Custom Server Build for FreeNAS with ASRock MB and Intel Xeon E3

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Kompl3xX

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Hello FreeNAS community

below is a partslist for a server, that I am planning to build for a powerful home server application. I would be happy to get some feedback on this combination from more experienced users. It is the first time for me to build a server system, but I have done some desktop computers before.
Planned use:
- Fileserver
- Mediaserver
- ... plus more future applications, probably a mail server (I know the system seems to be a bit overpowered for now)

Questions:
- Are 32 GB for FreeNAS too much, could I save some money by choosing the 16 GB SSD?
- How would you rate the other components?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best regards
Kompl3xX
 
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iammykyl

Explorer
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Apr 10, 2017
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Kompl3xX said:
Hello FreeNAS community

below is a partslist for a server, that I am planning to build for a powerful home server application.
Planned use:
- Fileserver
- Mediaserver
- ... plus more future applications, probably a mail server (I know the system seems to be a bit overpowered for now)

Questions:
- Are 32 GB for FreeNAS too much, could I save some money by choosing the 16 GB SSD?
- How would you rate the other components?
Thank you in advance for your help.

Best regards
Kompl3xX
Click to expand...
Not over powerful, CPU lets you down for future applications, Plugins.
By choosing a miniITX MB, limits your RAM capacity, SATA Ports, choice of boards and is more expensive than Macro or ATX.
An SSD is not essential, use one, or mirrored 32GB USB sticks.
Your RAM link goes to NON ECC modules, you need ECC for DATA security.
4TB drives are only €14 moore than the 3TB.

Please total up your current list spend and compare to this build
https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/86DcD8
 
Stux

Stux

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Kompl3xX said:
Hello FreeNAS community
Planned use:
- Fileserver
- Mediaserver
- ... plus more future applications, probably a mail server (I know the system seems to be a bit overpowered for now)
Click to expand...

I woud suggest getting a single 16GB ECC DIMM instead of 2x8 and filling both of your ram slots immediately.

I hope the Optane is a value solution, because its pefrormance is overkill for the freenas OS.

Xeon E3-1220v6 is a fine processor, with 4 cores for media duties etc... but by stepping up to the 1230v6 you add HyperThreading, which gets you double the logical threads, and for something like plex, up to 60% extra performance... for, I think 30% extra. By intel standards, that's good value. Worth considering. Either that, or step down to the i3 if you want.

If the price difference is as near as mentioned, you might want to investigate the 4TB drives.

Nice case. I wish it had retention screws on the case screws and sound dampening material :), be sure that your PSU will fit, as there is a maximum depth that the Node 304 supports. I personally use a Corsair RM550x in mine, just because the Corsair's are good PSUs that I have good experiences with.
 
Stux

Stux

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iammykyl said:
The Intel Optane is not compatible with your selected MB,
Only supported on these boards with the listed Chipsets,
> https://www.intel.com/content/www/u.../optane-memory-ready-boards-where-to-buy.html
Click to expand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKXQQZTifzg

Its really just an M.2 drive. It should work fine. I assume it will boot. The Intel stuff is specifically referring to their BIOS based soft-raid/cache thing which uses the CPU as a dongle. And doesn't work in FreeNAS anyway.

If it provides a good value for you, and if it does boot (can't see any reason why it wouldn't), it should make a great boot device.
 
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K

Kompl3xX

Cadet
Joined
Jul 31, 2017
Messages
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Thank you for your ideas and suggestions. Here is my new configuration:
  • Case: Corsair Obsidian 250D (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00HFRTF5W/)
    -> I picked this different case, because it exactly fits in the available space, has higher quality and will be quieter when applied with sound dampening. I have a Corsair case for my desktop as well which is just perfect. This case only has two 3.5" slots, but there is enough space to add two more by modifications.
  • Power Supply: be quiet! Pure Power 10 CM 400 (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01NAU78TJ/)
    -> I just like bequiet products.
  • Motherboard: ASRock E3C232D2I (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01B9624AM/)
    -> Switched to the variant without m.2 to save money. The m2. on the other board is limited to the SATA-Speed anyway.
    -> Thank you for the advise on the mainboard, unfortunately the corsair case just accomodates a mini-itx board. I don't need a graphics card and will use the pci-e slot for the m.2 ssd, as there are no ssds available for the very short m.2 form factor on this motherboard.
    -> I would switch to supermicro if I could find a mini-ITX in their product portfolio that fits.
  • CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230V6 (https://www.intel.de/content/www/de/de/products/processors/xeon/e3-processors/e3-1230-v6.html)
    -> Your argumentation sounds reasonable and I am not so familiar with xeon CPU's. I picked the higher variant.
  • RAM: 1x Kingston 16GB DDR4 PC4-19200 CL17 (KTH-PL424/16G)
    -> The websites don't always show the ECC specification. Keeping one slot free is a good idea. Does this change the performance?
  • SDD (FreeNAS OS): Intel Optane Memory Series 32GB M.2 (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B06Y2VWP6N/)
    -> installed with Asus PCIe M.2 Adapter (90MC03I0-M0EAY0) (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0199T2XD4/)
    -> I would risk it. This ssd is not expensive and I don't like usb sticks, although I could stick one directly into the ASRock motherboard.
  • HDD: 3 x Seagate IronWolf 4TB (ST4000VN008) (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01LYHW9NI/)
    -> 4TB variant and just 3 HDD's to save some money. Minimum number for a good ZFS variant, right?
  • UPS: Eaton 5S 550i
I have another SSD available, would it boost the performance to use it as a cache? Is this even possible?

Overall price: 1380 € or 1620 $ US at the moment. It is not urgent and I will wait for the hardware prices to drop.
 
SweetAndLow

SweetAndLow

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Kompl3xX said:
I have another SSD available, would it boost the performance to use it as a cache? Is this even possible?
Click to expand...
No it will not boost your performance. Stay away from l2arc and slog devices until you have read up on them and fully understand them. for l2arc max out your ram first then see if it will even help. For slog device you need to run a sync workflow before it will ever make a difference.
 
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Kompl3xX

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Messages
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SweetAndLow said:
No it will not boost your performance. Stay away from l2arc and slog devices until you have read up on them and fully understand them. for l2arc max out your ram first then see if it will even help. For slog device you need to run a sync workflow before it will ever make a difference.
Click to expand...
Okay, thank you, I will think some time about it. I found this article about ZIL and slog: http://www.freenas.org/blog/zfs-zil-and-slog-demystified/
 
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