BUILD Node 804 Build

[Arman]

Hello guys! I'm kind of new here and i'd like some suggestions on building my NAS!

I'm planning to build my own NAS inside a Fractal Design Node 804. I would like my NAS to backup my Macbook, iphone, my external HDD, Camera... I would very much like the NAS to be fast at transferring files to and from my Macbook. I would want to edit quality videos on premiere pro straight from the NAS instead of copying it over to my Macbook first. I'd like to occasionally stream content to my iphone (videos)...

So far i've been looking at these motherboards: Gigabyte MW21-SE0, Supermicro MBD-X11SSL-F-O, Supermicro MBD-X11SSL-O...

These CPUs: E3-1275 v5(Out of my budget at the moment, but I might upgrade to it at a later date), i3-6100 3.7GHz

I'm also unsure about how I would install the OS on the server as USB drives/CD's are not an option with the new skylake... The Supermicro motherboards have a Super Disk On Module which I could install the OS on to? But im not sure how to initially transfer the OS files to it. Or I could get a cheap small SSD instead, but then again i'm not quite sure how to transfer the OS files onto it initially.

 

[anodos]

Hello guys! I'm kind of new here and i'd like some suggestions on building my NAS!

I'm planning to build my own NAS inside a Fractal Design Node 804. I would like my NAS to backup my Macbook, iphone, my external HDD, Camera... I would very much like the NAS to be fast at transferring files to and from my Macbook. I would want to edit quality videos on premiere pro straight from the NAS instead of copying it over to my Macbook first. I'd like to occasionally stream content to my iphone (videos)...

So far i've been looking at these motherboards: Gigabyte MW21-SE0, Supermicro MBD-X11SSL-F-O, Supermicro MBD-X11SSL-O...

These CPUs: E3-1275 v5(Out of my budget at the moment, but I might upgrade to it at a later date), i3-6100 3.7GHz

I'm also unsure about how I would install the OS on the server as USB drives/CD's are not an option with the new skylake... The Supermicro motherboards have a Super Disk On Module which I could install the OS on to? But im not sure how to initially transfer the OS files to it. Or I could get a cheap small SSD instead, but then again i'm not quite sure how to transfer the OS files onto it initially.

You don't lose out on much if you stick with an X10 (avoid skylake) assuming you don't need more than 32gb ram. Your average freenas user probably doesn't need more than that. You'll also see better performance if you use a wired connection for your macbook. WiFi is about convenience, not speed or stability.

 

[Mirfster]

I'm also unsure about how I would install the OS on the server as USB drives/CD's are not an option with the new skylake... The Supermicro motherboards have a Super Disk On Module which I could install the OS on to? But im not sure how to initially transfer the OS files to it. Or I could get a cheap small SSD instead, but then again i'm not quite sure how to transfer the OS files onto it initially.

Let me just get these answered and out of the way so others can focus on providing you with the hardware suggestions.

Alternate methods for installing:

• Use IPMI to connect to the system and mount the ISO; then boot and install from that (Not all motherboards have IPMI; but more than likely the ones recommended by others will)
• Some motherboards will permit you to disable USB 3.0 Support or even have the port emulate USB 2.0; dependent on the motherboard
• "Borrow" a CD/DVD Drive from another system; connect it to the Server (via SATA) and use that for the installation. Once completed, shut down the system and disconnect the device
• Stick a PCI USB 2.0 card in the system and use that to install the OS; these are pretty cheap and easy to find (Example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-USB-2-0...560005?hash=item4603bf0105:g:TTsAAOSweW5Vb4Fm) *** Note I have not validated or used this model myself

Super Disk On Module (DOM):

• While nice, I would not recommend counting this as a major deal-breaker on which system to get. Only consideration would be if there was a limitation on space or you want to run the "cool stuff". Once FreeNas is booted, it is all in memory anyways. Best you will get is a bit faster booting and installing upgrades; all of which can easily be accomplished by a cheap SSD for a lot less.

Edit: Changed "loaded" to "booted".. Once FreeNas is booted

 

[Arman]

Let me just get these answered and out of the way so others can focus on providing you with the hardware suggestions.

Alternate methods for installing:

• Use IPMI to connect to the system and mount the ISO; then boot and install from that (Not all motherboards have IPMI; but more than likely the ones recommended by others will)
• Some motherboards will permit you to disable USB 3.0 Support or even have the port emulate USB 2.0; dependent on the motherboard
• "Borrow" a CD/DVD Drive from another system; connect it to the Server (via SATA) and use that for the installation. Once completed, shut down the system and disconnect the device
• Stick a PCI USB 2.0 card in the system and use that to install the OS; these are pretty cheap and easy to find (Example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-USB-2-0...560005?hash=item4603bf0105:g:TTsAAOSweW5Vb4Fm) *** Note I have not validated or used this model myself

Super Disk On Module (DOM):

• While nice, I would not recommend counting this as a major deal-breaker on which system to get. Only consideration would be if there was a limitation on space or you want to run the "cool stuff". Once FreeNas is booted, it is all in memory anyways. Best you will get is a bit faster booting and installing upgrades; all of which can easily be accomplished by a cheap SSD for a lot less.

