(need advice) server build with desktop hardware?

[Zyrox]

Hi guys,

My NAS has run out of storage and I’m unable to add more storage. I bought a Server/Rackmount Case with 32x 3.5” Slots. It’s a bit of an overkill, but at least I can upgrade it in the future.

 

I used the motherboard from my main PC and tested unRAID and later Proxmox, with PCIe pass-through, as an all-in-one solution. Various random bugs, have ruined my VM experience in unRaid. The unRAID forum, has been unable to help me so far. At this point, I’m done troubleshooting the all-in-one unRAID solution and after 250h of experimenting and testing, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s better to use two separate systems. I think it’s a good idea to use unRAID as a data storage server, but so far, I haven’t tested the (un)RAID function and I have concerns to use the outdated SMB1. Are my concerns legitimate?

 

I think the best way and simplest alternative to Synology DSM, is to go for FreeNAS, then unRAID, Open Media Vault, and Xpenology. The only problem is that my 5820K doesn’t support ECC RAM, so it’s not ideal for ZFS. There are two groups of people on the internet, group one says “you must have ECC” and group two says “it is nice to have, but it’s not a requirement.”

 

So far, I haven’t found any evidence of data corruption, when ECC RAM isn’t used. I will absolutely save important data on NAS.

 

Server OS requirements

Spoiler

 

Primary I need:

• shares over SMB
• users (+groups) for rights
• a high data integrity and availability
• Plex or Emby
• Nextcloud

 

Secondary an opportunity to run:

• VMs and/or Docker
• Teamspeak-server
• Gameserver
• https-/Webserver

 

 

 

My examples of Desktop PC usage.

Spoiler

 

Primary: Often; every day.

 

- Surfing the web

- Play the newest games

 

Secondary: Sometimes; ever three weeks.

 

- CAD, Photoshop etc.

- video transcoding

 

Tertiary: Rarely: every three months.

 

- Rendering images or videos.

 

 

Energy consumption is a thing here.

 

1 kWh cost about 0,27€ or 0,30 USD or 0,40 CAD

 

NAS HDD 8*4,5W = 36W

Graphics Card = 20W

CPU (5820K) + Mainboard + Fans + HBA + SSDs = 100W

 

Overall = 156W (24/7) = 415 USD or 34,60 USD per month

Undervolting would be an option to improof the energy consumption.

 

 

With an energy saving build like an Intel Core i3-9100T

 

45W + 36W = 81W = 216 USD or 18 USD per month

Is an Intel Core i3-9100T enough? The alternative would be an Intel Xeon E-2146G with a Supermicro X11SCA-W.

 

 

Should I keep my 5820K as a desktop PC, or should I buy server gear with ECC support? I think it’s probably better, to reuse my 5820k as a server for FreeNAS or unRAID and buy a new PC, for a more future-proof performance?

 

I hope you guys can help me, please.

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

3 hours ago, Zyrox said:

I have concerns to use the outdated SMB1

just don't use it

 

3 hours ago, Zyrox said:

5820K doesn’t support ECC RAM, so it’s not ideal for ZFS.

ZFS doesn't need ecc any more than any other storage system, non ecc will cause the same errors on unraid, xpenology, storage spaces and others.

 

3 hours ago, Zyrox said:

 

Should I keep my 5820K as a desktop PC, or should I buy server gear with ECC support? I think it’s probably better, to reuse my 5820k as a server for FreeNAS or unRAID and buy a new PC, for a more future-proof performance?

 

What id do is to just run windows 10/ server 2019 on your desktop, and use storage spaces for storage. It allows easy expansion, and mixed drive sizes and is built into windows. Then just run vms in hypver-v if needed, and run all your normal apps. You can also easily make network shares.

[Zyrox]

Quote

Quote

I have concerns to use the outdated SMB1 

just don't use it

As far as I know unRAID doesn't support SMB 3.0.

 

Quote

What id do is to just run windows 10/ server 2019 on your desktop, and use storage spaces for storage. It allows easy expansion, and mixed drive sizes and is built into windows. Then just run vms in hypver-v if needed, and run all your normal apps. You can also easily make network shares. 

So you mean I just install a Windows 10/Server 2019 on my "Server", play games or do CAD with Autodesk Inventor on it, like on a normal PC, and I should use Windows for a software RAID6? Isn't the risk pretty high to lose all data, cause Windows brings a new update out and windows stops working, and then to re-import the RAID isn't that pretty difficult? I mean I have no idea, but I've heard that ZFS is really solid and re-importing the pool is quite easy.

The second thought is, if something goes wrong in a VM, the system keeps running and the shares are still accessible like in a hypervisor or a NAS system, but with Windows it all stops, no access to the data until it is working again.