Building a home server?

[Real_PhillBert]

Hey everyone. I am building a new rig for myself and will have most of my old one left over doing next to nothing.

 

The idea has crossed my mind to possibly throw a raid card in it and use it as a home network server.

 

I though have no idea how to go about this. What do I need, besides a few hard drives and a raid card? How about software? 

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

[flibberdipper]

Give me a few to throw a $500USD or so to throw one together.

[Vitalius]

Hey everyone. I am building a new rig for myself and will have most of my old one left over doing next to nothing.

 

The idea has crossed my mind to possibly throw a raid card in it and use it as a home network server.

 

I though have no idea how to go about this. What do I need, besides a few hard drives and a raid card? How about software? 

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

For a NAS, FreeNAS is the best OS imo. Tons of features. 

For a router (for the network), pfSense is good software as well. 

If you are gonna use RAID 5 (Z1), 6 (Z2), or 7 (Z3), get WD Reds or Seagate NAS drives. Do not buy normal consumer drives and use them in a parity RAID. Bad things come of it. 

If you are just using RAID 10, 1, or 0, then normal consumer drives are fine. 

If you don't want to use FreeNAS, FlexRAID is awesome too.

You only need a RAID card if you plan on having more HDD's than your motherboard can support on it's own. Otherwise, software RAID is fine.

[flibberdipper]

Before I forget: @alpenwasser Please come here.

[MatheusSanzo]

You could also do software raid and save some money.

 

As for software... that depends, what OS do you pretend to put on it?

[mightytech]

Windows home server 2011 if you want nightly automated backups,and stuff.

If you want it to be a NAS, then freenas.

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/83039-building-a-nas-from-old-hardware/

Over on that thread he is building a NAS.

Some Linus Videos:

 

If you want it to be fast, then buy a couple gigabit network cards.

[mightytech]

These videos are AWESOME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk4jymBjffM#t=0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZRs7DRcBmo#t=0

[Real_PhillBert]

For a NAS, FreeNAS is the best OS imo. Tons of features. 

For a router (for the network), pfSense is good software as well. 

If you are gonna use RAID 5 (Z1), 6 (Z2), or 7 (Z3), get WD Reds or Seagate NAS drives. Do not buy normal consumer drives and use them in a parity RAID. Bad things come of it. 

If you are just using RAID 10, 1, or 0, then normal consumer drives are fine. 

If you don't want to use FreeNAS, FlexRAID is awesome too.

You only need a RAID card if you plan on having more HDD's than your motherboard can support on it's own. Otherwise, software RAID is fine.

[editing in progress]

Depending on how many drives I end up using I would use RAID 5 or RAID 6.

 

I will make sure to use WD Reds then Thanks for the tip.

 

I think that board supports up to 6 SATA drives, that would likely be enough. But if I use a software raid how much strain is put on the CPU? the machine is only a AMD Phenom II x4. (820) 

 

As for router, do you need a special type? I have a fairly basic Lynksis router right now.

[Real_PhillBert]

Windows home server 2011 if you want nightly automated backups,and stuff.

If you want it to be a NAS, then freenas.

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/83039-building-a-nas-from-old-hardware/

Over on that thread he is building a NAS.

Some Linus Videos:

 

<SNIP>

 

If you want it to be fast, then buy a couple gigabit network cards.

Thanks for the vids! I have some watching to do tonight.

[Vitalius]

Depending on how many drives I end up using I would use RAID 5 or RAID 6.

 

I will make sure to use WD Reds then Thanks for the tip.

 

I think that board supports up to 6 SATA drives, that would likely be enough. But if I use a software raid how much strain is put on the CPU? the machine is only a AMD Phenom II x4. (820) 

 

As for router, do you need a special type? I have a fairly basic Lynksis router right now.

My personal NAS is an AMD Phenom X4 as well. It's the 855, but still. 

My NAS can run just fine with the CPU downclocked to 2.0 GHz and 2 cores disabled (making it an X2). 

FreeNAS itself isn't CPU intensive. Streaming video sort of is, which is why I now run my CPU as an X4 at 3.0 GHz. Plex Media Server is an awesome plugin for FreeNAS for streaming media. And Transmission is a plugin for torrenting (so your personal computer doesn't have to be on to torrent things). 

