I currently have a ReadyNAS NV+ that has worked well but that I have now decided to replace as it is too slow. I've decided not to buy an off the shelf NAS but to build my own. I originally wrote about this here (http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=5923) and have moved my thinking on based on that feedback. My requirement has shifted a bit as well, in that I am now planning to build a VM server, with one of the primary virtual machines to be a NAS.
My proposed build is:
I still have to pick out a power supply - any recommendations for a quiet PSU?
I will install ESXi on the SSD and also install the virtual disk for the Ubuntu server running ZFS. I will dedicate 5 disks to this VM via RDM. This drives the choice of the CPU as being the lowest TDP CPU that supports VT-d. Will I be able to use passive cooling via a heat sink with this CPU or should I install the stock CPU fan?
I plan to use some of the capacity on the the SSD for 2ARC and ZIL caches. Is it OK to provision a virtual disk for this, I figure the performance hit will be very small – is this sensible?
I may also provision my domain server from the SSD, but other than that the NAS VM will then provide the storage either via NFS or iSCSCI for any other VMs I need.
The motherboard only has 4 SATA ports, and the case will take up to 8 disks of which I am planning to use 6 on day one. I assume that I will need a PCIe card that provides either 2 or 4 more SATA ports, but would a SATA port multiplier be an option? Is there a performance penalty in doing this? Finally, any recommendations for add-on PCIe SATA cards?
I welcome your thoughts and opinions!
My proposed build is:
- Lian Li PC-Q25B, £92
- OCZ 120GB m4 SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" Solid State Drive, £68
- Intel Desktop Board DH77DF Media Series, £99
- Intel Core i5-2390T, £158
- Corsair 8GB 1600Mhz CL9 DDR3, £46
- disks from my existing NAS
- ESXi 5.0
- OS Ubuntu Server
- Total, £463 (so far!)
I still have to pick out a power supply - any recommendations for a quiet PSU?
I will install ESXi on the SSD and also install the virtual disk for the Ubuntu server running ZFS. I will dedicate 5 disks to this VM via RDM. This drives the choice of the CPU as being the lowest TDP CPU that supports VT-d. Will I be able to use passive cooling via a heat sink with this CPU or should I install the stock CPU fan?
I plan to use some of the capacity on the the SSD for 2ARC and ZIL caches. Is it OK to provision a virtual disk for this, I figure the performance hit will be very small – is this sensible?
I may also provision my domain server from the SSD, but other than that the NAS VM will then provide the storage either via NFS or iSCSCI for any other VMs I need.
The motherboard only has 4 SATA ports, and the case will take up to 8 disks of which I am planning to use 6 on day one. I assume that I will need a PCIe card that provides either 2 or 4 more SATA ports, but would a SATA port multiplier be an option? Is there a performance penalty in doing this? Finally, any recommendations for add-on PCIe SATA cards?
I welcome your thoughts and opinions!
