FreeNAS MK II

[Archive-8]

Decided to upgrade my nas setup.

So I am going to use a gamer case and power supply, I already have.

I have ordered an ASUS N3050m motherboard and celerion dual core cpu.

2x 4GB ddr 3 sticks, 2x sata controller cards, and 4x 2tb Toshiba p300 hdd's.

I have 2 2tb drives in my current freenas setup, I will add to the "super nas"

So I should have 12tb before raid, as I want some sort of back up should a drive fail.

I will use freenas as the operating system.

I picked the upto 5 days delivery for free, as spent enough as it is.

 

[archive10]

May I ask - what makes you choose the DIY option rather than a COTS NAS?
Price? Ability to fiddle? Because making it is half the fun?

 

[Archive-8]

It's a case of both, mainly it's the building it myself, I do like to tinker. The freenas option has cost £405, but I will end up with 12tb.

With the raid loss using an online calculator I should get 10tb useable storage, I hope.

 

[Vipersan]

Well ..
Having built and used Freenas myself for a good many years ..I have to agree ..
Both Educational ..and Frustrating..
A great way to understand how a NAS/server works ..
A pita ..after a power cut ..with drive corruption ..
..and data loss ...cos it's not like you can just slave the drive to a PC ..
My advice ..if anyone wants it ..
Buy a cheap UPS ..for the inevitable outage ...and save yourself some heartache..
OR ..do what I did ..
build an additional cold store for your (backup) data..
I'd still be using Freenas if the price of commercial Home /business NAS hadn't dropped considerably ..
A great way to learn ..lots of fun ...lots of frustration ..
But elation when it all works smoothly..

Gonna enjoy reading about the project Chris ..
plenty of piccys mate ..
worth a 1000 words each ..

 

[Archive-8]

Due to having a pre paid by reward card to spend, I had to split my order up.

The order of 2x hdd's should be with me tomorrow, still no update on the rest of my order.

The case I have is not a gamer case as I once thought, got it out of the loft, but a tower type.

 

[archive10]

Well ..
Having built and used Freenas myself for a good many years ..I have to agree ..
Both Educational ..and Frustrating..
A great way to understand how a NAS/server works ..
A pita ..after a power cut ..with drive corruption ..
..and data loss ...cos it's not like you can just slave the drive to a PC ..
My advice ..if anyone wants it ..
Buy a cheap UPS ..for the inevitable outage ...and save yourself some heartache..
OR ..do what I did ..
build an additional cold store for your (backup) data..
I'd still be using Freenas if the price of commercial Home /business NAS hadn't dropped considerably ..
A great way to learn ..lots of fun ...lots of frustration ..
But elation when it all works smoothly..

Gonna enjoy reading about the project Chris ..
plenty of piccys mate ..
worth a 1000 words each ..

Indeed. Each man has his preferences.
Many years ago I designed storage systems for digital video editing and archive as part of my pre-sales role.
(Some of them I even had to build - mostly the ones for exhibition demo-systems.)
These days, I tend to buy off-the-shelf NAS stuff; it mostly just works while I concentrate on other things
If I had time enough in the world, I'd probably still fiddle with IT endlessly.

[ASIDE]
Unfortunately, things always seem to get in the way...
Today (ascension day == holiday) I am busy cleaning a Robinia-based garden decking with a Kärcher, interleaved with sanding/lacquering the floor of the out-house, and right now also looking after the grilled chicken on the Weber.

[/ASIDE]

But - looking forward to your journey too, Chris.
Keep the pictures coming!

 

[Archive-8]

A few photos of the case I will be using:-

 

[Archive-8]

Found the psu that came with the case, it should be fine for now, and as soon as I can I will upgrade that.

 

[Archive-8]

The screw pack I ordered also turned up today



And 2 of the hdd's

 

[Archive-8]

I can format the hdd's in an old technomate tm800 enigma2 box.

It saved myself a lot of grief as freenas will not format a hdd from a windows environment, or when new.

Format it with an enigma 2 box and freenas is happy to format them.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Well ..
Having built and used Freenas myself for a good many years ..I have to agree ..
Both Educational ..and Frustrating..
A great way to understand how a NAS/server works ..
A pita ..after a power cut ..with drive corruption ..
..and data loss ...cos it's not like you can just slave the drive to a PC ..
My advice ..if anyone wants it ..
Buy a cheap UPS ..for the inevitable outage ...and save yourself some heartache..
OR ..do what I did ..
build an additional cold store for your (backup) data..
I'd still be using Freenas if the price of commercial Home /business NAS hadn't dropped considerably ..
A great way to learn ..lots of fun ...lots of frustration ..
But elation when it all works smoothly..

Gonna enjoy reading about the project Chris ..
plenty of piccys mate ..
worth a 1000 words each ..

I have really cheap UPS units here. Problem is they cost lots/as much to ship because of the weight.

 

[Archive-8]

Mobo spec

Asis N3050M-E Socket Intel Celeron Dual-core N3050 VGA HDMI 8-channel audio m-ATX Motherboard

 

[Archive-8]

All the parts have arrived today, so hopefully later o. I will have some photos and an update. :-)

 

[Archive-8]

Mobo box



Sata controllers x2



8gb memory

 

[Archive-8]

If I can fit it in I would like to add this



And bought this just in case

 

[Archive-8]

Unpacking the motherboard and cpu combo

 

[Archive-8]

Backplate fitted

 

[Archive-8]

Board fitted to the case

 

[Archive-8]

Connected the power switch, hdd led, audio header, reset switch and USB.

 

[Archive-8]

1 stick of memory



And the second stick of memory