The final check before purchase

[rahimlee54]

Hi all,

After some pricing and consideration I think I want to buy an off the shelf supermicro system that is ready to use from ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UXS-Server...Xeon-E5-2670-V2-10-Core-48GB-ZFS/132787537784

I looked through multiple things and decided this would meet my criteria. I read through the hardware guide a few times to make sure I had everything accounted for so hopefully I didnt miss anything.

Can someone who has experience with server gear and freenas please check this out and make sure I am on the right track.

I am going to run a couple of VMs for plex, roon, maybe a unifi controller and a few home automation programs as needed. I will probably fill 8 drive bays with 4 or 6 tb drives and see how that does for me.

Thanks
Jared

 

[Chris Moore]

Can someone who has experience with server gear and freenas please check this out and make sure I am on the right track.

Sure, love to help out.
I normally would suggest a 3U or 4U chassis because the thinner it is, the less airflow, the faster the fans have to run, the louder it is, but you can think about that.
- See this bit:

Code:

Storage Controller: 1x LSI 9210-8i HBA JBOD FREENAS UNRAID ( Connected to 8 Drive Bays)
** 4x SATA Ports onboard onnected to remaining 4 Drive Bays

I would suggest getting a SAS expander so you can connect all the drive bays to the SAS controller. No point splitting it like that.
Here is the model I would suggest because of the 2U chassis. I would suggest a different (less expensive) card if there were room for it.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-RES2...R-CARD-PCI-EXPRESS-x4-E91267-203/273446759627
That comes with the full height card bracket, so you will need to get the low profile bracket to adapt it to your system:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOW-BRACKET-FACE-PLATE-for-Intel-RAID-Expander-RES2SV240-SATA/263861536434
Generally speaking, I find 1U and 2U servers to be more trouble than they are worth.
This is the kind of cable that would go from the SAS expander to the drive backplane:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-SAS-t...reakout-Internal-Cable-3-28-Feet/311689047579
and you would need three, but the chassis probably comes with two already connected to the SAS controller that you can re-use.
This is the kind of cable to go from the SAS controller to the SAS expander:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/15-SFF-808...-Pin-Server-Hard-Disk-RAID-Cable/162274036831
This one is only 15" but it only needs to go from one card slot to the other, you could probably manage with an even shorter cable, but this is safe. You can get by with one, which would leave the second port on the SAS controller open for future expansion by means of an external chassis. That one SAS HBA card is able to control 256 drives: https://www.broadcom.com/products/storage/host-bus-adapters/sas-9210-8i

I will probably fill 8 drive bays

I would suggest that you go with 6 bays now leaving 6 more for later. That way you can have two equal vdevs (6 drives each) in your pool when you expand. If you go with 8, it will leave you unbalanced if you ever need to expand in the future.

This would be fine for FreeNAS, but you might find the fans a bit on the loud side. Depends on your sensitivities.

 

[rahimlee54]

Sure, love to help out.
I normally would suggest a 3U or 4U chassis because the thinner it is, the less airflow, the faster the fans have to run, the louder it is, but you can think about that.
- See this bit:

Code:

Storage Controller: 1x LSI 9210-8i HBA JBOD FREENAS UNRAID ( Connected to 8 Drive Bays)
** 4x SATA Ports onboard onnected to remaining 4 Drive Bays

I would suggest getting a SAS expander so you can connect all the drive bays to the SAS controller. No point splitting it like that.
Here is the model I would suggest because of the 2U chassis. I would suggest a different (less expensive) card if there were room for it.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-RES2...R-CARD-PCI-EXPRESS-x4-E91267-203/273446759627
That comes with the full height card bracket, so you will need to get the low profile bracket to adapt it to your system:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOW-BRACKET-FACE-PLATE-for-Intel-RAID-Expander-RES2SV240-SATA/263861536434
Generally speaking, I find 1U and 2U servers to be more trouble than they are worth.
This is the kind of cable that would go from the SAS expander to the drive backplane:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-SAS-t...reakout-Internal-Cable-3-28-Feet/311689047579
and you would need three, but the chassis probably comes with two already connected to the SAS controller that you can re-use.
This is the kind of cable to go from the SAS controller to the SAS expander:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/15-SFF-808...-Pin-Server-Hard-Disk-RAID-Cable/162274036831
This one is only 15" but it only needs to go from one card slot to the other, you could probably manage with an even shorter cable, but this is safe. You can get by with one, which would leave the second port on the SAS controller open for future expansion by means of an external chassis. That one SAS HBA card is able to control 256 drives: https://www.broadcom.com/products/storage/host-bus-adapters/sas-9210-8i

I would suggest that you go with 6 bays now leaving 6 more for later. That way you can have two equal vdevs (6 drives each) in your pool when you expand. If you go with 8, it will leave you unbalanced if you ever need to expand in the future.

This would be fine for FreeNAS, but you might find the fans a bit on the loud side. Depends on your sensitivities.

Thanks for the detailed info. I'll see if I can find a larger chassis that fits budget. I have plenty of space. I mostly liked that processor ram set.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Chris Moore]

Thanks for the detailed info. I'll see if I can find a larger chassis that fits budget. I have plenty of space. I mostly liked that processor ram set.

Unfortunately, there are not many really good bargains on eBay right now. You could get one like this and add your own system-board, processor and memory.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SuperMicro...-846EL1-24X-Trays-2x-PWS-920P-SQ/382382593982

 

[rahimlee54]

Unfortunately, there are not many really good bargains on eBay right now. You could get one like this and add your own system-board, processor and memory.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SuperMicro...-846EL1-24X-Trays-2x-PWS-920P-SQ/382382593982

I looked at that option but it ended up similar pricing for me. I found another option I'll link after I read your first response set closely.

I have been toying with the free nas idea for a few years and have been to cheap to dive in. I am at the point now where I just need to do it, or buy a qnap.

Would it be prudent to hold off?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[JohnK]

Hi all,
After some pricing and consideration I think I want to buy an off the shelf supermicro system that is ready to use

Looking at the parts listed, I would not say it is off the shelve.
I ran two supermmixro 826 servers for a long time before replacing them with 836 servers as my needs changed. They use the same fans with about same noise levels.

I think the size and type of server depends on needs. One thing that will be a problem with the current server is your ability to go more than 8 drives. You could add another HBA or you want a SAS expander. If you do that though with 12 drives, you will have no space for datastores.

 

[rahimlee54]

Looking at the parts listed, I would not say it is off the shelve.
I ran two supermmixro 826 servers for a long time before replacing them with 836 servers as my needs changed. They use the same fans with about same noise levels.

I think the size and type of server depends on needs. One thing that will be a problem with the current server is your ability to go more than 8 drives. You could add another HBA or you want a SAS expander. If you do that though with 12 drives, you will have no space for datastores.

Ya I hadn't really thought about double backup.

I am looking at the 4u units and seeing what is available. There are a few different options I could use, I want to go over them and compare. I'll post here for another round of scrutiny.

Thanks
Jared

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Chris Moore]

Ya I hadn't really thought about double backup.

What double backup? Having one server is not a backup, having a second server can be a backup. One is none, two is one.