BUILD Updating from Windows Home Server

[ChiknNutz]

I have a server I built back in 2007 that used Windows Home Server for the OS. I have since decommissioned it and plan to use it for a more modern OS. Although it was working OK for the most part, something since about Windows 7 or 8 seems to have been incompatible with the automated backups that WHS used to perform. So no backups have been happening via WHS. That is one of my main reasons for a home server/NAS. So, onto today.

I currently have Amahi 8 installed on top of Fedora 21. I have only had it working for a week or two, but so far am not so impressed. The GUI and just my overall impression are just kinda, meh. While looking into Amahi, I of course noticed FreeNAS and also NAS4Free being touted as running mates for a home NAS. What drew me to Amahi, initially, was the fact that it seemed geared more towards a relative novice, which I kinda am especially when it comes to anything but a Windows-based OS. However, I am just kinda turned off by Amahi so far, but maybe I've not given it a fair shake. Regardless, the reason for this post is to get some feedback on my proposed hardware if I decide to move to FreeNAS.

So here is what I have been running since I built the box:

• Antec Titan 650 case w/650W power supply
• ASUS P5M2-E mobo (only supports 4 hard drives)
• Intel Xeon 3040 Conroe 1.86 GHz CPU
• 1 GB PC2-5300 ECC Unbuffered RAM
• 3 - 500GB SATA hard drives (2x Seagate ST3500631NS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache, 1x Western Digital Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB)
• LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X Model DH-16D2P-04

IMHO, this seems like a decent foundation since it is server-grade hardware, albeit antiquated by today's standards. Okay now I fully comprehend that the RAM is inadequate, so I have more in the mail from Newegg. The mobo only supports a max of 8GB so that is what I am planning (which I also realize is the minimum recommended amount).

In addition, I was planning to run RAIDZ2 so need to add another hard drive, so have a 1TB SATA drive coming as well. Now this piece may have been a mistake as I have since learned on here that it's recommended to use drives of the same size. However, I have also read that provided you don't change the number of drives you initially set up, you can incrementally swap out drives for larger ones as time goes by (but not smaller it seems). So given that, I guess I don't see any harm in using a drive of a larger size, though I would appreciate any feedback in that regard. On a similar note, what about just adding another SATA interface card to add a few more hard drives?

I plan to use a 16GB USB stick for the OS.

I don't plan to do anything really hardcore with this server. All I plan is to use it for a central storage for music, videos, photos and documents, along with computer backups. I might like to add some add'l features such as media streaming and some of the other offerings I've seen, but these features are secondary at this point. I have a 5TB USB hard drive that I am currently using to hold all my current data as I mess around with these various NAS solutions and initially plan to use it for backups of the NAS after all is set up and working. Can I use the USB drive in this fashion with NASFree?

So all things considered, any feedback on what I have planned is appreciated, even if it is to consider something else. Many thanks.

 

[SweetAndLow]

The DVD player will be pointless and you will have a little under 1TB of storage. The system is not something we normally recommend but it looks like it meets all the requirements.

 

[solarisguy]

1 GB PC2-5300 ECC Unbuffered RAM

8 GB of RAM is the recommended minimum for running current FreeNAS versions. One of the main reasons is ZFS

 

[ChiknNutz]

Yes, I realize that the 1GB of ram I have is insufficient, hence why I noted that I am getting the recommended 8GB (my mobo only supports 8GB).

 

[solarisguy]

@ChiknNutz, I am sorry, be more careful next time.

By the way, when I tried to perform a significant upgrade to ECC RAM on an older system, the price I was quoted was close to buying a new motherboard with a modern CPU...

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

when I tried to perform a significant upgrade to ECC RAM on an older system, the price I was quoted was close to buying a new motherboard with a modern CPU...

Good example. The OP's system will probably work, but between the 8GB RAM limit and the low cost of a modest, new system, why bother?

Actually, I can answer that from personal experience. Put FreeNAS on the old box, play with it, see if you like it, but don't put anything important on it. If you get a taste for FreeNAS, replace it with something better.

 

[JDCynical]

• ASUS P5M2-E mobo (only supports 4 hard drives)

• Intel Xeon 3040 Conroe 1.86 GHz CPU

I have a similar system that is going to be replaced with better kit down the road. Older SM socket 775 with a X3320 chip and 8 gigs ECC.

