Ts140 intial config

[Grinas]

hi,


I purchased a lenovo ts140 after suggestions from members here. I am unsure of where to go from here.


here is my machine spec and what i intend to use it for.

lenovo ts140:
32gb ECC ram
intel e3 1225 v3 processor.


and these are my drives:

2 * 120GB SSD(different makes/models). 1 has 450MB read/write and the other has about 250MB read/write.
1 * 250GB SSD.
1 * 3TB 3.5" NAS HDD.
1 * 1TB 3.5" HDD.
1 * 2TB 3.5" HDD.
2 * 1TB 2.5" HDD.
1 * 2TB 2.5" HHD.


I know ye recommend NAS HDDs but after purchasing the machine I can’t afford them now and have plenty of other HDDs lying around. I was hoping to use these for a few months and then purchase NAS HDD.


What I will be using the machine for is:

1. Central data store.
2. Plex server
3. Time machine backup for 2 macs.
4. VM's for a proxy server and a VPN server.

Now my questions are:

1. What should I use to store the FreeNas OS. should I just use a USB 3.0 device as i know a lot of the SSD memory will be unusable if I use 1 of them? does it have to have a minimum read/write?
   
2. Should I use 1 of the SSD's to store the VMs as these will more than likely always be running?
3. what storage configuration should I use so that I can upgrade/expand the storage pool easily when I get bigger HDD's?
4. Does freenas recognise other file systems. So I can connect an external USB device to the freenas and transfer the data stored on them the freenas storage or do i have to use a PC?

thanks for any help

 

[danb35]

What should I use to store the FreeNas OS.

USB stick or a small SSD. You could use one of your 120 GB SSDs, but as you note, most of it would be wasted. You could buy a ~30 GB SSD and use that, or use the default of a USB stick.

Should I use 1 of the SSD's to store the VMs as these will more than likely always be running?

Up to you, but probably not a bad idea. It would then be its own pool.

what storage configuration should I use so that I can upgrade/expand the storage pool easily when I get bigger HDD's?

Mirrors would give you the easiest expansion.

Does freenas recognise other file systems.

Yes, in a read-only mode. http://doc.freenas.org/9.10/storage.html#import-disk

 

[CraigD]

What should I use to store the FreeNas OS. should I just use a USB 3.0 device as i know a lot of the SSD memory will be unusable if I use 1 of them? does it have to have a minimum read/write?

A good 16Gb USB 2.0 drive is fine, I use a sandisk 16GB USB 2.0 drive

• Should I use 1 of the SSD's to store the VMs as these will more than likely always be running?

• what storage configuration should I use so that I can upgrade/expand the storage pool easily when I get bigger HDD's?

With the drives you have two pools may work for you

Main pool: 2 mirrored vdevs (2x1TB in a vdev and 2x2TB HDDs in another mirrored vdev)
VM pool: a 120GB mirror

Does freenas recognise other file systems. So I can connect an external USB device to the freenas and transfer the data stored on them the freenas storage or do i have to use a PC?

You could use the 3TB drive in a backup NAS system and sync to it

I know ye recommend NAS HDDs but after purchasing the machine I can’t afford them now and have plenty of other HDDs lying around. I was hoping to use these for a few months and then purchase NAS HDD.

I did this with 8 2TB HDDs about a year ago. Three of them have died, and have been replaced with WD Reds

This is my oldest in use desktop drive, If you have a backup, I say use drives until they die

Code:

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:  Western Digital Caviar Green (AF)
Device Model:  WDC WD20EARS-00S8B1


SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME  FLAG  VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE  UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate  0x002f  200  200  051  Pre-fail  Always  -  0
  3 Spin_Up_Time  0x0027  155  139  021  Pre-fail  Always  -  9250
  4 Start_Stop_Count  0x0032  098  098  000  Old_age  Always  -  2288
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct  0x0033  200  200  140  Pre-fail  Always  -  0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate  0x002e  100  253  000  Old_age  Always  -  0
  9 Power_On_Hours  0x0032  022  022  000  Old_age  Always  -  57508
10 Spin_Retry_Count  0x0032  100  100  000  Old_age  Always  -  0
11 Calibration_Retry_Count 0x0032  100  100  000  Old_age  Always  -  0
12 Power_Cycle_Count  0x0032  100  100  000  Old_age  Always  -  386
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032  199  199  000  Old_age  Always  -  1239
193 Load_Cycle_Count  0x0032  001  001  000  Old_age  Always  -  898189
194 Temperature_Celsius  0x0022  122  100  000  Old_age  Always  -  30
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032  200  200  000  Old_age  Always  -  0
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0032  200  200  000  Old_age  Always  -  0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable  0x0030  200  200  000  Old_age  Offline  -  0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count  0x0032  200  200  000  Old_age  Always  -  0
200 Multi_Zone_Error_Rate  0x0008  200  200  000  Old_age  Offline  -  0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description  Status  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Extended offline  Completed without error  00%  57457  -
# 2  Short offline  Completed without error  00%  57323  -
# 3  Extended offline  Completed without error  00%  57188  -

Have Fun

 

[Grinas]

thanks for the help guys. just another few questions.

@danb35 linked to a guide for freeNAS 9.10 and all guides i can find are for the same version. I installed 10 corral a few days ago and its like a different world compared to 9.10 in the guides. Should i use 10 as it is the newest or go back to 9.10 since it seems to have a lot more support?

i must say it was very easy to set up the an ubuntu server VM.

@CraigD u suggest using the 2 120GB SSD's mirrored. will this not cause issues as the 2 are different models with different I/0 speeds?

also in regards to the VM's would you advise to use the VM templates in corral 10 or use my own OSs. basicly are the template VMs full of extras or just a stock image'. the only VM i will be using will be ubuntu server.

 

[danb35]

I installed 10 corral a few days ago

That was a bad decision. https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/important-announcement-regarding-freenas-corral.53502/

 

[Grinas]

thanks at least I was only using it for a few days. I cant believe i didnt see that thread

 

[Kevin Horton]

thanks at least I was only using it for a few days. I cant believe i didnt see that thread

I can't believe that FreeNAS Corral (i.e. FreeNAS 10) can still be downloaded. It should be removed from the public download server, IMHO.

 

[danb35]

It should be removed from the public download server, IMHO.

Agreed.

 

[Grinas]

I can't believe that FreeNAS Corral (i.e. FreeNAS 10) can still be downloaded. It should be removed from the public download server, IMHO.

i cant use that as an excuse as i downloaded it in April. I just checked and it has been removed from the download page. it was there last week so must be a recent occurrence

 

[gpsguy]

How many 3.5" drives can you squeeze in the box? It looks like 4. Is there space where you could mount the SSD's separately?

I purchased a lenovo ts140 after suggestions from members here. I am unsure of where to go from here.

 

[Grinas]

How many 3.5" drives can you squeeze in the box? It looks like 4. Is there space where you could mount the SSD's separately?

you can remove the 5.25 bay and stick a 3.5" in there so 4 * 3.5" drives. there is also a bay for 2.5" drives for an SSD.

you can get 3.5" to 2.5" adapter for the SSD or you can get a 5.25" to 4 * 2.5" adapters, for the SSD's.

with the adapter for the 5.25" bay you could have 4 * 2.5" drives. so in total that would bring the number of drives you have to 8(3*3.5" + 5*2.5"). you will need a HBA to use them all at once.