Help - New Build FreeNAS for Small Business.

[karthikjoe]

Hi This is Karthik.
I am a new member of this forum from today. We are Planing to build a new NAS for our Business use.
In now we're using Windows for file sharing. (So i am Windows admin and i don't have any experience in linux and unix. I hope you're help me to implement NAS on my Company). But now we planned implement FreeNAS on Business. We're chooses some hardware's available from local store. Please Suggest me will FreeNAS work on my Hardware.
And also sry for BAD ENGLISH.

My System Config :

Mother Board : Asus H110M-CS
Processor : Core i5 6th Gen
RAM : 8Gb DDR4
HDD : WD RED 1 TB * 3 No's ( Two HDD for Mirror and 1 for spare)
Ethernet : Realtek Inbuilt Ethernet port
Chassis : Cooler Master Elite 130

 

[Redcoat]

I suggest that you look at these two links (found in the Resources section linked in the masthead)

https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?resources/freenas®-quick-hardware-guide.7/

and https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?resources/hardware-recommendations-guide.12/

that will help you understand how your hardware choices will be considered for comment. Lots of other helpful information there, too.

I can say now that you will be advised against using a Realtek NIC based on the experience of many here, and encouraged to carefully consider your storage needs now and in the foreseeable future when selecting the amount of storage and configuration of your data pools and redundancy.

Use the search feature here in the masthead, too. There's a massive amount of experience in the posts here.

Good luck with this project!

 

[karthikjoe]

Thanks @Redcoat.. i'll try move based on Forum Recommended Hardware's. But in our local store some less configuration only available. i'll Try to find recommended hardware's.

 

[Chris Moore]

Mother Board : Asus H110M-CS
Processor : Core i5 6th Gen
RAM : 8Gb DDR4
HDD : WD RED 1 TB * 3 No's ( Two HDD for Mirror and 1 for spare)
Ethernet : Realtek Inbuilt Ethernet port
Chassis : Cooler Master Elite 130

This is all substandard hardware and should not be considered for use with BSD Unix especcially that Realtec Ethernet.

But in our local store some less configuration only available.

I would suggest not concerning yourself with a local store and plan to order the parts online. Most of the items I build with must be ordered because there is nobody locally that carries the appropriate hardware. If you are able to order parts and assemble it yourself, you might be able to save money on the hardware by sourcing the best value, but if you need a system to be built by and warrantied by a vendor, you will struggle to find anyone that will build a system with the components you need to properly support FreeNAS.

Since you are comming from a background of supporting Windows, there are a lot of things you will need to learn about how BSD Unix and FreeNAS in particular work so that you can properly support FreeNAS. Here is some very good information to get you started:

Slideshow explaining VDev, zpool, ZIL and L2ARC
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ning-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/

Terminology and Abbreviations Primer
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/terminology-and-abbreviations-primer.28174/
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/terminology-and-abbreviations-primer.28174/
There is even more great information available by web links from the FreeNAS user guide:
http://doc.freenas.org/11/freenas.html#

 

[Chris Moore]

i'll Try to find recommended hardware's.

Will your business allow you to purchase used components or must the system be new?
How long is the system anticipated to be used for business operation, in years?
What is the total amount of storage that the system will need to provide to the netowrk?

 

[karthikjoe]

Thanks @Chris Moore

Will your business allow you to purchase used components or must the system be new?

No.It Must new product with warranty.

How long is the system anticipated to be used for business operation, in years?

In current situation we're using windows sharing as 5+ years. but now we're planned to use at least another 5+ years. Chris we're recruitment consultancy and we're using only MS Office files only. No other file types.

What is the total amount of storage that the system will need to provide to the netowrk?

Now we're having around 30 GB of MS Office Files.It contains candidates resumes and these resumes are hyperlinked with Excel Sheets.That's all (These 30 GB Data is collected from 2007). I think 1 TB is enough for another 10 years.

 

[karthikjoe]

This is all substandard hardware and should not be considered for use with BSD Unix especcially that Realtec Ethernet.

I would suggest not concerning yourself with a local store and plan to order the parts online. Most of the items I build with must be ordered because there is nobody locally that carries the appropriate hardware. If you are able to order parts and assemble it yourself, you might be able to save money on the hardware by sourcing the best value, but if you need a system to be built by and warrantied by a vendor, you will struggle to find anyone that will build a system with the components you need to properly support FreeNAS.