Edit: Changed "loaded" to "booted".. Once FreeNas is booted

Thanks for taking the time to write. :) I am not familiar with IPMI at all, but I did do a search on youtube and I think I know what it's about now... The only thing I don't understand is how would I mount the ISO through IPMI.
So, it the USB3's fault for not allowing skylake processors to boot from flashdrives? Or is it something within the Skylake processors itself which do not allow OS's to be booted from flashdrives? http://wccftech.com/intel-skylake-remove-support-usb-based-windows-7-installation-platform-specs/
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/skylake-caveats.39669/ <------ Something about XHIC (usb 2.0/3.0)

So what are my options? If I can somehow put the OS files on the DOM (which I dont know how) I could boot from that... Or I could put the files on a 2.5" HDD that I have?!!? :DD But then again... Not quite sure how I would transfer the files to the 2.5" internal HDD that I have... Do I have to buy a sata to USB (docking station) thing to connect it to my macbook initially (to put the os on it)? IF there's another easier way I would appreciate it because I don't want to buy stuff just to use once.

I thought about what you said about connecting the USB drive to the sata port on the motherboard. but the only thing that made me think twice about it was the second link I sent you.

 

[Arman]

I still havent figured out what to do about the boot :(

 

[ethereal]

if i were you i would read the user guide cover to cover - this has all you need.

why do you need the x11 - there are a few problems using this latest technology - if you don't understand how to even install freenas - you should probably stick with x10 (as somebody has advised)

 

[Mirfster]

The only thing I don't understand is how would I mount the ISO through IPMI.

In the Web Interface, you will have the ability to connect Virtual Media. You can then tell the Virtual Media to use the ISO that is on your normal machine. This will allow the Server to see the ISO as a CD-Rom and you can boot from it as well as install FreeNas from it.

Normally, I don't link YouTube videos but this one is pretty good for this situation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3c_JsARUE8

So, it the USB3's fault for not allowing skylake processors to boot from flashdrives?

No, it is a FreeBSD thing as far a FreeNas is concerned.

So in general, you can install the DOM(s) then connect via IPMI. From there mount the Virtual Media and have FreeNas install to the DOM(s). Only concern I would have is if the system is not headless; meaning you need to hookup a USB Keyboard then that may be an issue...

 

[Ericloewe]

Some motherboards will permit you to disable USB 3.0 Support or even have the port emulate USB 2.0; dependent on the motherboard

That doesn't work with Skylake. The controller itself only supports XHCI, which is disabled by default in FreeNAS.

 

[Arman]

if i were you i would read the user guide cover to cover - this has all you need.

why do you need the x11 - there are a few problems using this latest technology - if you don't understand how to even install freenas - you should probably stick with x10 (as somebody has advised)

Yeah there are a few problems currently... But, people will move on to a newer technology sooner or later. That's why i'm just trying to make my system more future proof.

 

[Arman]

In the Web Interface, you will have the ability to connect Virtual Media. You can then tell the Virtual Media to use the ISO that is on your normal machine. This will allow the Server to see the ISO as a CD-Rom and you can boot from it as well as install FreeNas from it.

Normally, I don't link YouTube videos but this one is pretty good for this situation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3c_JsARUE8


No, it is a FreeBSD thing as far a FreeNas is concerned.

So in general, you can install the DOM(s) then connect via IPMI. From there mount the Virtual Media and have FreeNas install to the DOM(s). Only concern I would have is if the system is not headless; meaning you need to hookup a USB Keyboard then that may be an issue...

Thanks for the link! I'll check it out.

 

[Mirfster]

That doesn't work with Skylake. The controller itself only supports XHCI, which is disabled by default in FreeNAS.

Curse this new fangled fancy dancy hardware...

How about if I say it like:

Some motherboards will permit you to disable USB 3.0 Support or even have the port emulate USB 2.0; dependent on the motherboard which can't be skylake compatible and has to be the older crappy stuff only someone like Mirfster likes to use...

 

[Arman]

Curse this new fangled fancy dancy hardware...

How about if I say it like:

That doesn't work with Skylake. The controller itself only supports XHCI, which is disabled by default in FreeNAS.

So do you guys think I should just get a pci-e usb 2.0 and install the OS that way?

 

[Ericloewe]

Assuming you have an available SATA port, I recommend that you:

• Use a small SATA SSD as the boot device
• Run the IPMI iKVM viewer, from the IPMI web interface
• Mount the ISO in the iKVM viewer and turn on the server

The USB 2.0 controller suggestion is only useful if you don't have an available SATA port.

