Antec are pretty good too.

 

[ProtoSD]

Ok. I will buy a USB pen drive with 8 or 16 GB.

There's no point in buying an 8 or 16GB pen drive, 4GB is all you need. FreeNAS doesn't allow you to use the extra for anything else.

 

[HollyB]

There's no point in buying an 8 or 16GB pen drive, 4GB is all you need. FreeNAS doesn't allow you to use the extra for anything else.

I have one 2GB USB pen, two 8GB and one 16GB....I will look for a fast 4 GB drive.

 

[paleoN]

I have one 2GB USB pen, two 8GB and one 16GB....I will look for a fast 4 GB drive.

Given that you already have two 8GB pen drives I would just use them. You will waste the extra space, but you also don't have to buy anything else.

 

[HollyB]

Given that you already have two 8GB pen drives I would just use them. You will waste the extra space, but you also don't have to buy anything else.

Ok. I'm going to think about the USB drive and the kind of RAID to implement. RAIDz1 is cheaper then RAIDz2, so I will read some documents...

I've surfed on the web and I've seen this Thermaltake Element Q (VL52021N2E) case. Is it enough?
Can I put at least 3 HDs (3.5 inches)?

 

[StephenFry]

Ok. I'm going to think about the USB drive and the kind of RAID to implement. RAIDz1 is cheaper then RAIDz2, so I will read some documents...?

You say that this NAS will be a "sort of backup". If you mean that you are going to rely quite heavily on this NAS *NOT* failing, please use Z2 - especially with those large 3TB drives you want to use. It may feel like you are wasting space (buying 12TB but only using 6TB seems like a bad deal), but believe me: when problems arise, you will be glad you 'wasted' that space.

 

[HollyB]

You say that this NAS will be a "sort of backup". If you mean that you are going to rely quite heavily on this NAS *NOT* failing, please use Z2 - especially with those large 3TB drives you want to use. It may feel like you are wasting space (buying 12TB but only using 6TB seems like a bad deal), but believe me: when problems arise, you will be glad you 'wasted' that space.

I will use an "old" 2 TB HD and an older 1 TB HD for backups then I put the oldest photos and files on CDs or DVDs. So at the end, only newer files could be exposed to losses due to RAID failures. But I will implement an alternative backup solution.
Before starting I will test how to recover from failure removing 1 disk. I need to have all tools to quickly recover when a disaster happens.

 

[crisman]

Ok. I'm going to think about the USB drive and the kind of RAID to implement. RAIDz1 is cheaper then RAIDz2, so I will read some documents...

I've surfed on the web and I've seen this Thermaltake Element Q (VL52021N2E) case. Is it enough?
Can I put at least 3 HDs (3.5 inches)?

Hi HollyB, I know this post is a few days old but I saw the question about the Thermaltake case and has I got one for Media Center I can tell you that this case can only have two or three 3.5" hard disk if you use the 5.25" bay, this is a very small case and not very good for Air Flow so don't use it with more than one hard disk to avoid overheating disks and other components, A very good case is Lian Li PC-Q25 but a little expensive but with very good air flow and can old seven 3.5" hard disks.