OMV or unRAID

[silk186]

I picked up an HP Proliant ML110 G7 and I'm contemplating how to set up my first server while I wait for my gigabit switch to arrive. I won't be using parity so I'm not considering FreeNAS. I'm thinking between OMV and unRAID but I haven't been able to find a recent comparison to help me decide which is more suitable. I could try both but that would be a lot of trouble and very time-consuming learning how to use both systems.

 

I have 3x3TB DT01ACA300 in my main rig. I will be moving two or three of these into the server after it is set up and I get everything working correctly so that I can move my desktop into an ITX case. My plan is to gradually expand its storage capacity as 5-8TB externals go on sale and I can afford it. I need a flexible system that will pool the drives into a single volume and allow me to swap individual drives for larger capacities. I can't afford parity right now and will back up important data to an external. Most data is not that important. I have a SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB, a Transcend Ultimate 32GB SDcard (which can plug into the MB) or I can pick up a cheap SATA SSD 64-128GB with TRIM if needed.

Specs: Xeon E3-1220@3.10GHz, 16GB ECC, 2x 300GB SAS & x2 250GB SATA, P410

Why I want a server:

• move torrent seeding off my desktop because seeding a massive bank of torrents is resource intensive.
• share files to my wife's Macbook pro because it doesn't like Windows file sharing and her external keeps disconnecting.
• share kids show to the TV so that I don't need to run them from my desktop with extended display mode.

Wants/Needs:

• low maintenance
• easy to use GUI
• headless operation after initial setup
• easy to expand capacity
• support for Sonarr, transmission/rtorrent, PLEX and headphones
• reliable file share with Windows 10 and OSX

Which option is the most suitable for my needs?

 

 

[BobVonBob]

I don't have too much experience on the other parts of your question, but I'm not sold on running an OS off of an SD card, although a USB boot drive should be fine. Unraid is actually designed to boot from a USB device, and OMV has a plugin, openmediavault-flashmemory, to extend the life of flash boot drives.

[silk186]

1 hour ago, BobVonBob said:

I don't have too much experience on the other parts of your question, but I'm not sold on running an OS off of an SD card, although a USB boot drive should be fine. Unraid is actually designed to boot from a USB device, and OMV has a plugin, openmediavault-flashmemory, to extend the life of flash boot drives.

The reason why I'm would think about running the OS off an SD card is because the HP Proliant ML110 G7 has an internal SD card slot. I know that some OS will trash an SSD as it treats internal and removable storage differently. The benefit of the SD card is that two-year-old can't grab it.

[silk186]

2 minutes ago, silk186 said:

The reason why I would think about running the OS off an SD card is that the HP Proliant ML110 G7 has an internal SD card slot. I know that some OS will trash an SSD as it treats internal and removable storage differently. The benefit of the SD card is that two-year-old can't grab it.

 

 

[BobVonBob]

6 minutes ago, silk186 said:

The reason why I'm would think about running the OS off an SD card is because the HP Proliant ML110 G7 has an internal SD card slot. I know that some OS will trash an SSD as it treats internal and removable storage differently. The benefit of the SD card is that two-year-old can't grab it.

It looks like there's an internal USB as well.

 

[Salacious B Crum]

unRAID is very scalable it must be installed on a usb drive and it loads into memory and runs from there very little read/write activity after boot on the usb