Supermicro X11SSM-F, 32GB ECC RAM, 6x 2TB WD Red, Intel Core i3-7300 4.0 GHz

[q/pa]

Hi everyone,

I am planning to build my first FreeNAS system. This NAS will be a home system: file server, backup, streaming (MP3, HD, maybe 4K in the future?), small DB (Digikam photo collection), some jails (Syncthing, Nextcloud, DLNA server). I want to establish a RAIDZ2.

Did "some" reading on this beforehand (complete guide to FreeNAS hardware design, FreeNAS community hardware guide, various posts, M.W. Lucas' FreeBSD Mastery: ZFS, various web searches).

I want to start with 32GB of RAM with the option to upgrade to 64GB.

Especially with regards to the CPU I am open to suggestions. The Intel Core i3-7300 4.0 GHz has a GPU which I don't think is necessary but otherwise it should do for my use case.

OK, this is the outcome of my findings:

Case: Fractal Design Core 500 FD-CA-CORE-500-BK
RAM: Samsung - DDR4 - 16 GB - DIMM 288-PIN - 2400 MHz PC4-19200 - CL17 - 1.2 V - ECC (M393A2K40BB1-CRC)
Power: Seasonic 80 Plus Gold Power Supply
HDD: 6x WD Red 2 TB
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SSM-F
CPU: Intel Core i3-7300 4.0 GHz
Boot device(s), mirrored: 2x SanDisk SSD Plus 2.5 120GB

Many thanks in advance! Happy to hear your ideas!

 

[q/pa]

Cannot find an edit button:

HDDs will be SATA.

 

[Johnnie Black]

Make sure the WD Reds are the old WD20EFRX model, new WD20EFAX are SMR and not recommended for FreeNAS.

 

[q/pa]

Make sure the WD Reds are the old WD20EFRX model, new WD20EFAX are SMR and not recommended for FreeNAS.

Many thanks, would have never thought of that.

 

[anmnz]

Choose a different model of boot drive.

https://jira.ixsystems.com/browse/NAS-100276

 

[q/pa]

Hi everyone,

I am planning to build my first FreeNAS system. This NAS will be a home system: file server, backup, streaming (MP3, HD, maybe 4K in the future?), small DB (Digikam photo collection), some jails (Syncthing, Nextcloud, DLNA server). I want to establish a RAIDZ2.

Did "some" reading on this beforehand (complete guide to FreeNAS hardware design, FreeNAS community hardware guide, various posts, M.W. Lucas' FreeBSD Mastery: ZFS, various web searches).

I want to start with 32GB of RAM with the option to upgrade to 64GB.

Especially with regards to the CPU I am open to suggestions. The Intel Core i3-7300 4.0 GHz has a GPU which I don't think is necessary but otherwise it should do for my use case.

OK, this is the outcome of my findings:

Case: Fractal Design Core 500 FD-CA-CORE-500-BK
RAM: Samsung - DDR4 - 16 GB - DIMM 288-PIN - 2400 MHz PC4-19200 - CL17 - 1.2 V - ECC (M393A2K40BB1-CRC)
Power: Seasonic 80 Plus Gold Power Supply
HDD: 6x WD Red 2 TB
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SSM-F
CPU: Intel Core i3-7300 4.0 GHz
Boot device(s), mirrored: 2x SanDisk SSD Plus 2.5 120GB

Many thanks in advance! Happy to hear your ideas!

I found this unbuffered ECC RAM:

Samsung Semiconductor DDR4 16 GB DIMM 288-PIN M391A2K43BB1-CRC

Samsung Semiconductor DDR4 16 GB DIMM 288-PIN, M391A2K43BB1-CRC, EAN 4260580370559 günstig - ab 0 € portofrei kaufen

direkt.jacob.de

 

[q/pa]

I think I will go for two of these as mirrored boot devices:
Kingston SSDnow A400 120GB SATA III (~20€ each).