As the more knowledgeable members have mentioned, It Should Work (tm), but keep in mind that it's not going to be a speed daemon. :)

The one thing on that board that might give you some trouble is the network chip. According to Newegg, it uses a Marvell 8056, which I'm not finding much info on for FreeNAS or *BSD with a few quick searches. Worse case, pick up an Intel Pro 1000 card for cheap and just run with it.

 

[ChiknNutz]

Okay fine! So now you've got me looking into a more updated set of components. I really wasn't planning for this but it makes sense for me to have a robust system. So, after further consideration, here is what I am looking at, but am really hoping you aren't going to tell me to replace my nice Antec Titan case as well (can't imagine why, unless you doubt the power supply after these past years).

• Supermicro MBD-X10SLM-F-O, MBD-X10SLL-F-O or MBD-X9SCM-F-O mobo (or similar, just saw these on Newegg as a possible contenders). Not sure if it is of any real benefit, but what is the consensus on the X10 models that allow you to put the USB flash drive right on the mobo? Since I will be using a low profile flash drive anyway, this may be of no real use.
  
• 16GB of DDR3 ECC RAM (whichever brand that seems most affordable, Crucial, Kingston, etc.)
• Probably a Pentium G32xx of some flavor (really hard for me to justify a Xeon given my plans for this NAS).
• 4x - WD Red or Seagate 2TB or 3TB SATA drives run in a RAIDZ2 configuration. Any compelling reason to choose one over the other?

 

[solarisguy]

My personal preference would be for WD Red 4TB or larger, but you want a 3TB variety :D , WD Red anyway.

Yes! And a modern, quiet, but efficient (=Bronze) power supply ;-)

 

[ChiknNutz]

Regarding the power supply, it is very quiet already and based on the specs, is also quite efficient (80 Plus Gold certified). So NO on the Seagate drives? May I ask why if that's the consensus?

 

[danb35]

what is the consensus on the X10 models that allow you to put the USB flash drive right on the mobo?

At least some of the X9 models to that as well--my X9SCL-F does, for example. I thought it was convenient when I was using a USB stick as a boot device (I'm now using SATA DOMs). I probably wouldn't pay much just for that feature, but if the board has it anyway it's useful for something like FreeNAS.

 

[solarisguy]

Large WD Reds are just my personal preference, like with patterns of my ties :D

 

[solarisguy]

If you have such an excellent power supply, there is no need to change it today.

 

[Jailer]

If you have such an excellent power supply, there is no need to change it today.

The power supply or his tie?

 

[solarisguy]

The power supply or his tie?

That would be his personal decision :D

 

[ChiknNutz]

Yikes. Not sure I can really justify the $800 this little upgrade is gonna cost. I might just opt for a new bank of hard drives first since that's half of it right there. See how it goes and then replace the other components later.

 

[Ericloewe]

Yes! And a modern, quiet, but efficient (=Bronze) power supply ;-)

Given what is currently available in the PSU market, I have a hard time coming up with any sort of justification for not going with an 80+ Gold PSU at the very least.

 

[ChiknNutz]

So here is what I am leaning towards if I decide to pull the trigger on this, after learning that my current gear just isn't gonna work:

• Supermicro MBD-X10SLM-F-O uATX Server Motherboard LGA 1150 Intel C224 DDR3 1600
  
• Intel Pentium G3258 Haswell Dual-Core 3.2 GHz LGA 1150 53W BX80646G3258 Desktop Processor
  
• Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Server Memory Model CT2KIT102472BD160B

I already have the new hard drives and USB drives as noted in my signature. Please advise if there is something off on this combination.

 

[BigDave]

Please advise if there is something off on this combination.

There's nothing off, it looks good. Hit the confirm order button.
While you wait for it to arrive, you can study up on burn-in procedures.

 

[ChiknNutz]

Well this whole endeavor sure has turned into a big PITA. I have now replaced every component sans the case itself. The latest appears that the power supply, while working fine for the system I just had it in, does not work good enough to be used with the new hardware. In all my years of building computers (for home use) I have only had one power supply need to be replaced up until now. Well I might as well replace the case too now and see if I can sell off the old stuff to try and recoup a fraction of what I've spent so far.

So, what are some case recommendations that will hold 4-6 hard drives? Ya I know just about any case will do for that, but the hot swap ability might be nice, but not necessary.