Sanity check before I go crazy ordering stuff

[Blindsay]

Hello everyone, looking to make the jump to FreeNAS from unraid and before i ordered parts i just wanted to make sure it looks good. To give you a little background as for the switch it is a couple things.

First my goals/reasons for switching
-Looking to move to smaller more compact rack mount systems (currently using a Corsair 800D with Asus Z9PE-D8 WS and dual E5-2670s)
-Current Asus mobo is starting to die (all the Intel sata ports stopped working)
-Want to build something thats quieter
-Looking for better storage performance
-Looking to split my storage server and vm server apart (just personal preference)

File Server (FreeNAS):
Mobo: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182820
CPU: https://ark.intel.com/products/77777/Intel-Pentium-Processor-G3430-3M-Cache-3_30-GHz
RAM: https://www.ebay.com/itm/32GB-4X8GB...088753?hash=item25ccc27ff1:g:9mMAAOSwxj5XQNOe
Case: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147233 (Will replace the fans with Noctua's or something along those lines)
Hard Drives (7x): https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822149628 (Originally i was looking at WD Red's but someone suggested these instead. I do have 1 now and have been happy with it, but i want to make sure i get a good NAS drive. Also these seem to be decent for the money)
SSD: A 480GB Sandisk that i already have
PSU: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151158
SATA Controller: https://www.amazon.com/SAS9211-8I-8...0&sr=1-1&keywords=LSI+SAS+9211-8i&tag=ozlp-20

VM Server (Used for a big plex server/minecraft server/and eventually exchange/ad/dns, this would still be on Unraid, i like its virtualization):
Mobo: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182336
CPU: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SR1A6-INTE...507117&hash=item3d3838aed7:g:QXcAAOSwUwFZ8Q06
RAM: (I already have 8x4GB DDR3 1333 ECC from my current system)
Case: Basically the same as above expect i have have one already that doesnt have the hot swap bays
SSD (Only SSD's in the VM server): 4x Samsung 250GB 850 Evo (already have)

Networking (I have a 1gb/1gb connection):
Rack: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816129126
Router: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0XP-000A-000G9
Switch: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0XP-000A-000S3 (I dont have that many devices but i want to ensure a 10gb link between the FreeNAS server and Unraid Server. My gaming desktop is fine on 1 of the 1gbe ports)

Not dead set on Ubiquiti but I had a friend suggest them, I want to play around with some more advanced networking gear than your standard run of the mill consumer gear. I also want to make sure it can have a 10gb link between the 2 servers. Dont care if its ethernet or sfp+, also not sure how quiet their gear is. I would need a couple good 10gb cards (1 for each server)

phew, i think that covers everything haha.

Just curious if you guys spot any glaring omissions or any bad hardware choices/combos

 

[Stux]

Would suggest using an X11 LGA1151 board, rather than the obselete X10 LGA1150 board. Would mean a RAM cap of 64GB rather than 32GB. Also, you can get 8x SATA3 with the X11SSM, rather than 2 SATA2 and 4 SATA3 with the X10SLM that you've selected.

Which would mean you can skip the LSI controller to connect your 8 drives. Until you want to go beyond 8.

 

[Blindsay]

Would suggest using an X11 LGA1151 board, rather than the obselete X10 LGA1150 board. Would mean a RAM cap of 64GB rather than 32GB. Also, you can get 8x SATA3 with the X11SSM, rather than 2 SATA2 and 4 SATA3 with the X10SLM that you've selected.

thats what i had originally but i switched it because 32GB DDR4 ECC is like 400-500, if i stick with a DDR3 era board i can get 32GB for like $100 used

 

[Stux]

thats what i had originally but i switched it because 32GB DDR4 ECC is like 400-500, if i stick with a DDR3 era board i can get 32GB for like $100 used

Your choice, but yes, we're in the middle of a RAM shortage.

 

[Blindsay]

Your choice, but yes, we're in the middle of a RAM shortage.

yeah ill definitely give it some thought, not having to buy the LSI card would save some money. I dont plan on going past 8 drives (7 mechanical + 1 SSD)

 

[Chris Moore]

Case: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147233 (Will replace the fans with Noctua's or something along those lines)

No need to replace the fans on the drive cages. They are plenty quiet already. I don't know about the rear chassis fans, but I would not expect them to be loud. This is not like a regular server chassis.

Hard Drives (7x): https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822149628 (Originally i was looking at WD Red's but someone suggested these instead. I do have 1 now and have been happy with it, but i want to make sure i get a good NAS drive. Also these seem to be decent for the money)

Those drives should be fine. It is a moving target, so you want to shop around for the best price.

SATA Controller: https://www.amazon.com/SAS9211-8I-8...0&sr=1-1&keywords=LSI+SAS+9211-8i&tag=ozlp-20

Actually a SAS controller, just make sure the firmware is flashed to IT mode.

Switch: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0XP-000A-000S3 (I dont have that many devices but i want to ensure a 10gb link between the FreeNAS server and Unraid Server. My gaming desktop is fine on 1 of the 1gbe ports)

If you are going to spend that kind of money on a switch, why not just get a 10GB switch for all the systems that can have a 10GB card?
This card works great with FreeNAS:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/110-1107-3...NGLE-PORT-10GB-SFP-PCIE-ADAPTER-/282590499118
This switch has four (4) 10GB SFP+ ports as well as 24 ports that run at 1GB. You could have four systems linked at 10GB.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-NETWORKING-N1524-24x-1GbE-4x-10GbE-SFP-fixed-ports/152470960221

 

[Blindsay]

No need to replace the fans on the drive cages. They are plenty quiet already. I don't know about the rear chassis fans, but I would not expect them to be loud. This is not like a regular server chassis.

