Build Your Own Budget NAS – a n00b’s Guide Pt 1

[confusis]

Firstly, a clarification. This is a guide written by a n00b, not a guide for n00bs. I am in no way an expert in networking, storage or servers.

With Small Form Factor Network’s foray into video media (Namely YouTube) this year, I have realised the importance of having large amounts of storage. Until now, I have been living my (digital) life on a single 240GB OCZ Trion SSD, with backups made to SD media and flash drives… because? why not.

Read more here.

 

[NFSxperts]

I started off with using old parts as well.
Coincidentally, NAS4free with a E8400 but on a P35 ATX board. I wasn't happy with the undervolted power consumption with 1 hdd idling at 95w so I bought a new FM2 system.
An asrock a88x itx paired with a4 4000. I had saw someone with that configuration idling at 26watts, but I after I got the system, the wattage was nowhere near that (~60w) so I switched shortly after.

Next up was low power focused, so I used an AMD AM1 socket board. idle power as at around 25-30w with 2 hdds.
Single 3TB drive rsynced to another 3TB drive.

After one of the hdds suddenly failed, I sortof panicked and got a new system with ECC ram support.
ASRockRack E3C226D2I with a pentium G1840. Its runs in a 3x3TB RAIDZ1(raid5) configuration with 2 additional hdds as backup.

My next step is to wait for the 6TB drives to come down in price.


btw tsk, another failed project with the jonsbo C2

 

[confusis]

The Jonsbo/board/Core2Duo are now serving as my HTPC, courtesy of using the one working SATA channel..

 

[Josh | NFC]

Great post! Much appreciated.

By the way, right now WD has a 20% off sale going on for stuff off their website that in some cases is better than Amazon. Code is q6t8vtwqr.

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

I also have a Jonsbo C2 and am using it for a NAS. Originally I wanted to put my q9550 and P5G41T-M board in it but it didn't fit if using the front mounted drive bracket, so I changed to an Asock B95M-DGS (yes, b95 not 85) and a celeron g1640. I think in a small case like the jonsbo heat is the biggest problem.

I had previously tried using a B85N and g1640 in a Reallan e-w150 but it overheated after about 30 minutes, neat idea for a case but no way to exhaust the heat.

 

[NFSxperts]

The Jonsbo/board/Core2Duo are now serving as my HTPC, courtesy of using the one working SATA channel..

So what are your plans for you NAS system now? Your article says part 1 so I'm assuming there's a part 2?

I also have a Jonsbo C2 and am using it for a NAS. Originally I wanted to put my q9550 and P5G41T-M board in it but it didn't fit if using the front mounted drive bracket, so I changed to an Asock B95M-DGS (yes, b95 not 85) and a celeron g1640. I think in a small case like the jonsbo heat is the biggest problem.

I had previously tried using a B85N and g1640 in a Reallan e-w150 but it overheated after about 30 minutes, neat idea for a case but no way to exhaust the heat.

Care to post your jonsbo build?
Mine is here

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

Sure, I'll add it later today after I get some pics of the inside. I didn't use all of Confusis suggestions because I am lazy - I tried to use the G3258 but my board doesnt support overclocking on it so I stuck with the G1840.

 

[confusis]

New plans? New hardware setup, new case, and maybe ZFS

 

[EdZ]

For a NAS, I'd say that ECC support is mandatory, especially if you intend to use ZFS. For the current 50GB drives RAID5/RAID-Z1(single parity) is fine, but if the switch were made to 3TB+ drives then RAID6/RAID-V2 would be highly recommended. With the UBER (Unrecoverable Bit Error Rate) for reading being 1 in 1x10^14 for consumer drives, or roughly one in 11 Terabytes of reading. For example; if you have a 5-drive RAID5 array, lose one drive, and try and rebuild the array from the remaining 4 drives without parity, you have 12TB of drive to scrub through.

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

"Math and Science.....my only weakness, how did you know?" - an American