BUILD Newbie - First NAS build

[geometrica]

Hi all!
I apologize in advanced for my poor English. I am planning to build my first FreeNas server! Please share your thoughts on this hardware.

Board: ASRock E3C226D2I - C226 / mITX / S1150
CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz
Memory: 2 x KINGSTON 8GB DDR3 1333MHz ECC CL9
4 x WD Intern Hårddisk Red 3TB SATA III (RAIDZ2)

I will use the server for backups (photos, Time Machine...), media (music and movies) and as a torrent client.

Thank you!

 

[Ericloewe]

Sounds good, but I'd avoid Kingston if possible (they've been doing some nasty stuff).

What case and PSU were you planning to use?

 

[geometrica]

I have the Fractal Design Array R2 but I am thinking of maybe get a little bigger case (Fractal Design DEFINE R4 Black Pearl? or a RVS1-06A) with room for mote then six 3.5” drivers. Is there anything special I have to think about when it comes to the PSU? I also maybe go for the X10SLH-F instead of the ASRock E3C226D2I.

 

[Dennis K.]

If you go for an X10, you have to avoid Kingston RAM. There are known incompatibilities. The X10 is also a uATX mainboard that wont fit the Fractal Design Array. But I'd vote for the bigger Fractal Design DEFINE anyway, as you'll get some better airflow for ventilation. Theres also the Fractal Design Mini, if you're looking for a tad smaller case.

 

[Ericloewe]

I have the Fractal Design Array R2 but I am thinking of maybe get a little bigger case (Fractal Design DEFINE R4 Black Pearl? or a RVS1-06A) with room for mote then six 3.5” drivers. Is there anything special I have to think about when it comes to the PSU? I also maybe go for the X10SLH-F instead of the ASRock E3C226D2I.

If you're going with a Supermicro X10, as Dennis said, avoid Kingston at all costs. I tend to recommend Crucial (the 1.35V DIMMs their website recommends for these boards, specifically), because it's easier to find than Samsung or Hynix and has also been validated. Also, the X10SLM+-F might be slightly cheaper and the only difference is that two SATA ports are 3Gb/s instead of 6Gb/s (not an issue in any way).

As for the PSU, just get something decent. A Seasonic G-450, for instance, is enough for some ~13 disks.

 

[geometrica]

Thanks Ericloewe & Dennis!

I will definitely not to buy Kingston, I'll get the Crucial.

Also, the X10SLM+-F might be slightly cheaper and the only difference is that two SATA ports are 3Gb/s instead of 6Gb/s (not an issue in any way).

I'm not sure how this works but isn't the WD red SATA 6Gb/s?

 

[Ericloewe]

Thanks Ericloewe & Dennis for your replays.

I will definitely not to buy Kingston, I'll get the Crucial.



I'm not sure how this works but isn't the WD red SATA 6Gb/s?

Not a problem. Other than reads from its small cache, the disk cannot come close to saturating 3Gb/s.

 

[geometrica]

Not a problem. Other than reads from its small cache, the disk cannot come close to saturating 3Gb/s.

Ok, thanks!

The X10SLH-F is cheaper than the X10SLM-F, at least here in Sweden :)

 

[geometrica]

I tend to recommend Crucial (the 1.35V DIMMs their website recommends for these boards, specifically), because it's easier to find than Samsung or Hynix and has also been validated.

According to the X10SLH-F specification memory Voltage is 1.5 V. Will it still work with 1.35V DIMM?

 

[Ericloewe]

According to the X10SLH-F specification memory Voltage is 1.5 V. Will it still work with 1.35V DIMM?

Yes it will, their Memory List has plenty of 1.35V options - including the aforementioned Crucial/Micron modules.

 

[geometrica]

Yes it will, their Memory List has plenty of 1.35V options - including the aforementioned Crucial/Micron modules.

Ok, thanks Ericloewe!

Here is a updated hardware list:
Supermicro X10SLH-F
Intel Core i3 4330 3,5GHz Socket 1150 Box
Crucial DDR3 PC12800/1600MHz ECC 2x8GB
4 x WD Red WD30EFRX 64MB 3TB
Seasonic G-450 450W
Fractal Design Define R4(not sure?)

 

[Ericloewe]

The case is always a very personal choice. There's also a funny distribution of case preferences across forums. In some places, setups like mine (ATX case with hot-swap bays added) are more common than small form factor setups.

What's important is (in order of importance) that:
The motherboard will fit (once in a while someone forgets to check that detail)
There's adequate cooling for the drives (fans blowing directly over them are optimal)
There's room for as many drives as you want, while still allowing proper cooling


Other than the case, you seem good to go, hardware-wise!

 

[geometrica]

I decided upon the Fractal Design Define R4. Next step is try to learn about the stuff jgreco writes about in: "Building, Burn-In, and Testing your FreeNAS system".

Thank you very much for your help Eric!
Best regards

 

[geometrica]

The X10SLH-F doesn't seems to support S.M.A.R.T. I can't find anything about it in the manual?

 

[geometrica]

The X10SLH-F doesn't seems to support S.M.A.R.T. I can't find anything about it in the manual?

It seems like the S.M.A.R.T options in BIOS is used for running a check during POST?

 

[Ericloewe]

Any such options in the BIOS are only useful at startup. The Intel PCH supports AHCI, including SMART.

 

[geometrica]

It never ends! VDev, zpool, ECC, SMART, AHCI... How much does one have to learn :)

 

[cyberjock]

It never ends! VDev, zpool, ECC, SMART, AHCI... How much does one have to learn :)

Even more than that!

 

[geometrica]

Even more than that!

Thankfully we have people like you and Eric!

 

[geometrica]

150 hours of testing (Memtest86 & badblocks), no problems so far =)