RadicalSatisfaction!
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2020
- Messages
- 5
Greetings!
For many years I have simply used one of the computers (always PCs, never Macs) in my home as a pseudo-server & I have always been able to get it to work pretty well (90% of my use has been streaming media - audio/video, & some reading applications like Calibre & a good CBR), but I recently lost a drive & I had no backups... I wanted to rip my freakin' hair out... but there is no cost-effective way for me to back up 40TB of data that I know of (is there any cloud storage for backup yet that would not bankrupt a guy for 50 TB of data?), so it's just gone, & I'm NOT going to let that happen again... it's time to build the real-deal.
FreeNas has been recommended to me by everyone I have spoken to, in various forums, & as I have been researching the NAS concept, I began putting together some hardware without really consulting anyone before hand. When I build PCs, I've always simply researched what is best & offers the most possibilities; for a NAS, maybe not the best methodology, but I have a bit of $$$ wrapped up in what I have already purchased, so I'm committed & am praying someone might guide me without laughing too loud at my incompetence... I need some advice from those that know what the hell they are doing & I am, obviously, not one of them. But I would like to make this thing as safe (indestructible?) as is humanly/mechanically possible, regarding safeguarding the data. Thank you to anyone that is willing to help, it is greatly appreciated!
I have been building desktop PC's for 20 years or so & I have always managed to do a pretty killer job, just by going online & researching hardware/compatibility, based on my needs & the intentions I have for any particular system. But man, NAS/hardware/software/RAID (hardware -vs- software RAID), What level of RAID to use, etc... It's all very subjective to whomever I ask...
So here's the deal, I made a list of what hardware I have below & I'll tell you what I want this thing to do; this box is just for streaming media throughout the house... we have computers and/or Smart TVs in every room, I want to be able to access it without too much headache. I have also heard of PLEX servers? Can I set this thing up so that when I am out of the house I can stream to my hardware, wherever I am, or maybe give my mom access to all the classic movies I have? I am going through here & Tom's Hardware & trying to educate myself, but if someone can recommend a book (besides the one I am writing here), videos, whatever... there is so much online, but so many applications/needs/opinions... YIKES...
Thanks in advance...
Case: Fractal Design - Node 804 Black/Window
www.fractal-design.com
Motherboard: Supermicro - A2SDi-H-TP4F
review:
CPU (Embedded): Intel Atom® Processor C3958
www.intel.com
Memory (x2): NEMIX RAM MEM-DR416L-CL02-UN24 16GB Memory for SUPERMICRO (should I exchange this for ECC?)
www.newegg.com
Storage (For OS - x1): Intel 660p Series M.2 2280 512GB PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 3D2, QLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) SSDPEKNW512G8X1
Storage (For Data/Storage/Raid - x8): HGST HUS728T8TALE6L0 ULTRASTAR DC HC320 8TB 7200RPM SATA-6GBPS 256MB BUFFER 512E SE 3.5INCH ENTERPRISE HARD DRIVE
OS: I intend to use the newest version of FreeNAS...
My most pressing questions are:
1. What level of RAID should I use? Mirroring seems best for redundancy & best data protection, but I don't want to waste so much of the total drive capacity with mirroring if I can find a more reasonable level of protection; what's the next best thing that will allow me to keep the data safe(r), but utilize as much of the 64TB I have as possible... looking for a good balance? The case/MoBo allows 8 drives inside (+ the M.2), but can handle 12... is there a convenient piece of hardware to house another 3 8TB drives in? I do have an add-on card around here somewhere, the Supermicro AOC-SAS2LP-MV8 ( https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/accessories/addon/AOC-SAS2LP-MV8.php )
2. This case is supposedly built just for this purpose, but can I keep the drives cool enough? It seems a little small to allow the optimum air circulation for 8 storage drives & the M.2 for FreeNAS... I have even wondered, could I have an isobaric box built to house the case itself in(like the kids put their big-ass woofer/speakers in to crush the base in their cars) & allow the air conditioning to flow directly around the case... I am concerned about condensation from AC with an application like this...
3. Is the optional SSD/drive ("SSD write log (SLOG), and read cache (L2ARC)"), "recommended for greater performance" would this optional drive be in addition to the M.2 I will use as the drive for OS? or could I just use the internal USB port to run the OS & use the M.2 for the write log/read cache?
4. I am reading the FreeNAS Hardware Guide as am writing this... Looks like it would be in my best interest to return the RAM I purchased & exchange it for ECC RAM?
Those are my only real hardware questions... as for software or organizing the data on the array, any suggestions would be great... I like to keep things easy to find; logical...
Unfreakin' believable!!!! I just register to post this message & I see JoshDW19, aka Spock, & the iX Systems University... Well, I guess I have my answers in there somewhere, LOL. But seriously, peeps, this is AWESOME I am so freakin' STOKED... !!!@BAM@!!!
For many years I have simply used one of the computers (always PCs, never Macs) in my home as a pseudo-server & I have always been able to get it to work pretty well (90% of my use has been streaming media - audio/video, & some reading applications like Calibre & a good CBR), but I recently lost a drive & I had no backups... I wanted to rip my freakin' hair out... but there is no cost-effective way for me to back up 40TB of data that I know of (is there any cloud storage for backup yet that would not bankrupt a guy for 50 TB of data?), so it's just gone, & I'm NOT going to let that happen again... it's time to build the real-deal.
FreeNas has been recommended to me by everyone I have spoken to, in various forums, & as I have been researching the NAS concept, I began putting together some hardware without really consulting anyone before hand. When I build PCs, I've always simply researched what is best & offers the most possibilities; for a NAS, maybe not the best methodology, but I have a bit of $$$ wrapped up in what I have already purchased, so I'm committed & am praying someone might guide me without laughing too loud at my incompetence... I need some advice from those that know what the hell they are doing & I am, obviously, not one of them. But I would like to make this thing as safe (indestructible?) as is humanly/mechanically possible, regarding safeguarding the data. Thank you to anyone that is willing to help, it is greatly appreciated!
I have been building desktop PC's for 20 years or so & I have always managed to do a pretty killer job, just by going online & researching hardware/compatibility, based on my needs & the intentions I have for any particular system. But man, NAS/hardware/software/RAID (hardware -vs- software RAID), What level of RAID to use, etc... It's all very subjective to whomever I ask...
So here's the deal, I made a list of what hardware I have below & I'll tell you what I want this thing to do; this box is just for streaming media throughout the house... we have computers and/or Smart TVs in every room, I want to be able to access it without too much headache. I have also heard of PLEX servers? Can I set this thing up so that when I am out of the house I can stream to my hardware, wherever I am, or maybe give my mom access to all the classic movies I have? I am going through here & Tom's Hardware & trying to educate myself, but if someone can recommend a book (besides the one I am writing here), videos, whatever... there is so much online, but so many applications/needs/opinions... YIKES...
Thanks in advance...
Case: Fractal Design - Node 804 Black/Window