Do note that if you want to use ZFS (advanced file system features), you need 8GB of RAM, minimum. If you don't want the features or can't handle the hardware requirement, you can use UFS (only lacks those aforementioned features).

Well, you could run the router off your computer. Make it "all in one". But that would require NIC cards. Up to you. A normal Linksys router would be just fine for it. I was just suggesting that if you wanted to make your own super router.

[flibberdipper]

FreeNAS as an OS (download it), and this does come close to $600, but for a reason. The motherboard is overkill for a reason. It has SIX SATA III ports.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($69.49 @ Staples) 

Motherboard:  Asus Z87-PLUS ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($137.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory:  Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($64.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($109.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  EVGA GeForce GT 620 1GB Video Card  ($34.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case:  Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($107.61 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $605.05

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-05 11:26 EST-0500)

[flibberdipper]

6 SATA drives

Got that.

[Vitalius]

FreeNAS as an OS (download it), and this does come close to $600, but for a reason. The motherboard is overkill for a reason. It has SIX SATA III ports.

Got that.

I don't see a purpose in having 6 SATA III ports. Most of the things connected will be HDD's. And consumer HDD's can't saturate a SATA I port.

[flibberdipper]

I don't see a purpose in having 6 SATA III ports. Most of the things connected will be HDD's. And consumer HDD's can't saturate a SATA I port.

Most of the good boards with 6 ports have SATA III though.

[flibberdipper]

Updated one of my previous posts with the build. It's overkill for a reason.

[Real_PhillBert]

Got that.

I don't see a purpose in having 6 SATA III ports. Most of the things connected will be HDD's. And consumer HDD's can't saturate a SATA I port.

If I already have the CPU, Mobo, ram and powersupply, dont I only need a case to hold the HDD's and the HDD's?

 

My current board (potential new server board) has 6 SATA II ports. I dont think there should be any problems there.

[Real_PhillBert]

You could also do software raid and save some money.

 

As for software... that depends, what OS do you pretend to put on it?

Sorry I missed your post.

 

Now I am leaning in the software raid direction. I didnt know there was such programs.

 

As for OS, I am completely open to options. It seems FreeNAS has been suggested here already.

[flibberdipper]

If I already have the CPU, Mobo, ram and powersupply, dont I only need a case to hold the HDD's and the HDD's?

 

My current board (potential new server board) has 6 SATA II ports. I dont think there should be any problems there.

Oh whoops. If you already have 6 SATA ports, then there is no reason to get a RAID card, and maybe a Fractal Design R4 (to try and keep it quiet).

[brob]

If I already have the CPU, Mobo, ram and powersupply, dont I only need a case to hold the HDD's and the HDD's?

 

My current board (potential new server board) has 6 SATA II ports. I dont think there should be any problems there.

 

I wouldn't bother with RAID at all. It simply isn't worth the expense. Use as many of your old parts as possible. Pop in one or more suitably large drives for storage. Do a share or two. Done.

 

RAID does not replace backup. It isn't even a good substitute.

 

(If workstations are using the server for backup you still don't need RAID. Just using the server for backup provides for single drive fault tolerance.)

[Vitalius]

If I already have the CPU, Mobo, ram and powersupply, dont I only need a case to hold the HDD's and the HDD's?

 

My current board (potential new server board) has 6 SATA II ports. I dont think there should be any problems there.

 

 Yeah. You shouldn't have a problem. That's fine.

Sorry I missed your post.

 

Now I am leaning in the software raid direction. I didnt know there was such programs.

 

As for OS, I am completely open to options. It seems FreeNAS has been suggested here already.

FreeNAS is the easiest to set up (so many guides). There are other options (Windows Home Server), but those aren't free. Or if they are free (Debian based OS), they are fairly complicated.

I wouldn't bother with RAID at all. It simply isn't worth the expense. Use as many of your old parts as possible. Pop in one or more suitably large drives for storage. Done.

 

RAID does not replace backup. It isn't even a good substitute.

RAID 10 is good for consumer level. RAID 5-7 are good for enterprise level stuff. 

