Unraid server

[arthurc_]

I'm going to attempt to build an unraid server, but not quite sure on what parts to pick.

I am planning on running Jellyfin/Plex, Pihole, Homebridge (maybe?) and nextcloud with wireguard for remote access.

Intel Core i5-12500

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2 62 CFM CPU Cooler

ASRock B660M Pro RS Micro ATX

Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory

Seagate IronWolf NAS 4 TB 3.5" 5400 RPM x2

Seagate IronWolf NAS 8 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM (Parity)

SN570 1TB M.2 (Cache)
(Will be unlikely to buy from amazon, but instead locally as it is cheaper.)
Need recommendations on PSU, and whether Ironwolf or WD Red drives are better.
Also a bit concerned about noise and case choice. Anything else I should know?

Thanks!

[LIGISTX]

1 minute ago, arthurc_ said:

I'm going to attempt to build an unraid server, but not quite sure on what parts to pick.

I am planning on running Jellyfin/Plex, Pihole, Homebridge (maybe?) and nextcloud with wireguard for remote access.

Intel Core i5-12500

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2 62 CFM CPU Cooler

ASRock B660M Pro RS Micro ATX

Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory

Seagate IronWolf NAS 4 TB 3.5" 5400 RPM x2

Seagate IronWolf NAS 8 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM (Parity)

SN570 1TB M.2 (Cache)
(Will be unlikely to buy from amazon, but instead locally as it is cheaper.)
Need recommendations on PSU, and whether Ironwolf or WD Red drives are better.
Also a bit concerned about noise and case choice. Anything else I should know?

Thanks!

Why buy a larger parity drive? I’d get all 8TB’s, or really as large as you can afford.

 

For PSU, get a quality unit. Corsair RMx series, seasonic (I don’t remember which of theirs are the high end ones, but they have a few options) etc. PSU is very important since a bad one can take your server and all its data with it if it dies a spectacular death. 

[arthurc_]

45 minutes ago, LIGISTX said:

Why buy a larger parity drive? I’d get all 8TB’s, or really as large as you can afford.

For future upgrade, and I don't want to spend all that much on a Server/NAS at once, especially since this is my first time. Also, How much watts do I need?

[voyager_]

I would plan to add a second drive as a cache. If that drive dies it is a pain to get everything set back up that was using it and you'll loose whatever hasn't been moved to the array yet. I made this mistake when I set up my server I only had one cache and never got around to setting up a second and last week had my cache ssd die/error and lost my home assistant, plex databases, etc... 

 

If you plan to expand your drive storage down the road I would look at adding an HBA card to connect the spinning drives to. You can pick up an LSI 9207-8i (needs to be in IT mode) Then leave your onboard sata ports for cache drives and unassigned drives. 

[arthurc_]

2 minutes ago, voyager_ said:

I would plan to add a second drive as a cache. If that drive dies it is a pain to get everything set back up that was using it and you'll loose whatever hasn't been moved to the array yet. I made this mistake when I set up my server I only had one cache and never got around to setting up a second and last week had my cache ssd die/error and lost my home assistant, plex databases, etc... 

 

If you plan to expand your drive storage down the road I would look at adding an HBA card to connect the spinning drives to. You can pick up an LSI 9207-8i (needs to be in IT mode) Then leave your onboard sata ports for cache drives and unassigned drives. 

So should I do 2 500GB m.2s as cache?
Is the LSI 9207-8i easily available or not, ty!

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 hour ago, arthurc_ said:

Seagate IronWolf NAS 4 TB 3.5" 5400 RPM x2

Seagate IronWolf NAS 8 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM (Parity)

I'd get 2 8TB drives to start with. Should be cheaper, and with more space to expand. I'd really try to get bigger drives if you can though.

 

1 hour ago, arthurc_ said:

SN570 1TB M.2 (Cache)

I'd skip the cache for a low budget system here.  With a gigabit network the speed improvements are pretty small. I'd rather spend that money on bigger storage drives.

 

45 minutes ago, arthurc_ said:

Is the LSI 9207-8i easily available or not, ty!

I don't see a point for the LSI cards with just 2-3 drives. You got plenty of sata ports to use for now.

 

 

[LIGISTX]

29 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

I'd get 2 8TB drives to start with. Should be cheaper, and with more space to expand. I'd really try to get bigger drives if you can though.

 

I'd skip the cache for a low budget system here.  With a gigabit network the speed improvements are pretty small. I'd rather spend that money on bigger storage drives.

 

I don't see a point for the LSI cards with just 2-3 drives. You got plenty of sata ports to use for now.

 

 

100% agree with this. 

[arthurc_]

1 hour ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

I'd get 2 8TB drives to start with. Should be cheaper, and with more space to expand. I'd really try to get bigger drives if you can though.

 

I'd skip the cache for a low budget system here.  With a gigabit network the speed improvements are pretty small. I'd rather spend that money on bigger storage drives.

 

Don't dockers (not sure what they are called) need to use SSDs? And if I go for bigger storage devices, do I go for 16TB x2 or 8TB x 3 (including parity)? Thanks.

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 hour ago, arthurc_ said:

Don't dockers (not sure what they are called) need to use SSDs? And if I go for bigger storage devices, do I go for 16TB x2 or 8TB x 3 (including parity)? Thanks.

Docker containers can run on HDDs just fine. The containers you listed shouldn't need much IO.

 

I'd rather have fewer bigger drives, so 2x16TB would be my pick.

 

 

[arthurc_]

13 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Docker containers can run on HDDs just fine. The containers you listed shouldn't need much IO.

 

I'd rather have fewer bigger drives, so 2x16TB would be my pick.

 

 

Alright. Also any drive brand/choice you would recommend?

[Electronics Wizardy]

9 hours ago, arthurc_ said:

Alright. Also any drive brand/choice you would recommend?

Really doesn't matter. I'd get the cheapest for the capacity. SMR isn't a issue at that size.