Any thoughts of my first FreeNAS server build from my old crap

[FreakySquirrel]

I have spent the last 2 days reading on the forum after my old underpowered crappy plug and pray NAS box alerted me that it has done its job and need to rest permanently.

I know that using old hardware is not the recommended route, but I just got my second child and investing in all new hardware right now is just not in the budget. I also plan du backup the datastore to an external 4TB USB drive using Rsync (anybody know of a better option?).

I plan to use the following services: CIFS, SSH, Rsync and UPS monitoring and ZFS in Z1. And maybe AFP.

The workload will only be 2 users. But I want good performance. and hopefully have a server I can use for a couple of years before the budget can allow for some new hardware.

Okey, it's not all crap, but close. My plan is to use a HP Z400 workstation. the spec is as followed:

- Xeon W3503
- 12Gb ECC memory (do I need more?)
- 3 X 2TB WD Red in Z1 (New drives I bought for this project)
- Intel Pro 1000 Pcie network adapter.
- Rapidsonic IB-544SSK HDD backplane solution

-----

Optional hardware I got in my "box of things I might need one day"
- And old IBM ServeRAID M5015 I can use (not in raid) but cross flashed into IT mode. Have read jgrecos guide here. https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/confused-about-that-lsi-card-join-the-crowd.11901/
- I also got and Xeon X5687 I can replace the W3503
- APC Smart-UPS with USB interface

What I have done up until know:
- 4 passes of the "Hard Drive Burn-In Testing" thanks to qwertymodos for the excellent guide.
- 72 hours of mentest86

Any thoughts on the project before my family photos goes up in flames....

 

[BigDave]

I also plan du backup the datastore to an external 4TB USB drive using Rsync (anybody know of a better option?).

Don't use USB for backing up your pool. eSATA is better and the 4TB drive placed in another PC is even better yet.

 

[FreakySquirrel]

Don't use USB for backing up your pool. eSATA is better and the 4TB drive placed in another PC is even better yet.

I would agree. But my WD drive only have USB 3.0. I can connect the drive to my daily workstation and do the backup from that, if that is a better option.

 

[ethereal]

with raidz1 they recommend not using drives larger than 1TB so you may need to get another drive for raidz2 - i think you can use 3 drives as a 3 way mirror

 

[BigDave]

I would agree. But my WD drive only have USB 3.0. I can connect the drive to my daily workstation and do the backup from that, if that is a better option.

No matter what it's hooked to, the USB interface is a lousy way to back up anything where the data
is important.
More info here...

 

[FreakySquirrel]

No matter what it's hooked to, the USB interface is a lousy way to back up anything where the data
is important.
More info here...

Thanks for the heads up. Need to get a eSATA drive then.

 

[Mirfster]

IBM ServeRAID M5015

The card you mentioned is NOT able to be cross-flashed to IT Mode. Please note that the card that can be cross-flashed is an IBM ServeRAID M1015

HP Z400

Just so you know, that board holds 16 GB RAM max (4 DIMM Model)

 

[FreakySquirrel]

The card you mentioned is NOT able to be cross-flashed to IT Mode. Please note that the card that can be cross-flashed is an IBM ServeRAID M1015

You are correct, then that option i out!

Just so you know, that board holds 16 GB RAM max (4 DIMM Model)

Just checked and I seem to have the updatet version with 6 DIMMs, thats 24GB Max :)

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

I want good performance.
- 12Gb ECC memory (do I need more?)

For good performance, you might, but you can start with 12GB and see what happens. You're not down at the "it might eat your pool" shallow end.

 

[Mirfster]

Just checked and I seem to have the updatet version with 6 DIMMs, thats 24GB Max :)

Well, that is better than 16GB. :)