[
IT
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16 May 2019
Also published on S&C
1. May I use my own HDD for NAS?
Sure you can but I won’t suggest that. You should use dedicated storages for NAS, WD RED for example. They are designed for 7*24 working environment.
2. What is SAS? Should I use them?
You may know SATA. Your PC hard drive is using this computer bus interface. SAS is short for Serial Attached SCSI, and is a point-to-point serial protocol that moves data to and from computer-storage devices.
If your motherboard has SAS controller, you could use SATA hard drive and SAS hard drive. If not, you could NOT use SAS hard drive.
In my building list, I suggest to use motherboard GA-7PESH2 has onboard LSI SAS2008. So you could use SAS drives on this build.
Depend on your choice.
SAS hard drive is also designed for 7*24 working environment. It has higher performance than normal SATA hard drive. BUT, usually it has less capacity than SATA hard drive. If you decide to use SAS drives, I suggest you choose 10k or 15k RPM.
3. GA-7PESH2 has only 2 SATA port. How could I use more HDDs?
You will need SFF-8087 to SATA cable or SFF-8087 to SFF-8482 to connect your additional HDDs or SSDs, with SATA or SAS drive.
Also, you could use HP PCI-e SAS Expander Card. This is the easiest way to support 24 drives with this motherboard. Plug in two male-male 8087 cables from the SAS expander to the onboard SAS, the plug all of your SAS breakout cables into the SAS expander. No additional software needed.
4. What is SFF-8087, SFF-8482?
They are all SAS connectors. You could check the difference in wikipedia.
Normally you use SFF-8087 connect to your motherboard, or your SAS card. And use SFF-8482 connect to your Hard drive, SAS or SATA.
5. How many RAM should I use?
The more, the better. If you use FreeNAS, 8G is the basic requirement. When you add 1T storage to your server, you should add 1G RAM, too.
BTW, you should use ECC server RAM. They are designed for 7*24, too.
6. Error when I install plugins on FreeNAS.
Delete your iocage dataset, and then install again. Don’t delete your other dataset!
[
IT
]
07 May 2019
Also published on S&C
PREFACE
Last year, I built a home server based on Linksys Router EA4200 v2, which was with openwrt system. Openwrt is a great router system which you could install Transmission on it. So you could get your objects like:
- Home share;
- Files backup in your own private cloud;
- Download media anytime, anywhere;
- etc.
It is cheap and useful, however there are some defects:
- limit storage;
- poor CPU and RAM;
- high risk you will lose all you data.
- optional: USB 3 transfer and 2.4G WiFi make noise to each other.
You may need a update NAS proposal.
New Build Properties
In this new build proposal, you will get multiple dual socket 2011 solutions, accessories, upgrades.
- Highly upgradable, with a clear path for upgrades;
- Bargain basement prices on all components;
- Extreme value, even with the base system;
- Support many different possible configurations, and use-cases;
My own build list
And because I build the chassis by myself, I purchased a 4*3.5-Inch HDD Cage at the same time.
Motherboard
GA-7PESH2 is with LSI SAS2008 onboard, gives 2 SAS2 ports which support 8 HDD’s, 2*SATA 3, dual 10GbE via onboard Intel X540(10GbE Base-T), and 4 PCI-E expantions.
Remember the onboard LSI SAS2008 will need to be flashed to IT mode. And the BIOS flashed to R17 is better. You may be lucky that all of those have been done when you get the GA-7PESH2.
CPU
I suggest you would use this for NAS only. So, you could pick a single E5-2620, E5-2630, E5-2630L or similar. It is enough.
If you want some virtualization, you should consider dual E5-2650, E5-2660v2. Add more RAM by the way.
For those Gamers and who are building workstation, dual E5-2643, dual E5-2667, or dual E5-2690.
Chassis
Chassis for E-ATX always is okay. Rosewill 4U Server Chassis is a good choise, too. And also, you may want to some full tower chassis like Phanteks Enthoo Pro if you are a gamer.
PSU
Make sure your PSU has dual EPS because you may use dual CPU. If not, you will need a long EPS splitter. Your motherboard is 305W x 330D (mm).
Build it
- Install everything you need including the Ethernet cable. If you don’t use VGA cable connect to your display, you may need a video card. Because the motherboard only have VGA port.
- Prepare a USB which is written a operating system.
I use FreeNAS 11.2. You could find some documents on its website.
- Press F2 to BIOS to setup.
First, go to PCI setting to enable the LSI controller. Then set the USB to boot first.
- Choose disk the one you run FreeNAS only. Install normally. You could check details on the FreeNAS documents.
- Login the web shown to you after installation.
Install Plugins
In your FreeNAS GUI, go to Storage.
- Storage-Pool, choose a disk to add a pool, named it media for example. Independent disk for media use only.
- Under your media pool, to add a Dataset, named it transmission for example.
- Add a user admin and set it to the group transmission. You could also set it to the group media at the same time.
- Go back to the media pool, transmission dataset, to edit the permission. Set user to admin, and group to transmission.
- Go to the Jails, activate media pool for Jail Manager.
- Go to Plugins, install the transmission, and other plugins like Plex or Emby as you like.
- Stop the plugin.
- Edit transmission jail, or other plugin jail which you want to setup. Add Mount Point.
Set Source Share(
/mnt/media/FolderName) and set Destination(/media).
- If you are Editing Configuration for Plex, I suggest to use DHCP, unless you do know the network settings. And you should Check VNET and Berkeley Packet Filter, and in the next step to Select
allow:raw_sockets.
- Launch Management from the plugin menu.
- Set the Folder to
/media.
Set Share Folders
In the Sharing section, you should setup SMB, NFS or others sharing. Therefor you could access to your media files on other devices.
Issues
If you have issues, like:
- Plugins not working after system update.
NEVER DELETE YOUR DATASET which have your files.
Try to get help from the FreeNAS documents or their forum.