Please comment on this setup (planned with X11SSH-CTF)

[Fred4000]

Hello

I've been reading a lot in the past weeks, and I'm getting closer to a decision. Currently I'm running an outdated Synolgy NAS (which is so old it no longer gets any updates). Looking for a replacement I looked at QNAP (which after much reading feels lacking in support and often beta and unreliable), and Synology (rather slow hardware). Next look was at UNRAID, but the lack of a 2nd pool albeit long asked-for is basically a deal-breaker for anyone who wants to mix SSD and HDD.

So here I am now, and I realize that everything is a compromise. Lots of threads start with "look at the hardware recommendations", which then look rather outdated now, and the answers for the search of controllers get 2 kinds of answers: "most work" and "FreeBSD is very picky, so chose wisely". Basically, I don't think I found a *usable* hardware recommendation guide. I think some current compatibility chart would definitely be helpful. (For example, looking for a board, the recommendation boils down to one manufacturer: SuperMicro. And they have dozens of models. And browsing this forum, one finds some problems, but barely advice how to chose.)

So I kindly ask the users here for their opinion on the following setup. Please feel free to drop in any thoughts that arise.

My current plan
- Board: SuperMicro X11SSH-CTF (which includes 2x10Gbe and LSI SAS/SATA controller)
- CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230v6
- RAM: 4 x 16 GB EEC Ram (Recommendations?)
- PSU: Maybe some Seasonic 600W+ (Recommendations?)
- Disks: Small SSD for system, some SSDs vor a fast volume, a couple of HDDs (aiming for raidz2 here, so 6x seems reasonable)
- Large enough case

Originally I thought about the X11SSM-F, but as I'd put in a 10Gbe anyway (1x would be enough, though), and probably some HBA card, the X11SSH-CTF might be the appropriate one.

It surely will be more expensive than I originally intended to buy - but for longevity I am willing to suffer the initial shock.

(Will be buying parts in Germany, if this matters.)

Thank you!

 

[Ericloewe]

look rather outdated now

Only very slightly, and that's because Coffee Lake boards were hard to find last time I checked. The situation might have improved in the last two months, though. There's AMD, which is back in the picture, but it needs a little bit more traction among Guinea pigs more adventurous users before I can recommend them. Better motherboards would also be nice.

Aaaaaaanyway:

Your system looks pretty good. I'd consider moving up if you're going to start with your RAM maxed out. Although, now that I think about it, do you really need 64 GB? It seems like overkill, maybe buy 32 GB now and fill the other slots later if /when needed.

 

[Fred4000]

Thanks for your feedback. It just seems that building a working FreeNAS system might be more challenging than building a hackintosh :D. Which shouldn't be the case. :)

Moving up in what way? No real reason for the 64 GB - but 32 only saves the tip of the iceberg; and maxing out on RAM is somehow a pattern on my machines. 32 would probably be plenty for what will mostly be a 1-user-setup; originally did think about running some VMs or docker containers there, too - but they might be better of on another machine as virtualization support seems on the decline.

 

[Ericloewe]

Moving up in what way

Well, Xeon Scalable or Xeon E5. But it doesn't sound like it would make sense for you.

 

[CobraPL]

Sorry for little necro, but my question is on topic and still important:

Is LSI from X11SSH-CTF a HBA/IT one?

 

[Ericloewe]

It's an LSI SAS3008. It'll either come up with IT or IR firmware and you switch between them fairly easily.