Setup for small company.

[zayler]

Hey, so i was advised to create my own thread. I am new to ZFS and TrueNAS community.
What is in use currently:
Qnap TS-431k with 2x10TB drives. Stock firmware. Files are moved manually there. Every now and then.
What is the goal:
Move to nextcloud from Gdrive.
Have a setup that can manage 30 users.
Usual load: Once a day 1-5 users will have 8GB of data to upload each.
So i can have locally stored cloud for my users to upload too. And once a week move some archives to then offline Qnap for safety and longterm safekeeping. (5yrs)
So server would run TrueNAS and jail with nextcloud. Basically thats it.
I am wondering what option for TrueNAS server would be best?
Something like:
Fractal Design Node 304
AsRock or SuperMicro MOBO with Xeon or Epyc CPU
16GB ECC RAM
For now with 2x12TB drives in future might be more like 4-6 drives. WD RED PLUS (better option?)
Exact models and stuff i dont really know, need to do more research but maybe i can cut some costs or someone can propose something?
I was also thinking about old G8 or G9 hp server and running that, but heard there are some problems with RAID controllers, need to run without it etc.
Location Poland.

 

[zayler]

I was looking around and i could buy for example
ASRock - C3558D4U-2OP for 420$Shop
or
ASRock - EPYC3101D4I-2T for 610$ Shop
is there advantage going Epic that i would notice?
and newbie question these are MOBO with CPU already mounted or i need to buy separatly?

 

[mrpasc]

Both boards come with CPU (the CPU on those „embedded“ boards is soldered to the board at factory, that’s makes the higher prices compared to „plain“ boards.
For SMB transfers which are still mainly single threated the Epyc would be better choice, but the Atom should serve 5 users as well at fair speed. Go for the atom and spend the saved money for more RAM would be my choice if on a small budget

 

[Arwen]

Just note that the ASRock - C3558D4U-2OP has SFP+ for network, requiring SFP(+) modules, (either 1Gbps or 10bps fiber, or copper SFPs). The ASRock - EPYC3101D4I-2T has copper for either 1Gbps or 10Gbps Ethernet.

If your network is flexible, then it might not mater.

 

[zayler]

Well, i learned some things, and i dont need to go small compact case anymore, so i can save some bucks:
So i decided to go with Supermicro X11 board, but i need advice about the CPU, what performance, or what model should i go for?
There is this used set being sold for quite cheap, around 300$ Supermicro X11SSL-F + Intel Xeon E3-1220 v6
Would that CPU be enough?

 

[mrpasc]

Yes, that Xeon should do the job. Add as much RAM as you can afford.

 

[Davvo]

FYI: RAM is capped at 64GB for that motherboard.
Also, it has (only?) 6 SATA ports and will require a pcie adapter for any kind of m2 SSD.

 

[rvassar]

Consider... The TrueNAS Mini starts at $848.

 

[zayler]

6 Sata ports are enough for now, as planned are 2x16TB disks for now, and 4x16 in the future.
PCIE nvme adapter is still fine, as it costs much less than any other option, this server, as long as CPU is not limiting factor should be just fine.
I have just a GPU question, i have some old graphics card, can i use it there? Or there is just no need?

 

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Unless you want to run a VM with GPU passthrough which is difficult anyway, you don't need a "real GPU" at all. Use whatever comes on board for the text console or - if the board does not come with VGA - use any old graphics card provided it works with your board.