Since you are comming from a background of supporting Windows, there are a lot of things you will need to learn about how BSD Unix and FreeNAS in particular work so that you can properly support FreeNAS. Here is some very good information to get you started:

Slideshow explaining VDev, zpool, ZIL and L2ARC
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ning-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/

Terminology and Abbreviations Primer
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/terminology-and-abbreviations-primer.28174/
There is even more great information available by web links from the FreeNAS user guide:
http://doc.freenas.org/11/freenas.html#

Thanks @Chris Moore for your valuable information's.

 

[Inxsible]

I would second Chris and say that you need to spread your net in order to get the proper FreeNAS hardware. Given that you need to have new products with warranty, I would say you need to look at IX Systems and see what they can do for you.

What is the budget that you are allowed for such a storage system?

 

[Chris Moore]

No.It Must new product with warranty.

With that in mind, this is probably the best value for your money:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2155922

The system comes with 4GB of memory that would need to be upgraded to 8GB.
It also comes with a 1TB hard drive. You would need a separate drive to install the operating system to and you would need a second 1TB hard drive to establish the mirror with this system's included drive. There are many other people on the forum that have used this type of system as a base to begin their FreeNAS system and it does work reliably.

Note, the DVD drive is not needed in the system and could be removed to allow the installation of a boot drive or a pair of boot drives. There are many options. If you would like more information on this, please reply with your questions.

 

[Chris Moore]

No.It Must new product with warranty.

This system is a bit less expensive, but the lower power processor may impact performance depending on the number of users that are trying to access the system at the same time.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5173247

Again, the system comes with 4GB of memory that would need to be upgraded to 8GB.

A difference is that it includes no hard drive. You would still need a drive to install the operating system on and you would need two 1TB hard drives to establish the mirror.

I will await further posts before giving further guidance.

 

[karthikjoe]

Hi @Chris Moore.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2155922

I think this is better then own build thanks.
but can i use normal HDD instead of NAS HDD (WD RED NAS HDD).?
Is that server can handle 100 no's shared concurrent connections..?
can i install and operate FreeNAS on USB and use with server..?
Is that any special knowledge required for installing FreeNAS on this server.?

 

[karthikjoe]

I would second Chris and say that you need to spread your net in order to get the proper FreeNAS hardware. Given that you need to have new products with warranty, I would say you need to look at IX Systems and see what they can do for you.

What is the budget that you are allowed for such a storage system?

Hi @Inxsible maximum we're allocated 750$ for this storage device.

 

[Chris Moore]

I think this is better then own build thanks.
but can i use normal HDD instead of NAS HDD (WD RED NAS HDD).?

This is a server, so I am sure that the drive they include will be a good one and you can use a NAS drive as a mirror drive for it.
The drives do not need to be the same brand.

Is that server can handle 100 no's shared concurrent connections..?

I am not sure how many people will be using files at the same moment, but that Xeon processor is probably better than the i5 processor you were looking at. Just keep an eye on the system load. It should deal with the workload better than than what you had been looking at.

can i install and operate FreeNAS on USB and use with server..?

USB is a possibility, but you will have the best reliability by installing FreeNAS to a small Solid State Drive (SSD) and move the system data set to the SSD.

Is that any special knowledge required for installing FreeNAS on this server.?

There is a lot of special knowledge you need to learn about FreeNAS. Learn all you can. There isn't a lot that is specific to this hardware. It is an HP server and there are things that are unique to that brand of hardware. None of that should prevent you from using it.

 

[karthikjoe]

This is a server, so I am sure that the drive they include will be a good one and you can use a NAS drive as a mirror drive for it.
The drives do not need to be the same brand.

I am not sure how many people will be using files at the same moment, but that Xeon processor is probably better than the i5 processor you were looking at. Just keep an eye on the system load. It should deal with the workload better than than what you had been looking at.

USB is a possibility, but you will have the best reliability by installing FreeNAS to a small Solid State Drive (SSD) and move the system data set to the SSD.

There is a lot of special knowledge you need to learn about FreeNAS. Learn all you can. There isn't a lot that is specific to this hardware. It is an HP server and there are things that are unique to that brand of hardware. None of that should prevent you from using it.

