New server with old pc

[Messer Malamerenda]

Country: Italy

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Plex Server and other kind of files like video, documents

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

 

Hi, i'm building a nas from my old pc. 

I already have everything that i need for the build, here the list.

 

Mobo: Asus H170-Pro

CPU: I think is an old Intel i5 6th gen

PS: MSI MPG A750 (i will put this on my next pc but for the moment i can use here)

CPU Heatsink: Deepcool AK 400 Zero dark plus (same as above)

RAM: hx421c14fb/4 kingston 2x4GB

SSD: an old kingston 120gb

HDD: 2x Seagate Exos 8th + 2x500gb WD Blue

 

I'm not sure which could be the best choice of OS and NAS OS. 

There is an entire world, Windows, Linux, Ubuntu or Truenas, Unraid (which i bought), Openmediavault or Owncloud... i cannot choose which one is the best for my old system. I do not need any big use, as i said i just need to use Plex, see my documents, videos from online course that i have from everywhere, on my laptop in University, at home, on holiday etc. 

 

Any suggest? 

 

Thank you very much!

 

[Dedayog]

I found Windows 10 easiest to use for what you list.  

 

I have it on a wifi outlet with no login screen, so i can power cycle from anywhere anytime if I need to as well.

 

Can remote into it easily too.

 

Obviously if want to tinker, go with the others.  But for one and done.... Windows 10/11.

[Messer Malamerenda]

7 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

I have it on a wifi outlet with no login screen, so i can power cycle from anywhere anytime if I need to as well.

 

Can remote into it easily too.

 

Thank you very much!

 

I'm very interested to power on and power off from anywhere so i do not need to leave it h24 on. How did you managed to do that? 

 

And for remote access do you use what windows has on it or a software like owncloud or similar? 

[Dedayog]

Just now, Messer Malamerenda said:

Thank you very much!

 

I'm very interested to power on and power off from anywhere so i do not need to leave it h24 on. How did you managed to do that? 

 

And for remote access do you use what windows has on it or a software like owncloud or similar? 

I use these, but anything similar works...

 

https://www.amazon.com/Kasa-Smart-Required-Certified-EP10P2/dp/B091FXQQMQ/ref=sr_1_6?crid=342JMNOKCG85V&keywords=kasa+wifi&qid=1698687243&sprefix=kasa+wifi%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-6

 

MUST DO:  Set BIOS to wake on Power (so PC starts when it detects being plugged into wall or power comes back on).  Set Windows to no login.

 

I just use Windows Remote Desktop, if I need to update a driver or Plex or whatever.  Probably something better out there though.

[Messer Malamerenda]

Thank you very much man!

I have something like that from TP Link so i think i have everything for start this server.

[Messer Malamerenda]

10 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

I use these, but anything similar works...

 

https://www.amazon.com/Kasa-Smart-Required-Certified-EP10P2/dp/B091FXQQMQ/ref=sr_1_6?crid=342JMNOKCG85V&keywords=kasa+wifi&qid=1698687243&sprefix=kasa+wifi%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-6

 

MUST DO:  Set BIOS to wake on Power (so PC starts when it detects being plugged into wall or power comes back on).  Set Windows to no login.

 

I just use Windows Remote Desktop, if I need to update a driver or Plex or whatever.  Probably something better out there though.

One last question, for the parity the best solution for my hdd's is to put on raid 1 the two of 8tb and the same for the ones with 500gb? So i have 8.5tb and 8.5tb for parity or there is some more clever solution?

[Dedayog]

6 minutes ago, Messer Malamerenda said:

One last question, for the parity the best solution for my hdd's is to put on raid 1 the two of 8tb and the same for the ones with 500gb? So i have 8.5tb and 8.5tb for parity or there is some more clever solution?

Frankly I'd lose the 500GB HDD's.

 

Get a 250GB or 500GB boot SSD, then RAID 1 or even Windows backup.  As long as you can achieve a copy of the main drive, all you need.

 

I do a Windows backup to the 2nd 4TB drive.  

[Messer Malamerenda]

53 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Frankly I'd lose the 500GB HDD's.

 

Get a 250GB or 500GB boot SSD, then RAID 1 or even Windows backup.  As long as you can achieve a copy of the main drive, all you need.

 

I do a Windows backup to the 2nd 4TB drive.  

Ok so, just for clarify if i understood well:

 

-2 ssd one for windows and one for the backup

-my two 8tb on raid 1

-500gb hdd on the shelf to take some dust

Or ?

-500gb ssd for windows

-8tb hdd for files

-2nd 8tb hdd for windows backup

 

 

[Dedayog]

15 minutes ago, Messer Malamerenda said:

Ok so, just for clarify if i understood well:

 

-2 ssd one for windows and one for the backup

-my two 8tb on raid 1

-500gb hdd on the shelf to take some dust

Or ?

-500gb ssd for windows

-8tb hdd for files

-2nd 8tb hdd for windows backup

 

 

-500gb ssd for windows

-8tb hdd for files

-2nd 8tb hdd for windows backup

 

Someone else can chime in to tell  us if that isn't  a viable backup.  Obviously it's not an offsite system, but it should be enough if a file gets deleted to restore it.

 

[Messer Malamerenda]

1 hour ago, Dedayog said:

-500gb ssd for windows

-8tb hdd for files

-2nd 8tb hdd for windows backup

 

Someone else can chime in to tell  us if that isn't  a viable backup.  Obviously it's not an offsite system, but it should be enough if a file gets deleted to restore it.

 

And the windows backup cover both system and files? 

 

For that no problem, i have in list some backup hdd like wd my passport or some seagate with 8-12 tb. 

[Dedayog]

5 minutes ago, Messer Malamerenda said:

And the windows backup cover both system and files? 

 

For that no problem, i have in list some backup hdd like wd my passport or some seagate with 8-12 tb. 

I have it just backing up the data drive, not the boot/OS drive.  I can reinstall Windows and Plex easily, so not a big deal.