This build I have in mind

[Golden]

So I've been thinking about building my own NAS for a while and the cost of a good reliable solution seems like a bit to much to me. So I was wondering if more standard components will do.

Can I just run a desktop mobo, cpu, non-ecc ram, ... in Raid 1 or Raid 0 with freenas without suffering from any real "problems"? Drive(s) failing/files corrupting/... aren't a huge deal ( but I don't want it to happen often )
Or is this just a no-go?

 

[danb35]

If you don't care about your data, hey, use whatever components you want. However, FreeNAS is generally designed for people who do care about their data, and people here will generally assume that if you're using FreeNAS, you must care about your data too.

To explain a bit more--defective memory carries with it the risk of data corruption no matter what OS or filesystem you're using. If the data's corrupted while it's in RAM, it will be corrupt on the disk. ECC memory will completely avoid this problem--it can correct single-bit errors, and will halt the system for multi-bit errors.

ZFS compounds the problem of defective memory a bit. As with any filesystem, if the data in RAM initially is corrupt, it will be corrupt on the disk. But ZFS regularly does scrubs, which read all the data on your pool and confirm that it matches its checksum. If your data is read into bad RAM, then the data in RAM won't match what's on the disk. If it doesn't match what's on the disk, it also won't match the checksum on the disk, so ZFS will decide that the data's bad. It will then attempt to rebuild it, if you have enough redundancy, but that may also fail if your RAM is bad.

I'll point out that it doesn't matter what, if any, RAID level you're using with ZFS--the risk is pretty much independent of RAID level.

In any case, you need a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and a reasonably-modern 64-bit CPU.

 

[DifferentStrokes]

Just so you know, there are other options out there other than FreeNAS for data storage.

 

[Golden]

Just so you know, there are other options out there other than FreeNAS for data storage.

I know but none seem to provide the same features FreeNAS does, being able to create a NAS that has torrent + streaming support and can do cool stuff like running a teamspeak server.

 

[Golden]

If you don't care about your data, hey, use whatever components you want. However, FreeNAS is generally designed for people who do care about their data, and people here will generally assume that if you're using FreeNAS, you must care about your data too.

To explain a bit more--defective memory carries with it the risk of data corruption no matter what OS or filesystem you're using. If the data's corrupted while it's in RAM, it will be corrupt on the disk. ECC memory will completely avoid this problem--it can correct single-bit errors, and will halt the system for multi-bit errors.

ZFS compounds the problem of defective memory a bit. As with any filesystem, if the data in RAM initially is corrupt, it will be corrupt on the disk. But ZFS regularly does scrubs, which read all the data on your pool and confirm that it matches its checksum. If your data is read into bad RAM, then the data in RAM won't match what's on the disk. If it doesn't match what's on the disk, it also won't match the checksum on the disk, so ZFS will decide that the data's bad. It will then attempt to rebuild it, if you have enough redundancy, but that may also fail if your RAM is bad.

I'll point out that it doesn't matter what, if any, RAID level you're using with ZFS--the risk is pretty much independent of RAID level.

In any case, you need a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and a reasonably-modern 64-bit CPU.

That's why I want to use Raid instead of ZFS but you can disable ZFS and just software raid the hdds in FreeNAS, right?

 

[DifferentStrokes]

So I've been thinking about building my own NAS for a while and the cost of a good reliable solution seems like a bit to much to me. So I was wondering if more standard components will do.

I know but none seem to provide the same features FreeNAS does, being able to create a NAS that has torrent + streaming support and can do cool stuff like running a teamspeak server.

That's kind of like saying, I want something that looks cool, can do burn outs, and go really fast. But, I think sports cars are a bit to much, so I'll just buy a bicycle.

 

[DifferentStrokes]

That's why I want to use Raid instead of ZFS but you can disable ZFS and just software raid the hdds in FreeNAS, right?

ZFS is the biggest reason to use FreeNAS, in my option. You can't disable ZFS.

The things you are wanting to do aren't restricted to FreeNAS. They are things that can be installed on a plain Linux and/or FreeBSD install.

 

[danb35]

That's why I want to use Raid instead of ZFS but you can disable ZFS and just software raid the hdds in FreeNAS, right?

No. The current version of FreeNAS only uses ZFS, and it's ZFS that also provides the software RAID features. Previous versions (i.e., before 9.3) also supported UFS, and that cut down on the memory requirements a bit, but there isn't as much support for them now that 9.3 is released.

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

the cost of a good reliable solution seems like a bit to much to me

Have you looked at entry-level off-the-shelf servers?
Dell: PowerEdge T20, PowerEdge T110ii
Lenovo: TS140, TS440

All are available at very reasonable cost online, e.g. the T20 can be had for less than $200 (before adding RAM and hard drives).

 

[Golden]

Ok I think I made a decision. I'm gonna build a windows server ( running a windows server os or just a normal windows os ) and use it as NAS and I can use a torrent client with a webui and plex. Basicly everything I need and something to run windows (server) on doesn't cost a lot.
Sorry for bothering you guys!

 

[DifferentStrokes]

Glad to see you found something to fit your needs. FreeNAS isn't the answer for everyone.