 

[Arman]

Assuming you have an available SATA port, I recommend that you:

• Use a small SATA SSD as the boot device
• Run the IPMI iKVM viewer, from the IPMI web interface
• Mount the ISO in the iKVM viewer and turn on the server

The USB 2.0 controller suggestion is only useful if you don't have an available SATA port.

Sounds good. So, just to make sure: I put all the NAS hardware together (including the SATA SSD without anything on it). I connect my NAS with an ethernet to my router (or laptop). I go to the IPMI IP address (which I dont know how to obtain).
I then transfer the image file from my macbook to the NAS over the ethernet cable/wifirouter. And then I start the NAS?

 

[Ericloewe]

(which I dont know how to obtain).

Get it from the BIOS setup menu or by comparing the MAC conveniently placed on a sticker glued on to the board with your DHCP server's reservation list.

I then transfer the image file from my macbook to the NAS over the ethernet cable/wifirouter.

Not really. You just mount the image in the iKVM viewer and it'll automagically be available as a local optical drive.

 

[Arman]

Get it from the BIOS setup menu or by comparing the MAC conveniently placed on a sticker glued on to the board with your DHCP server's reservation list.


Not really. You just mount the image in the iKVM viewer and it'll automagically be available as a local optical drive.

Sorry to be annoying but i'm new to these stuff and I really am not familiar with iKVM and IPMI... I understand that I need to connect the NAS via its ethernet port to my router or macbook and go to the IPMI address on my browser. From there on I get totally confused on what to do and why it should be done the way it is... If you or someone else doesn't mind i'd like an explanation about that part and a step by step method on what to do. I really appreciate the help, guys :)
I honestly dont get the iKVM part...

 

[Arman]

Get it from the BIOS setup menu or by comparing the MAC conveniently placed on a sticker glued on to the board with your DHCP server's reservation list.


Not really. You just mount the image in the iKVM viewer and it'll automagically be available as a local optical drive.

Oh, I think I kind of understand it now ^____^ iKMV though IPMI (which uses .NET+ java) so the bios can be viewed and modified remotely. I understand how im supposed to mount it remotely now. Thanks guys!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyll_txEx14

 

[religiouslyconfused]

Hello guys! I'm kind of new here and i'd like some suggestions on building my NAS!

I'm planning to build my own NAS inside a Fractal Design Node 804. I would like my NAS to backup my Macbook, iphone, my external HDD, Camera... I would very much like the NAS to be fast at transferring files to and from my Macbook. I would want to edit quality videos on premiere pro straight from the NAS instead of copying it over to my Macbook first. I'd like to occasionally stream content to my iphone (videos)...

So far i've been looking at these motherboards: Gigabyte MW21-SE0, Supermicro MBD-X11SSL-F-O, Supermicro MBD-X11SSL-O...

These CPUs: E3-1275 v5(Out of my budget at the moment, but I might upgrade to it at a later date), i3-6100 3.7GHz

I'm also unsure about how I would install the OS on the server as USB drives/CD's are not an option with the new skylake... The Supermicro motherboards have a Super Disk On Module which I could install the OS on to? But im not sure how to initially transfer the OS files to it. Or I could get a cheap small SSD instead, but then again i'm not quite sure how to transfer the OS files onto it initially.

Gigabyte board appears to use a NIC that is not yet supported in freeBSD. I would go with the Supermicro. I would recommend for a Xeon getting a 1230 v5 or even a 1230 v3. Performance difference between v5 and v3 is not that much. Plus the 1230 v5 is plenty fast for most users if you want to use jails and what not. For non transcoding then the core i3 or even a Pentium would work, though if you want to use encryption then use a Core i3 or Xeon E3.

 

[religiouslyconfused]

Node 804 is a really nice case though, thought about building a freeNAS machine with one, but still have not built one yet.

 

[Arman]

Gigabyte board appears to use a NIC that is not yet supported in freeBSD. I would go with the Supermicro. I would recommend for a Xeon getting a 1230 v5 or even a 1230 v3. Performance difference between v5 and v3 is not that much. Plus the 1230 v5 is plenty fast for most users if you want to use jails and what not. For non transcoding then the core i3 or even a Pentium would work, though if you want to use encryption then use a Core i3 or Xeon E3.

Yes I have chosen to go with the supermicro. I will later upgrade to a Xeon if I need more processing power, but at the current time I neither have the funds or the needs for such processing power. I've currently chosen to go with the i3-6100 which has hyper-threading, AES-NI and so on... Yea, I've been having a difficult time between choosing the node 804 and the fractal design r5. I've been thinking about the future if I need to travel with the NAS to another country and the fractal design r5 shape is more suitcase friendly. Also, the r5 also has a better wire-management system.