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FreeNAS or Nas Box ?

TechLarry

TechLarry

RIP [H] Brother - June 1, 2022
Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Messages
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So, I started off as a WHS user, then migrated to Server 2012r2 Essentials when Microsoft discontinued it.

Frankly, it's been nothing but a pain in the ass.

I use the backup system and file storage and that's about it.

The backup system is always going down for one reason or another, and troubleshooting Server 2012E sucks because the documentation is SO damn poor. The connectors don't work reliably under Windows 10, and frankly it's too much to maintain for a simple home network file storage and backup system.

I've had enough.

I want to pull the 4 drives out (WD RED) and put them in an inexpensive, but RELIABLE and reasonably fast 4 bay NAS box. I'll probaby run it in either RAID 5 or 10 for data redundancy.

Again, I'll be using it for backup and file server use only.

Or, I could try FreeNAS and leave the drives in the box they are in. Am I creating just as much of a maintenance headache doing that as I have now with the Server 2012E box?

What recommendations for a RELIABLE, reasonably fast but inexpensive NAS box?

Thanks :)

Oh, and what about Backup Software ?
 
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Dell PowerEdge T20
Basic config is more than fine, works out of the box with FreeBSD (and of course FreeNAS). Don't forget to update BIOS however :)

All Intel (Lan, Chipset etc). It's a mATX mobo so you can move it to a larger case if you want to expand later on.
Done
 
What I have is already much higher end than that hardware wise. It's an i5 based system and the hardware is very solid. If I go FreeNAS I should not need to change that.
 
Why would you need more? It maxes out gigabit just fine even using Samba. You can even use LZ4 compression and it'll handle that just fine.
 
FreeNAS is nice and low maintenance once you have it running. However, the initial setup of folders and permissions can be a pain. If you are willing to give up ZFS you can take a look at open media vault as well.

On backups, Veeam has free endpoint backup software that is real nice.
 
diizzy said:
Why would you need more? It maxes out gigabit just fine even using Samba. You can even use LZ4 compression and it'll handle that just fine.
Click to expand...

I just don't need to replace hardware that works fine that I already have :) If I didn't have the machine, that would be a nice choice.
 
Franko said:
FreeNAS is nice and low maintenance once you have it running. However, the initial setup of folders and permissions can be a pain. If you are willing to give up ZFS you can take a look at open media vault as well.

On backups, Veeam has free endpoint backup software that is real nice.
Click to expand...

ZFS is supposed to be the cats meow, so I really want to give that a try.

Since it's basically an in-home setup, Folders and permissions and stuff should not be bad. I can handle it in Windows Server fine, should be ok here. I hope :)
 
You asked for recommendations, as long as your current box uses ECC memory go for it. Also remember to update BIOS if you haven't done that recently.
 
FreeNas is installed and working fine.

Now to figure out the whole drive, partition, group, users, permissions thing. While I don't thing it's terribly different from Windows server, the whole naming convention and uses has be thrown for a bit of a loop right now.
 
No ECC Memory. This is just a simple system for a simple home network. I don't really need to get carried away.

Is there a problem with not using ECC Memory with FreeNAS ?

I appear to be up and running. Got the drives set up, shares set up, user created, etc... Seems to be working fine.

I'm going to maintain dual backups for a while (I have a 2TB RAID 5 USB setup connected to the workstation) to give me some play time with it before I finalize it and close the closet door (so to speak).

I also need to get some more drives. I only have One 1TB Red and One 4TB Red for now. I want to get 2 more 4TB Red's and set up redundancy before I consider it final. it will be a few weeks I think before I can do that though.

For now I'm just playing with single drives to get used to it's mannerism's.

UPDATE: Ok, I get it. It's a ZFS thing.

I'll pick up 8GB of ECC RAM.

UPDATE #2: Shit. It doesn't look like the ASUS P8 H67-M Pro supports ECC RAM.

Putting thinking cap back on...
 
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Rats...

10:44:29 AM
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Larry
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Hello Larry
10:44:49 AM
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How may I help you with your purchase today?
10:45:36 AM
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Larry
The Dell PowerEdge T20, in the $179 configuration, does that come with ECC memory?
10:46:04 AM
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Chetan_S3
Great! I would be happy to help you with that. First, allow me to thank you for chatting with us!
10:47:14 AM
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Let me chcek and confirm.
10:48:35 AM
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Thank you for your time
10:49:00 AM
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Chetan_S3
I have checked and unfortunately it does not have the option for ECC Memory
10:50:11 AM
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Larry
Ok. Thank You!
 
Since I can't use ECC in the machine I have, and the low-end Dell doesn't support it, I think I'm leaning towards an inexpensive, but decent, 2 bay NAS box now.

I didn't really intend on spending much on this. I just want to get rid of Server 2012 :)
 
They must have change the factory configuration. My T20 came with 4GB ECC, and I installed more ECC for the system. It is "fixed configuration", so there aren't really any options to be had.
 
ZFS, without ECC memory, can nuke your whole array if memory goes bad. It is the one "little thing" about ZFS can just ruin your day. Here is a guy who discusses and does make a valid point of "ECC matters if your data matters". So take it for what it is. My issue with him is that he uses anecdotal to argue against anecdotal evidence. But the cost of ECC memory isn't huge...it is pretty benign considering most poeple are using with probably a $500+ worth of drives. ;)

Why I Chose Non-ECC RAM for my FreeNAS
 
Trepidati0n said:
ZFS, without ECC memory, can nuke your whole array if memory goes bad. It is the one "little thing" about ZFS can just ruin your day. Here is a guy who discusses and does make a valid point of "ECC matters if your data matters". So take it for what it is. My issue with him is that he uses anecdotal to argue against anecdotal evidence. But the cost of ECC memory isn't huge...it is pretty benign considering most poeple are using with probably a $500+ worth of drives. ;)

Why I Chose Non-ECC RAM for my FreeNAS
Click to expand...


Yeah, I saw that. I'm looking at too much of an upgrade to use FreeNAS safely I think.

I believe I've decided to go with a QNAP TS-451+ NAS Box. I'll just use the 2 drives I have now as single volumes until I can afford more drives with the net goal to be four 4TB drives in RAID 5 or 10.
 
I think I came up with an even better solution. I decided it was time to get with the present.

Crashplan. 10 computers backed up with unlimited storage for $149/year. And it was my cheapest exit by far :)

I have on old QNAP TS-213+ I'll dust off and put the two NAS drives in it for local scratch work and temporary storage. Or I'll buy a cheap WD for $150 if the QNAP doesn't work any more (honestly, I don't remember :))
 
I suspect Chetan is wrong about the ECC, though Dell might have changed the T20. I haven't set up a new one in a couple months, but every one I've used (3, IIRC) has come with ECC. And they've all been low-end configs with Pentium CPUs.
 
Wow, my main workstation alone is 2.4TB. Glad it's unlimited storage !
 
So far so good with CrashPlan. Even at 150mbit uplink, I still have 2.1 days to complete the initial backup of this one machine LOL

And of course the jackass at Amazon picked the wrong WD EX2 NAS off the shelf. I was supposed to get the Ultra. He sent the non-ultra. Replacement coming tomorrow.

So assuming they send the right one this time, I'll have my live storage and music files, etc... back online tomorrow.

Now, if Crashplan allows me to select a mapped network drive to include in the backup (I'm NOT expecting that at all though), I will be thoroughly impressed!
 
Only bad thing about crashplan (unless they fixed this recently) is that all backup data is in one big pool so if you share with friends an family...they can be nosy if they want.
 
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