Hello, I have decided to go ahead and jump into FreeNAS and all that it entails! Below is some information about what I would like to use it for, the hardware, and then the questions that I have - Thank you for any and all input! ( I own all of items mentioned except for the Case/HDDs at the moment)
The Plan: I am wanting to create an all purpose server that will let me access files while away, remote into the computer so I can use a throw away laptop while traveling, edit 4k video footage & RAW files, use make MKV on my current blu-rays. At first my plan was to get a Xeon E3-1246v3(Own it now) to run a small file server/cloud access off of and purchase an i7-6700k(own it) to build for my main PC. After browsing through FreeNAS and seeing everything that it was capable of, my desires expanded! I also learned about the facebook decommissioning their servers and got the processors below at $65 each. I finally have the ability to start editing 4k footage that I get from my gopro now! I am now just in a predicament on how I should set up this entire system given I have now 4 processors and only a plan for 2/4 that could potentially do everything I want - but I don't want to waste money spent on the other cpus. Any advice and ideas is great appreciated!
Use: I will be using the FreeNAS as a FileServer, PlexMedia Server, Mumble Server, ownCloud Server and potentially a Remote Connection/VM for windows(See questions).
Hardware:
Router: Netgear Nighthawk X8 R8500 (dual link agg)
Switch: HP ProCurve 24 port Managed Switch - JG924a (Quad link agg to mobo)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2670 2.6GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2670 2.6GHz 8-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock EP2C602-4L/D16 SSI EEB Dual-CPU LGA2011 Motherboard
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: 4x Western Digital Red 4TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on a good SSI-EEB Case? I was thinking of doing the Fractal Design XL2 with HDD cages removed and an ICYDock hotswap 3x5.25" bay and a blu ray read/writer for x4 front bays
2. Can I create a VM using FreeNAS? I have an Samsung 950 pro M.2 ssd that I could purchase a adapter for an use the PCIE x4 to access and send it to a VM and run my main windows machine off of it. Send 16 of the 32 threads to a VM and a gpu for a main windows pc.
3. Will it be worth it to upgrade to more than 32gb of RAM and possibly max out to 128gb over time (16gb a month)?
4. With wanting to have the services I mentioned above, would it be wise to get an SSD to install those jails onto for better performance?
5. How much usable storage will I have out of 4 x 4TB drives? I was going to use the default Raid setup that it prompted but I would like the best performance with 1 maybe 2 HDD failures supported. I would replace immediately once one goes out. I edit raw photos and take about 100 hours of 4k footage a year. Lots of smaller files with fewer larger ones overall
6. I have an E3-1246v3 I intended to use at first, should I use that for the server and turn this dual xeon into a pure work station with windows for 4k editing or stick with the FreeNAS system on the dual xeon given the load I want to run on it?
7. What would you do with the leftover 6700k(Assuming I can use a VM to run windows off of for a main PC otherwise using this) and e3-1246 cpu if you were me? Does freenas work with PFsense where I could get another board and some ram for a router/firewall for the 1246?
Sorry for the multiple questions - just a bit unclear on the best path and design I should take from here.
Cheers!
Jiry
The Plan: I am wanting to create an all purpose server that will let me access files while away, remote into the computer so I can use a throw away laptop while traveling, edit 4k video footage & RAW files, use make MKV on my current blu-rays. At first my plan was to get a Xeon E3-1246v3(Own it now) to run a small file server/cloud access off of and purchase an i7-6700k(own it) to build for my main PC. After browsing through FreeNAS and seeing everything that it was capable of, my desires expanded! I also learned about the facebook decommissioning their servers and got the processors below at $65 each. I finally have the ability to start editing 4k footage that I get from my gopro now! I am now just in a predicament on how I should set up this entire system given I have now 4 processors and only a plan for 2/4 that could potentially do everything I want - but I don't want to waste money spent on the other cpus. Any advice and ideas is great appreciated!
Use: I will be using the FreeNAS as a FileServer, PlexMedia Server, Mumble Server, ownCloud Server and potentially a Remote Connection/VM for windows(See questions).
Hardware:
Router: Netgear Nighthawk X8 R8500 (dual link agg)
Switch: HP ProCurve 24 port Managed Switch - JG924a (Quad link agg to mobo)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2670 2.6GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2670 2.6GHz 8-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock EP2C602-4L/D16 SSI EEB Dual-CPU LGA2011 Motherboard
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: 4x Western Digital Red 4TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on a good SSI-EEB Case? I was thinking of doing the Fractal Design XL2 with HDD cages removed and an ICYDock hotswap 3x5.25" bay and a blu ray read/writer for x4 front bays
2. Can I create a VM using FreeNAS? I have an Samsung 950 pro M.2 ssd that I could purchase a adapter for an use the PCIE x4 to access and send it to a VM and run my main windows machine off of it. Send 16 of the 32 threads to a VM and a gpu for a main windows pc.
3. Will it be worth it to upgrade to more than 32gb of RAM and possibly max out to 128gb over time (16gb a month)?
4. With wanting to have the services I mentioned above, would it be wise to get an SSD to install those jails onto for better performance?
5. How much usable storage will I have out of 4 x 4TB drives? I was going to use the default Raid setup that it prompted but I would like the best performance with 1 maybe 2 HDD failures supported. I would replace immediately once one goes out. I edit raw photos and take about 100 hours of 4k footage a year. Lots of smaller files with fewer larger ones overall
6. I have an E3-1246v3 I intended to use at first, should I use that for the server and turn this dual xeon into a pure work station with windows for 4k editing or stick with the FreeNAS system on the dual xeon given the load I want to run on it?
7. What would you do with the leftover 6700k(Assuming I can use a VM to run windows off of for a main PC otherwise using this) and e3-1246 cpu if you were me? Does freenas work with PFsense where I could get another board and some ram for a router/firewall for the 1246?
Sorry for the multiple questions - just a bit unclear on the best path and design I should take from here.
Cheers!
Jiry