Prebuilt FreeNas Systems?

[TooMuchData]

Hello all.

I am not new to FreeNAS, but I was unsure where else to post this.

I am pleased with my first FreeNAS build and am considering another. Before I do so I'm wondering if there are suppliers or builders of prebuilt systems in addition to iXsystems? Their offerings are excellent, but are not quite what I want (small, but space for 6 or more drives, not rack mounted).

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[jgreco]

There's a bunch of places that build custom Supermicro gear. We do here, but only for clients. But the real problem is that we occasionally see companies who have sold people hardware that is "FreeNAS" compatible, without actually going through the rigorous process of designing something that is actually FreeNAS compatible. I'd be hesitant to recommend anyone.

 

[HoneyBadger]

But the real problem is that we occasionally see companies who have sold people hardware that is "FreeNAS" compatible, without actually going through the rigorous process of designing something that is actually FreeNAS compatible. I'd be hesitant to recommend anyone.

I seem to recall a couple threads where a user bought a "FreeNAS-Ready" or "FreeNAS-Approved" system from a reseller only to find that it was either badly underspecced for the needs, or did some serious no-no (RAID card instead of HBA, non-ECC RAM)

We have some "suggested hardware" and there's quite a few people who are using prebuilt tower servers like the Lenovo TS140/TS440, but I don't think there's such a thing as an "Official FreeNAS Approved" system list.

Outside of iX's offerings, of course.

 

[TooMuchData]

Thank you jgreco and HoneyBadger.

I am familiar with the postings on this site that identify acceptable FreeNAS hardware, and have two systems already. I would not buy a system containing components that are not already successfully used by others.

Given that, and without recommendations, would you please point me toward some of the "bunch of places that build custom Supermicro gear?"

 

[jgreco]

I seem to recall a couple threads where a user bought a "FreeNAS-Ready" or "FreeNAS-Approved" system from a reseller only to find that it was either badly underspecced for the needs, or did some serious no-no (RAID card instead of HBA, non-ECC RAM)

That's generally what I was referring to, yes. I mean, I could absolutely sell "FreeNAS-ready" systems here, with hardware known to work swimmingly well, but:

1) There's basically no profit in it. The markup on a moderately large project (five figures) usually needs to be around 15-20% in order to cover the various risks. But for us that's selling multiple units of something, and the primary risk is the failure of one $thing and the replacement of some $xxx-$1xxx part. But the markup on a small project involves more risk and time. So I sell you an E3-1231v3 box, maybe $600 in parts, and I only mark it up 20%. That's $120. Maybe a few hours of a tech's time. But if the mainboard fails, you're going to want rapid service, which means that we have to order a replacement board, and eat the cost or find someone to sell the RMA-repaired board to. The profit margin on a small project has to either be ridiculously high or the risk needs to be shifted to the end-user, such as "we sell this without warranty but it carries a full hardware mfr's warranty on each component."

2) It seems like it'd be impolite, given that iX is selling their FreeNAS Mini and other FreeNAS-certified machines.

3) Even if we sold it, there's a huge amount of risk involved where someone's unhappy with what they got, or where someone pulls apart what they ordered and breaks it, etc., etc. We sell gear to service providers where the tech clue factor is extremely high and even if they somehow have never seen a Supermicro system, they're still likely to do their own low level tech support rather than picking up the phone to find out what key gets pressed to go into the BIOS.

 

[sremick]

jgreco nailed it. I've been building custom computers for decades. I could easily build another like mine (see my sig), mark it up a bit, and ship it out... but the minute someone needs support, or an RMA is needed on an in-warranty component, I've lost money with my additional time and shipping costs.

 

[jgreco]

jgreco nailed it. I've been building custom computers for decades. I could easily build another like mine (see my sig), mark it up a bit, and ship it out... but the minute someone needs support, or an RMA is needed on an in-warranty component, I've lost money with my additional time and shipping costs.

Yeah, I actually figured we could do it if we had some moderate volume to justify stocking parts, but then that seemed to me like it'd be rude to iX.

 

[TooMuchData]

Thanks again for the replies. You make excellent points.

And, I agree that making a box similar to those made by iXsystems would be rude. But, I am interested in a physically small box with 6-8 drives. That would seem to fall above the size of the Mini but below the rack-mounted offerings. Before I build it myself (as my third FreeNAS system) I thought I would see if anyone else was building such a box.

 

[HoneyBadger]

But, I am interested in a physically small box with 6-8 drives.

I think building something like the Node 304 that @sremick made would likely be your ticket. Other than that, spindle count starts to necessitate a larger case, unless you're talking about using 2.5" drives.

 

[Mirfster]

I think building something like the Node 304 that @sremick made would likely be your ticket. Other than that, spindle count starts to necessitate a larger case, unless you're talking about using 2.5" drives.

Depending on requirements, would it be viable to suggest maybe looking into another box just to house extra disks (JBOD) and then adding another HBA (say LSI Logic SAS9200-8E) to the original box (if possible)?

I would assume that FreeNas could handle more than one HBA?

Of course all of this is null if the requirements require an entirely separate instance...

 

[HoneyBadger]

The OP is after a "physically small box" so an external JBOD and extra HBA is likely out of the question on that front alone. Any JBODs that fit the "small" category are likely going to run through eSATA and use port multiplication (bad) and the ones that are SAS-connected (good) will probably be rackmounted Supermicros or equivalent.

For those of you who aren't concerned with dimensions as much, externally connected JBOD drive trays are an excellent option and FreeNAS will handle multiple HBAs just fine.

 

[Mirfster]

A

The OP is after a "physically small box" so an external JBOD and extra HBA is likely out of the question on that front alone. Any JBODs that fit the "small" category are likely going to run through eSATA and use port multiplication (bad) and the ones that are SAS-connected (good) will probably be rackmounted Supermicros or equivalent.

For those of you who aren't concerned with dimensions as much, externally connected JBOD drive trays are an excellent option and FreeNAS will handle multiple HBAs just fine.

Ah, missed that from the OP. But, glad to get confirmation that multiple HBAs work well with FreeNas.