The point of RAID, however isn't for backup, as you've mentioned. It's to prevent a loss of access to data at any point in time. So that you can always access the data should something happen (i.e. drive failure). Backups should always be done regardless.

I personally consider RAID 1 to be the only true backup RAID. And even then, stuff can happen and you can lose both drives at once.

[Real_PhillBert]

Oh whoops. If you already have 6 SATA ports, then there is no reason to get a RAID card, and maybe a Fractal Design R4 (to try and keep it quiet).

Time to reveal my secret plan...

 

I am using a 750D for my main build, but I am simply taking out the hdd cages. 

 

So I will have a couple of 4 drive corsair cages sitting around... now here is the super secret diabolical part... I was thinking of using a non windowed 350D for the home server and putting one of the cages from the 750D into the 350D and have the worlds sexiest home server!!!! Shhh keep this plan between us.

[flibberdipper]

Time to reveal my secret plan...

 

I am using a 750D for my main build, but I am simply taking out the hdd cages. 

 

So I will have a couple of 4 drive corsair cages sitting around... now here is the super secret diabolical part... I was thinking of using a non windowed 350D for the home server and putting one of the cages from the 750D into the 350D and have the worlds sexiest home server!!!! Shhh keep this plan between us.

That makes me hot. Make a build log of it if you can when you start building it.

[Real_PhillBert]

I wouldn't bother with RAID at all. It simply isn't worth the expense. Use as many of your old parts as possible. Pop in one or more suitably large drives for storage. Do a share or two. Done.

 

RAID does not replace backup. It isn't even a good substitute.

 

(If workstations are using the server for backup you still don't need RAID. Just using the server for backup provides for single drive fault tolerance.)

Hmm... That does sound simple. And cheaper.

 

 

 Yeah. You shouldn't have a problem. That's fine.

FreeNAS is the easiest to set up (so many guides). There are other options (Windows Home Server), but those aren't free. Or if they are free (Debian based OS), they are fairly complicated.

RAID 10 is good for consumer level. RAID 5-7 are good for enterprise level stuff. 

The point of RAID, however isn't for backup, as you've mentioned. It's to prevent a loss of access to data at any point in time. So that you can always access the data should something happen (i.e. drive failure). Backups should always be done regardless.

I personally consider RAID 1 to be the only true backup RAID. And even then, stuff can happen and you can lose both drives at once.

Interdasting... very interdasting... Then maybe just two drives in raid 1 would suffice.

[Vitalius]

Hmm... That does sound simple. And cheaper.

 

Interdasting... very interdasting... Then maybe just two drives in raid 1 would suffice.

Yeah. You should only bother with RAID 5, 6, or 7 if people constantly use and need the data on the NAS. RAID 10 or 1 is good enough for a single user and/or media server. 

[alpenwasser]

Before I forget: @alpenwasser Please come here.

 

Apologies for the delay...

 

Depending on how many drives I end up using I would use RAID 5 or RAID 6.

 

I will make sure to use WD Reds then Thanks for the tip.

 

I think that board supports up to 6 SATA drives, that would likely be enough. But if I use a software raid how much strain is put on the CPU? the machine is only a AMD Phenom II x4. (820)

Should  not  be  a  problem for  most things  as @Vitalius has said. Most NAS boxes

you  can  buy today probably  don't  have a CPU  which is more powerful than yours,

and most of them can do streaming etc. just fine. 

 

As for router, do you need a special type? I have a fairly basic Lynksis router right now.

 

Do you mean  if  you  need a  special router  for having  a server  in  your  network?

No, you  just  need  LAN  connections  for  all  your machines  and  configure things

right,  that  should  be  enough  AFAIK.

 

As  for  the  rest,  FreeNAS  is  a  very  nice suggestion IMO. If  you want  to delve a

little  deeper into things you could go with a proper Linux  server, but if you've never

done  that  before  some  reading  will be required to get it set  up properly.  There's

a guide  on the forums done by @MG2R about  it though, if  you  have  the patience

and  inclination to  go through with it it's not a bad idea. But still, FreeNAS should do

the job nicely IMO.

 

 

EDIT: What exactly do you intend to use this server for? (backups, streaming etc.)