Hello, I wanted to ask for opinions related to optimizing my build. When I started ordering parts, I was mainly thinking as FreeNAS on bare metal but after realizing there's no way within FreeNAS to make blu-ray backups, and not being sure about other possible shortcomings (such as running nodered, mosquitto etc.) I thought it could be a better idea to do this under ESXi. I'm aware that this isn't a recommended build, but after reading some of the posts by @jgreco, I figured it may not be a bad idea as long as it's done right.
First the hardware:
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SCA-F
Processor: Intel Xeon E2176G
Memory: 32 gb Supermicro tested hynix
Network: Chelsio T520-SO-CR
Storage:
2 x 8tb WD-Red
2 x 512gb Samsung 860 EVO SSD (intended for other vm/jail etc. install)
2 x Crucial BX 256gb SSD (originally intended for FreeNAS O/S Install)
1 x Intel Optane 16GB (intended as SLOG)
1 x Intel 256 m2 SSD
And to be able to pass the SATA controller to the ESXi host, I ordered this card: SAS9211-8I 8PORT
I have two main questions:
1- What would be the best way to utilize the O/S install space? I intended for Intel Optane to be used as SLOG, but if I'm unable to do a PCI passthrough on it, then will it not be utilized properly under FreeNAS? Or is that too small of a space for SLOG? I've read through forums, but many similar subjects seem to be pretty outdated.
2- If this is configured properly, and the storage drives are accessible without ESXi through methods mentioned by @jgreco on sticky threads, any other reasons that I need to be cautious of to avoid virtual FreeNAS? One of my main issues is lack of bluray burning support in FreeNAS and therefore me wanting to run it side by side with something like Debian or CentOS. But I haven't seen any threads about virtualization with HBA passthrough issues that are within the last couple years, so if I can check community's pulse on this subject, I would really appreciate it.
Or, if there's a new way to burn blurays within FreeNAS through use of jails or virtualbox, please mention that and I could probably avoid ESXi. Thank you for reading this through!
First the hardware:
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SCA-F
Processor: Intel Xeon E2176G
Memory: 32 gb Supermicro tested hynix
Network: Chelsio T520-SO-CR
Storage:
2 x 8tb WD-Red
2 x 512gb Samsung 860 EVO SSD (intended for other vm/jail etc. install)
2 x Crucial BX 256gb SSD (originally intended for FreeNAS O/S Install)
1 x Intel Optane 16GB (intended as SLOG)
1 x Intel 256 m2 SSD
And to be able to pass the SATA controller to the ESXi host, I ordered this card: SAS9211-8I 8PORT
I have two main questions:
1- What would be the best way to utilize the O/S install space? I intended for Intel Optane to be used as SLOG, but if I'm unable to do a PCI passthrough on it, then will it not be utilized properly under FreeNAS? Or is that too small of a space for SLOG? I've read through forums, but many similar subjects seem to be pretty outdated.
2- If this is configured properly, and the storage drives are accessible without ESXi through methods mentioned by @jgreco on sticky threads, any other reasons that I need to be cautious of to avoid virtual FreeNAS? One of my main issues is lack of bluray burning support in FreeNAS and therefore me wanting to run it side by side with something like Debian or CentOS. But I haven't seen any threads about virtualization with HBA passthrough issues that are within the last couple years, so if I can check community's pulse on this subject, I would really appreciate it.
Or, if there's a new way to burn blurays within FreeNAS through use of jails or virtualbox, please mention that and I could probably avoid ESXi. Thank you for reading this through!