new to FreeNAS - use old PC to learn, or organize a new build from the start?

[Phendyr]

Hey Folks,
First timer here, I'm in the process of wanting to build an affordable file share for an agency of roughly 12 people. The fileshare will be responsible for multiple file types from print (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), to web sites, video (commercial development, etc). one person works on a project at a time, although the web developers will usually collaborate on projects.

I have an old office PC, that's currently running XP. Its resources are of course very limited, but is it possible to use it to cut my teeth on installation and setup, to simply see if FreeNAS is a viable option for us, before investing in a system?

I'm still researching the platform, but would like to incorporate some sort of backup process as well. I don't know yet if FreeNAS has support for that, or what options work best.

If there are posts I've missed that answer these questions I apologize. If you can point me to them, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JaimieV]

If you can squeeze at least 4gig of RAM and three physical disks into the testbed, then it'll be a viable learning tool. Less than that will impact its ability to model a ZFS system.

Your best bet for backup is often another FreeNAS system (but you can skimp on the disks a little since a backup doesn't need the high availability that the primary does). If you build a new test system, that could go on to become the backup box.

 

[Phendyr]

Thanks for the feedback JaimieV. I will inspect the old system a little deeper and see what I can do with it.

cheers.