Those drives should be fine. It is a moving target, so you want to shop around for the best price.

Actually a SAS controller, just make sure the firmware is flashed to IT mode.

If you are going to spend that kind of money on a switch, why not just get a 10GB switch for all the systems that can have a 10GB card?
This card works great with FreeNAS:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/110-1107-3...NGLE-PORT-10GB-SFP-PCIE-ADAPTER-/282590499118
This switch has four (4) 10GB SFP+ ports as well as 24 ports that run at 1GB. You could have four systems linked at 10GB.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-NETWORKING-N1524-24x-1GbE-4x-10GbE-SFP-fixed-ports/152470960221

Good to know about the fans, this gear sits right next to my home theater rack so i want it to be as quiet as i can get it.

For the networking, my 2 servers are physical close (and close to the switch) so it is easy to get them on 10gb. My desktop is pretty far away so it would be an expensive cable run. Also I really dont need the 10gb link from my desktop to the switch, most of the traffic will be between the two servers.

Thanks for the tip about that NIC though

 

[Chris Moore]

For the networking, my 2 servers are physical close (and close to the switch) so it is easy to get them on 10gb. My desktop is pretty far away so it would be an expensive cable run. Also I really dont need the 10gb link from my desktop to the switch, most of the traffic will be between the two servers.

I can't do 10GB to my desk either but maybe one day. You still might want to get the switch with 4 SFP+ ports in case you want to add another server later. Options are good.

 

[Blindsay]

I can't do 10GB to my desk either but maybe one day. You still might want to get the switch with 4 SFP+ ports in case you want to add another server later. Options are good.

Yeah definetely, ill keep it in mind. I was also just thinking that it might nice to get the router and switch from the same company and brand new but it isnt set in stone. Any idea how loud that Dell is?

 

[Chris Moore]

Yeah definetely, ill keep it in mind. I was also just thinking that it might nice to get the router and switch from the same company and brand new but it isnt set in stone. Any idea how loud that Dell is?

I don't have that exact model, but the Dell switches we have used at work are not any louder than a regular PC. Not like some of the Cisco switches that have the high RPM fans.

 

[Evertb1]

thats what i had originally but i switched it because 32GB DDR4 ECC is like 400-500, if i stick with a DDR3 era board i can get 32GB for like $100 used

Be careful with used memory. A short time ago I wanted to expand my memory with 16GB ECC DDR3. Every time I thought I saw a good offer it was registered memory. That is offered in big quantities. At the end I just forked out the 196 euro for new sticks. They were not easy to find by the way. It's getting sparse.

 

[Chris Moore]

I found it cheaper to buy a system board and processor that does support Registered RAM because you can buy second hand Registered memory so easily. A socket 2011 Xeon CPU and a system board that takes Registered ECC isn't crazy expensive and then you can get a bargain on the RAM.
Since you are willing to take a step back to get a bargain, you might consider that and it will let you use a lot more memory.

 

[Inxsible]

PSU: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151158

Your PSU is overkill (in terms of money), IMHO.

You could just buy a quality Gold rated PSU. No need to spend money on Titanium.

A couple of options are :

Corsair CS650M -- I use the 450W version of this

Corsair RM650X

You could also look for Gold rated Seasonic PSUs, if you really want a Seasonic, but I feel that Corsairs are pretty good as well. Lots of members on this forums use Corsairs.

 

[Blindsay]

Your PSU is overkill (in terms of money), IMHO.

You could just buy a quality Gold rated PSU. No need to spend money on Titanium.

A couple of options are :

Corsair CS650M -- I use the 450W version of this

Corsair RM650X

You could also look for Gold rated Seasonic PSUs, if you really want a Seasonic, but I feel that Corsairs are pretty good as well. Lots of members on this forums use Corsairs.

Yeah i know corsair has some really good options (Seasonic is the OEM for some of them) but i have pretty much always just run Seasonic (I have the 750w Snow silent in my gaming desktop) and have just been a big fan of their stuff. The reviews on their Prime Ultra series have been amazing - http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=493

Edit: i could do something like this though to save some money - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151187

 

[Blindsay]

What do you guys think of something like this for drives? - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822146149 or would refurbs just be asking for trouble?

 

[Chris Moore]

What do you guys think of something like this for drives? - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822146149 or would refurbs just be asking for trouble?

A few years back, when I built my first big personal storage pool, I used all second hand drives from eBay. I don't have the kind of budget for home that I get to spend at work. You just need to be prepared to deal with a failure or two. With those second hand drives, I ended up replacing a drive every month or two. Now, in my current build, I have all new drives and I still keep a couple of spare drives on hand so I can quickly replace a failed drive if I need to, but the frequency of faults is significantly less.
These HGST drives have a pretty good reputation, but any drive can fail at any time.

 

[Evertb1]

What do you guys think of something like this for drives? - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822146149 or would refurbs just be asking for trouble?

Refurbished is not exactly the same as second hand but to me refurbished disks are under suspicion from the get go. There must be a reason you have made the choice for FreeNAS. If the reason is that you love your data and are willing to spend money to go beyond consumer hardware for your server then why bother with refurbished drives?