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Server2012 Vs Free NAS

Ins0mnyteq

Ins0mnyteq

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
1,079
Whats the Benefits of FreeNAS over Windows Server 2012R2? i basically am using the Server for a torrent client, PLEX, Pfsense in a Virtualbox & Backup for the computers in the household. WS2012 has the added benefit that im using it in my everyday life and know how to resolve 99% of issues that could arise my self, I dont know anything about FreeNAS or BSD for that matter. is there a reason to use one over the other?
 
From what I've read on HF/Spiceworks/ServerFault, Windows is unacceptable when it comes to software RAID. So you would be advised to go hardware RAID if you chose Windows, which would be more expensive because of RAID Controller and OS cost. The benefit is that it's relatively easy and you can purchase support. You would also be able to run the latest version of SMB which is now multi-threaded and has other benefits you can read up on.

For FreeNAS you would be running ZFS which is considered one of the better software RAID's. It has built in data integrity checks and scales very well. You could also get away with using onboard SATA ports. For support you would be relying on forums. Realistically you could get the basics down in 1-2 weekends of reading on the FreeNAS forums. ZFS requires a few extra steps when replacing a bad drive. It's not just hot swapping like hardware RAID.

How many drives and how much storage do you plan on needing?
 
FreeNAS can be pretty much totally run from their webGUI. It's expansive, but one could get used to it--I think a to some extent it's more complex than CLI. The big draw to FreeNAS is ZFS, followed maybe second to price (comparing with Windows Server). If you have a good Server license, and you don't care about zfs, I'd probably stick with Windows.

I looooove FreeBSD and zfs, so I run that, but I've used it for years.
 
FreeNas (BSD) or other Webbased BSD or Solaris ZFS appliances vs Windows2012
- advantage depends on your apps and knowledge - if you can accept quite often security updates with a reboot on Windows.

ntfs vs ZFS
- no question, ntfs ist last millenium against ZFS. Only ReFS is a comparable option now regarding data security but with many features missing.
 
CopyRunStart said:
From what I've read on HF/Spiceworks/ServerFault, Windows is unacceptable when it comes to software RAID. So you would be advised to go hardware RAID if you chose Windows, which would be more expensive because of RAID Controller and OS cost. The benefit is that it's relatively easy and you can purchase support. You would also be able to run the latest version of SMB which is now multi-threaded and has other benefits you can read up on.

For FreeNAS you would be running ZFS which is considered one of the better software RAID's. It has built in data integrity checks and scales very well. You could also get away with using onboard SATA ports. For support you would be relying on forums. Realistically you could get the basics down in 1-2 weekends of reading on the FreeNAS forums. ZFS requires a few extra steps when replacing a bad drive. It's not just hot swapping like hardware RAID.

How many drives and how much storage do you plan on needing?
Click to expand...

I built my server with an intel RAID card and server 2012 is Free for me at the moment. seriously my needs are not huge i have 4x 2TB 7200 Hitachi drives in a RAID5 +1 and a separate 64GB ssd running in a false Raid0 in which the os is installed on.
Im running everything off of a DH87RLboard , G3220,16Gb RAM ( Non ECC) and a few tlink NIC Cards. the only issue i had was getting the Intel NIC drivers to install, But i found a work around.

My understanding is to use the main advantage of ZFS you need ECC Ram, which i don't have. seems since my build is somewhat subsidized that Svr2012 is the way to go.
 
_Gea said:
FreeNas (BSD) or other Webbased BSD or Solaris ZFS appliances vs Windows2012
- advantage depends on your apps and knowledge - if you can accept quite often security updates with a reboot on Windows.

ntfs vs ZFS
- no question, ntfs ist last millenium against ZFS. Only ReFS is a comparable option now regarding data security but with many features missing.
Click to expand...

i don't have an issue with Reboots, although i know some people seem to have a hardon about it.
 
Ins0mnyteq said:
My understanding is to use the main advantage of ZFS you need ECC Ram, which i don't have. seems since my build is somewhat subsidized that Svr2012 is the way to go.
Click to expand...

ZFS can detect all disk/hba/cabling/driver errors beside RAM errors but ntfs can detect none of them. ZFS without ECC is far ahead of ntfs with ECC.

You must divide these two features. If you do not have ECC, ZFS is best even without ECC. Only ReFS can give you similar security features (if you enable checksums on data) but does not offer ZFS features over all or ZFS performance.
 
_Gea said:
ZFS can detect all disk/hba/cabling/driver errors beside RAM errors but ntfs can detect none of them. ZFS without ECC is far ahead of ntfs with ECC.

You must divide these two features. If you do not have ECC, ZFS is best even without ECC. Only ReFS can give you similar security features (if you enable checksums on data) but does not offer ZFS features over all or ZFS performance.
Click to expand...

ill do some research, thanks!
 
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