Need to add PCI network card, any suggestions?

[Robert Townsend]

It was very difficult finding a motherboard that supports my 16G DDR3 and I7-3770K CPU. The one I got claimed it had a 1Gb/s network. By happenstance my deskcheck of the motherboard had Windows 11 installed - and it states the network is 100Mb/s. I verified with a 11MB/s file transfer.

Since 100Mb/s speed is not acceptable I'm considering a PCI network card. I have 1x and 16x PCI slots available. I will start reviewing TrueNAS documentation but I'm wondering. How easy/difficult will it be to set up TrueNAS to use the PCI network card. It's been years since I installed FreeNAS on my current server and don't remember addressing networks.

Does anyone have recommendations on a PCI network card? My network only supports up to 1Gb/s.

 

[JohnDigital]

Its pretty easy, what I would do is shut down, install card, boot up and change your existing nic to a different IP, then make your new nic the old IP. Its possible to have to change some settings if jails are looking for a particular network card. As far as the card goes you could get a simple Intel 1x pcie card, or go with something more along these lines. And stick it in the 16 slot.

 

[Robert Townsend]

Its pretty easy, what I would do is shut down, install card, boot up and change your existing nic to a different IP, then make your new nic the old IP. Its possible to have to change some settings if jails are looking for a particular network card. As far as the card goes you could get a simple Intel 1x pcie card, or go with something more along these lines. And stick it in the 16 slot.

Thank you, I did see the dual port IBM cards but figure the extra port won't add to my basic home installation. I just ordered a PCI 1x Intel 82572GI Gigabit Controller based new network card for $22. Once installed I'll disable the MB NIC since I'm not sure it could add any value.

 

[Robert Townsend]

Thank you, I did see the dual port IBM cards but figure the extra port won't add to my basic home installation. I just ordered a PCI 1x Intel 82572GI Gigabit Controller based new network card for $22. Once installed I'll disable the MB NIC since I'm not sure it could add any value.

I received the card and installed it. TrueNAS picked it up at 1000T and is happily processing. I also installed a 6 port PCI-e 4x SATA 3.0 card. My performance testing has the drives at 170MB/s in a USB cradle. In TrueNAS RAIDZ2 I've gotten download speeds of 110MB/s, I am thrilled.

 

[sretalla]

I also installed a 6 port PCI-e 4x SATA 3.0 card

Be careful as it sounds like you might have one of these...

Multiply your problems with SATA Port Multipliers and cheap SATA controllers

In the last year or two, we've had a resurgence of users asking about SATA Port Multipliers and cheap SATA controllers. Please, do NOT use port multipliers, and use cheap SATA controllers only after extensive research. SATA controllers and SATA...

www.truenas.com

 

[Robert Townsend]

I did see some of that. It is a newer AsMedia model. I don't know if it multiplexes, but it is a 4x card not 1x.

 

[JohnDigital]

If you want to stop any problems before they start, get yourself one of these and it comes with cables, shop around as this might not be the exact best one. It can handle 8 drives as is. Im using one to a disk shelf with 24 disks in it on a single port. Matter of fact I have several of these if your interested I could arrange to ship, PM me.

 

[Robert Townsend]

I could have and would have for that price, and 8x PCI-e. Now I have that nagging in the back of my brain (it's no stranger.) I wonder if I swap out the controller, will TrueNAS identify the drives/pools and keep going.

 

[HoneyBadger]

I wonder if I swap out the controller, will TrueNAS identify the drives/pools and keep going.

Provided that your ASMedia controller is just offering up pure SATA with no RAID silliness (which it should) then TrueNAS will do exactly this when it boots back up with the LSI HBA.

ASMedia is better than the Syba (or even Marvell) SATA controller chipsets, so you may be just fine; but LSI is the gold standard and has literally billions of run-hours.