Hello all,
I have been interested in building a FreeNAS server for some time, and I think now's the time to get going on it. I should preface this by saying this will be my first computer build of any kind, though I have dabbled with hardware before. I spent some time going over the most recent build guide (which is very helpful), and poked around on various threads here on the forum to get a feel for what I might need and what issues might arise.
My requirements are primarily a storage device for personal files, including photos and family videos, and also to run Plex and a DVR for over-the-air content, and serve media to endpoints around the house. I don't expect I will need a lot of transcoding (most of my rips will be 1080p or lower for now, and all the devices I intend to stream media to can do their own scaling), but you never know what the future might hold. I would like the server to be capable of doing a couple of simultaneous 4K transcodes.
The data I'm most concerned with is the personal stuff (photos etc). Sure it would suck to lose all my media rips, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. So I would definitely implement a robust backup schedule for that non-media stuff at least.
Anyway, here is my tentative parts list, based on my reading of the hardware guide and build threads with similar requirements. None of this is set in stone by any means. Like everyone else I would like to keep cost as low as reasonably possible. I'm interested in knowing if there are performance holes, or if I'm spending more than I need to. Or any other problems you experts see.
Case: Fractal Design R5
MB: Supermicro X11SSM-F
Processor: Intel Xeon E3-1220 v3 or v5 (does v3 work with the MB? v3 is less expensive it seems . . .)
RAM: 32 GB of compatible RAM to start (haven't researched what I need for this motherboard yet)
PSU: Seasonic Focus Plus Gold FX
Drives: WD Red 2 - 4 TB x 6, in a RAIDZ or RAIDZ2 configuration
I have been interested in building a FreeNAS server for some time, and I think now's the time to get going on it. I should preface this by saying this will be my first computer build of any kind, though I have dabbled with hardware before. I spent some time going over the most recent build guide (which is very helpful), and poked around on various threads here on the forum to get a feel for what I might need and what issues might arise.
My requirements are primarily a storage device for personal files, including photos and family videos, and also to run Plex and a DVR for over-the-air content, and serve media to endpoints around the house. I don't expect I will need a lot of transcoding (most of my rips will be 1080p or lower for now, and all the devices I intend to stream media to can do their own scaling), but you never know what the future might hold. I would like the server to be capable of doing a couple of simultaneous 4K transcodes.
The data I'm most concerned with is the personal stuff (photos etc). Sure it would suck to lose all my media rips, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. So I would definitely implement a robust backup schedule for that non-media stuff at least.
Anyway, here is my tentative parts list, based on my reading of the hardware guide and build threads with similar requirements. None of this is set in stone by any means. Like everyone else I would like to keep cost as low as reasonably possible. I'm interested in knowing if there are performance holes, or if I'm spending more than I need to. Or any other problems you experts see.
Case: Fractal Design R5
MB: Supermicro X11SSM-F
Processor: Intel Xeon E3-1220 v3 or v5 (does v3 work with the MB? v3 is less expensive it seems . . .)
RAM: 32 GB of compatible RAM to start (haven't researched what I need for this motherboard yet)
PSU: Seasonic Focus Plus Gold FX
Drives: WD Red 2 - 4 TB x 6, in a RAIDZ or RAIDZ2 configuration