Node 804

Amazon.com: Fractal Design Node 804 case, Window: Computers & Accessories
Buy Fractal Design Node 804 case, Window: Computer Cases - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Motherboard: Supermicro - A2SDi-H-TP4F
review:
CPU (Embedded): Intel Atom® Processor C3958
Intel Atom® Processor C3958 (16M Cache, up to 2.0 GHz) - Product Specifications | Intel
Intel Atom® Processor C3958 (16M Cache, up to 2.0 GHz) quick reference with specifications, features, and technologies.
Memory (x2): NEMIX RAM MEM-DR416L-CL02-UN24 16GB Memory for SUPERMICRO (should I exchange this for ECC?)

NEMIX RAM MEM-DR416L-CL02-UN24 16GB Memory for SUPERMICRO - Newegg.com
Buy NEMIX RAM MEM-DR416L-CL02-UN24 16GB Memory for SUPERMICRO with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!
Storage (For OS - x1): Intel 660p Series M.2 2280 512GB PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 3D2, QLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) SSDPEKNW512G8X1
Storage (For Data/Storage/Raid - x8): HGST HUS728T8TALE6L0 ULTRASTAR DC HC320 8TB 7200RPM SATA-6GBPS 256MB BUFFER 512E SE 3.5INCH ENTERPRISE HARD DRIVE
>WD HUS728T8TALE6L0 ultrastar dc hc320 8tb sata-6gbps 256mb 3.5" hdd Search at ServerSupply.com
Buy Western Digital Hus728t8tale6l0 Ultrastar Dc Hc320 8tb 7200rpm Sata-6gbps 256mb Buffer 512e Se 3.5inch Enterprise Hard Drive. Brand New Dell Oem..Great customer service.
www.serversupply.com
Amazon.com: HGST Ultrastar 3.5-Inch 4TB 7200RPM SATA III 6Gbps 64MB Cache Enterprise Hard Drive with 24x7 Duty Cycle (0F14683): Computers & Accessories
Amazon.com: HGST Ultrastar 3.5-Inch 4TB 7200RPM SATA III 6Gbps 64MB Cache Enterprise Hard Drive with 24x7 Duty Cycle (0F14683): Computers & Accessories
www.amazon.com
OS: I intend to use the newest version of FreeNAS...
My most pressing questions are:
1. What level of RAID should I use? Mirroring seems best for redundancy & best data protection, but I don't want to waste so much of the total drive capacity with mirroring if I can find a more reasonable level of protection; what's the next best thing that will allow me to keep the data safe(r), but utilize as much of the 64TB I have as possible... looking for a good balance? The case/MoBo allows 8 drives inside (+ the M.2), but can handle 12... is there a convenient piece of hardware to house another 3 8TB drives in? I do have an add-on card around here somewhere, the Supermicro AOC-SAS2LP-MV8 ( https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/accessories/addon/AOC-SAS2LP-MV8.php )
2. This case is supposedly built just for this purpose, but can I keep the drives cool enough? It seems a little small to allow the optimum air circulation for 8 storage drives & the M.2 for FreeNAS... I have even wondered, could I have an isobaric box built to house the case itself in(like the kids put their big-ass woofer/speakers in to crush the base in their cars) & allow the air conditioning to flow directly around the case... I am concerned about condensation from AC with an application like this...
3. Is the optional SSD/drive ("SSD write log (SLOG), and read cache (L2ARC)"), "recommended for greater performance" would this optional drive be in addition to the M.2 I will use as the drive for OS? or could I just use the internal USB port to run the OS & use the M.2 for the write log/read cache?
4. I am reading the FreeNAS Hardware Guide as am writing this... Looks like it would be in my best interest to return the RAM I purchased & exchange it for ECC RAM?
Those are my only real hardware questions... as for software or organizing the data on the array, any suggestions would be great... I like to keep things easy to find; logical...
Unfreakin' believable!!!! I just register to post this message & I see JoshDW19, aka Spock, & the iX Systems University... Well, I guess I have my answers in there somewhere, LOL. But seriously, peeps, this is AWESOME I am so freakin' STOKED... !!!@BAM@!!!