Thanks a lot @Chris Moore. You're a good man.

And i had some doubts..It's FreeNAS Noobs qus Don't get angry..! Because you already give more ans like this qus...
My mother tongue is not English so i can't understand FreeNAS Guide Fully Sorry..!
Already That server comes with normal HDD if i buy one WD Red can i use both in that server.?
What is data set..?
If i use mirror and one disk is failed then i know how to replace that failed disk but if both disk are corrupted what i do.?
In our Local SSD size only 250gb available. Is 250 Gb SSD is required for FreeNAS Installation disk..? but i found in basic H/w requirements 16Gb usb drive is enough for FreeNAS..!
If I am going to implement FreeNAS on my office premises for windows sharing only what is the best configuration..?

 

[Chris Moore]

Already That server comes with normal HDD if i buy one WD Red can i use both in that server.?

Yes. You can use a WD Red with the included drive. From what I can find, the included drive will likely be a Seagate, but they can still work together.

If i use mirror and one disk is failed then i know how to replace that failed disk but if both disk are corrupted what i do.?

If you are very concerned about a drive problem, you can install four drives in what is called a RAIDz2 pool. This would give you a little more usable storage, but the important thing is that you would have additional safety for your data. In a 4 drive RAIDz2 pool, 2 of the drives could fail without data loss.

What is data set..?

The 'system dataset' contains the persistent system data that is used for debugging as well as Samba configuration. If the FreeNAS is configured to be a Domain Controller, all of the domain controller state information is stored there as well, including domain controller users and groups. Here is the section of the manual:
http://doc.freenas.org/11/system.html?highlight=system dataset#system-dataset

In our Local SSD size only 250gb available. Is 250 Gb SSD is required for FreeNAS Installation disk..?

No, 256GB is not needed. When I said a small SSD, I was speaking of something like this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAAZ64RR5810
Small capacity, small cost. A larger drive can be used, and it will have better endurance over time.

but i found in basic H/w requirements 16Gb usb drive is enough for FreeNAS..!

Yes, you can install to a USB drive and 16GB is enough. If you do that, do not move the system dataset because the USB drives do not have the endurance to handle the constant read / write activity that the system dataset will have. USB drives do nothold up as well as a SSD so SSD is the preferred installation for durability over time.

If I am going to implement FreeNAS on my office premises for windows sharing only what is the best configuration..?

If you want it to last a long time, I have given you some good suggestions. Use a SSD for the operating system installation and use 4 drives in RAIDz2 for the data storage. There is a setup 'wizard' that will give you some guidance and there are videos on YouTube that can step you through the process. For example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMHNcE97TQM

 

[karthikjoe]

Yes. You can use a WD Red with the included drive. From what I can find, the included drive will likely be a Seagate, but they can still work together.
If you are very concerned about a drive problem, you can install four drives in what is called a RAIDz2 pool. This would give you a little more usable storage, but the important thing is that you would have additional safety for your data. In a 4 drive RAIDz2 pool, 2 of the drives could fail without data loss.

The 'system dataset' contains the persistent system data that is used for debugging as well as Samba configuration. If the FreeNAS is configured to be a Domain Controller, all of the domain controller state information is stored there as well, including domain controller users and groups. Here is the section of the manual:
http://doc.freenas.org/11/system.html?highlight=system dataset#system-dataset
No, 256GB is not needed. When I said a small SSD, I was speaking of something like this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAAZ64RR5810
Small capacity, small cost. A larger drive can be used, and it will have better endurance over time.

Yes, you can install to a USB drive and 16GB is enough. If you do that, do not move the system dataset because the USB drives do not have the endurance to handle the constant read / write activity that the system dataset will have. USB drives do nothold up as well as a SSD so SSD is the preferred installation for durability over time.

If you want it to last a long time, I have given you some good suggestions. Use a SSD for the operating system installation and use 4 drives in RAIDz2 for the data storage. There is a setup 'wizard' that will give you some guidance and there are videos on YouTube that can step you through the process. For example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMHNcE97TQM

Hi @Chris Moore ....i don't see any tech geek like you. superb answer with what i want..
I think Thanks*1000 is suitable for your answers and patience instead of single thanks button.
Once again thanks a lot..
Your Answers impressed me to learn FreeNAS more and more..:)