 

[q/pa]

I have another question.
The memory specs of the Intel Core i3-7300 4.0 GHz is DDR4-2400@1.35V.
The Supermicro X11SSM-F memory specs are DDR4-2400@1.2V.

Is it OK to use RAM@1.2V? I guess so, just want to make sure. :)

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

Supermicro posts a list of supported RAM. Check here: https://www.supermicro.com/en/support/resources/mem

 

[q/pa]

Supermicro posts a list of supported RAM. Check here: https://www.supermicro.com/en/support/resources/mem

Thanks! The one I chose works!

 

[q/pa]

Referring to @Ericloewe 's comment why I am going with an old processor (Intel Core i3-7300)
(https://www.ixsystems.com/community...y-lake-pentiums-support-ecc.54748/post-554148), from what I read this CPU should work well with the Supermicro X11-SSM-F for the medium workload I am expecting. Plus the cost of roughly 160€.
Is it really worth to pay twice as much for maybe a Xeon E3-1240v6? Would I really need that much power (see OP)?

 

[q/pa]

Thanks to all the helpful replies, after thinking this whole build over :) I now tend to use these components:

Case: Fractal Design Define R6
RAM: Samsung DIMM 32GB, DDR4-2666, CL19-19-19, ECC (M391A4G43MB1-CTD)
Power: Seasonic 80 Plus Gold Power Supply
HDD: 6x WD Red 2 TB (WD20EFRX)
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SCH-F
CPU: Intel Xeon E-2134 3.5 GHz
Boot device(s), mirrored: 2x Kingston SSDnow A400 120GB SATA III

I understand that I do not need an extra HBA for this build, is this correct?

 

[anmnz]

I understand that I do not need an extra HBA for this build, is this correct?

The motherboard has 8 SATA ports and you are planning to attach 8 disks to it, so you do not need an extra HBA.

 

[q/pa]

The motherboard has 8 SATA ports and you are planning to attach 8 disks to it, so you do not need an extra HBA.

Thanks, but what I actually meant was whether I need an extra HBA to be sure to only have ZFS software RAID. I just read (with regard to an X11SSM-F) that "if you set the BIOS for AHCI (rather than RAID) on the board you will get a standard JBOD".
Does this also apply for the X11SCH-F?

 

[q/pa]

And does the abovementioned mean that in AHCI mode ZFS will be able to get all relevant disk information and function under optimal conditions?

 

[anmnz]

Yes. Don't use the motherboard RAID and all will be well.

 

[q/pa]

I am confident with my planned setup but it seems to be a bit of a problem to get the exact same RAM in Germany that is specified by Supermicro.

I have seen interesting offers on memory.net but I am not sure if this is new hardware or used/refurbished.

This was offered by a German shop: https://www.compuram.biz/memory/sup...1sce-f/32gb-dual-channel-memory-kit-x99e3.htm

They say it is 100% compatible with the X11SCH-F motherboard but I cannot verify this by consulting the Supermicro web page.

And: Will it autimatically work with FreeNAS when it works with the motherboard?

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

Re: RAM - not a FreeNAS issue but a "certified" by Supermicro isssue. Other may have more experience with using non-certified RAM in a Supermicro motherboard (easy - I have none :) ) and can give a better answer.

That said, I'd do some longer-term burn-ins with Prime95, Memtest86 or similar to make sure that there are no issues with the RAM.

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

Another thought on fans - it very well could be the power supply fans rather than the chassis fans that cause the most noise. The generally are smaller than the chassis fans and have to work, well, harder to push the air through the power supply. Changing them out could be a bigger challenge.

 

[Jessep]

This page for your board on UK site (couldn't search on the EU site)
https://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Supermicro/x11sch-f

Gives this part number on the EU site
https://eu.crucial.com/eur/en/ct16g4wfd8266

115.61 INC Each 16GB brand new from Crucial + shipping