First of all, hi there. I've been a lurker at SNB for a year or so, I guess it's time I posted something, so here's this.
Currently I'm using a DIY NAS that I've assembled from re-purposed old PC parts I had lying around (except ofcourse the WD Reds, those were new...)
On the software-side, I run Ubuntu Server w/ webmin as GUI. HDDs are configured as a Raid0 (don't even mention it...), with weekly backups to a bunch of 1.5 - 2 TB disks connected over USB cradles. It's a bomb waiting to go off, really, but that's what backups are for, right? Also it's just a temporary solution until something better comes along, which hopefully is... now.
Right now, this setup only serves as a NAS. However, I want to expand that further in the future:
The hardware upgrade I have in mind would bring in three major bonuses:
I had an idea of using an AMD 5350 with an ASUS AM1M-A mainboard (2 x PCIe, 2 x SATA), with 35W TDP for this purpose. However, it only has a maximum of 10x SATA2 using two PCIe cards, and it eats more energy.
An alternative I just found is the Intel Celeron J1900, as somebody suggested it a few threads ago. It's as strong as the AMD according to Passmark, with only 10W TDP. Problem is, I can't seem to find a mainboard/CPU combo that has at least 2 x PCIe or sufficient SATA2 connectors.
So, I realize this is a lot to read, so here's a TL;DR version:
Want new DIY NAS with up to 12 HDDs for lowest cost per GB in a software Raid5 using Ubuntu Server. Need mainboard with 2+ PCIe and a low TDP CPU.
Currently I'm using a DIY NAS that I've assembled from re-purposed old PC parts I had lying around (except ofcourse the WD Reds, those were new...)
- Intel D945GCLF2 (Atom 330)
- 2 GB Ram
- Dawicontrol DC154 4 x SATA Raid controller (only 150 Mbps/channel)
- 3 x 3 TB WD Red
On the software-side, I run Ubuntu Server w/ webmin as GUI. HDDs are configured as a Raid0 (don't even mention it...), with weekly backups to a bunch of 1.5 - 2 TB disks connected over USB cradles. It's a bomb waiting to go off, really, but that's what backups are for, right? Also it's just a temporary solution until something better comes along, which hopefully is... now.
Right now, this setup only serves as a NAS. However, I want to expand that further in the future:
- WAN accessibility (Owncloud?)
- Music streaming
- Download clients (pyload, torrent, dc++?)
- Wifi router replacement - need to find compatible hardware first, ac would be fine, but no master mode ac wifi cards yet?
- Media streaming/HTPC? - Not really, but might be fun to see how Ubuntu has evolved. Last time I used it for media playback, that feature was still in its infancy...
The hardware upgrade I have in mind would bring in three major bonuses:
- Less useless energy consumption (the southbridge of the old mainboard eats 5 times more than its CPU, and gets me nothing...)
- More CPU/RAM horsepower. With the Atom, I really didn't want to try a Raid5 setup. Initially, I had thought of a FreeNAS Raid5 using ZFS, but then again I want to go for the lowest cost/GB and a "simple" Raid5 under Ubuntu would also do the job. I'm not too paranoid, and I'm not NASA either. Data loss is not cool, but no lives depend on it.
- More room for HDDs. I want to expand this system to (ideally) 12x3-4TB WD Reds over the next 2-3 years using 4 port Raid cards, ideally with 300 Mbps/channel (unlike the DC154). For that, I'd need either 4 x SATA on the mainboard + 2 PCIe or 0-2 SATA on the mainboard and 3 PCIe.
I had an idea of using an AMD 5350 with an ASUS AM1M-A mainboard (2 x PCIe, 2 x SATA), with 35W TDP for this purpose. However, it only has a maximum of 10x SATA2 using two PCIe cards, and it eats more energy.
An alternative I just found is the Intel Celeron J1900, as somebody suggested it a few threads ago. It's as strong as the AMD according to Passmark, with only 10W TDP. Problem is, I can't seem to find a mainboard/CPU combo that has at least 2 x PCIe or sufficient SATA2 connectors.
So, I realize this is a lot to read, so here's a TL;DR version:
Want new DIY NAS with up to 12 HDDs for lowest cost per GB in a software Raid5 using Ubuntu Server. Need mainboard with 2+ PCIe and a low TDP CPU.