Cheap FreeNAS build

[Grisly Blackstone]

Hello

 

I'm looking to build a FreeNAS system at home.
The aim is to have save storage (backup) of docx, work files, thesis, pictures, music and movies for me and my familie.

So save storage of the lowest posible price.

I live In the EU (Belgium).

 

This is my first time trying something like a NAS.

After some research I came to this build:

 

- Case: Cooler Master Elite 344  (@39,99€)

 

- Motherboard: MSI H97M - E35  (6 x sata III)  (@79,99€)

 

- CPU: Intel Pentium G3440 or Intel Pentium G3258  (both @74,99€)

 

- RAM: 2sticks of Corsair XMS3 1600 4gb  (@31,99 x2) (cheapest I could find in my area) 

 

- Power Supply : Cooler Master B500 V2  (@46,99)

 

- HDD:       Western Digital RED 4TB x4   (@175,45 x4)

              or Seagate NAS HDD 4TB x4     (@175 x4)

 

Now a few questions I have are:

 

- Is this a good build, what could I do better?

- Should I go with WD or Seagate drives?

- What raid should I use? The FreeNAS ZFS setting? or do I also have to set it in Raid 10 or Raid 5?

- Should I add an extra SSD in there?

- Can I just add 2extra drives the future (if I don't use an SSD i have 2spare spaces in the case and 2spare sata ports)

- Do I need something switches or a special type of router or will any decent router do?

[Grisly Blackstone]

Someone who can help me?

[cyphon21]

- Is this a good build, what could I do better?

I think your build is pretty good.

 

- Should I go with WD or Seagate drives?

WD are the best for this situation. I've never had luck with Seagate myself. Now Linus did give a good review on the Seagate Enterprise NAS drives. But for all we know, he was probably asked to do that

 

- What raid should I use? The FreeNAS ZFS setting? or do I also have to set it in Raid 10 or Raid 5?

I can't help you here sorry

 

- Should I add an extra SSD in there?

If you can afford it, yes. I bought a small SSD for my media build, and it makes a difference. Especially when troubleshooting or doing updates, it makes sense to just be able to restart quickly.

 

- Can I just add 2extra drives the future (if I don't use an SSD i have 2spare spaces in the case and 2spare sata ports)

Yes you can always add more. You could also add an eSATA PCI i/o and have an enclosure if you run out of ports and still maintain a nice transfer speed

 

- Do I need something switches or a special type of router or will any decent router do?

Any router will do. If you're planning to backup personal documents (pictures from phones say) you should look into setting up a personal Cloud as well on the box. Then you can access it anywhere and back them up on the go. Not just physically while at home.

 

Good luck with your build! Very jealous

 

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Hey there,

 

The plan seems pretty good and I believe it should suffice for what you need it.

 

WD Red are great drives for NAS and RAID configurations. They work pretty quiet and safe, their power consumption is rather low and are very reliable.

 

I believe you can check out other topics for this and I'm sure people with experience will join and suggest something.

 

Having a SSD for the OS would help a lot for pretty much everything connected to the NAS's performance so I would say go for it if you can afford it.

 

As @cyphon21 explained, you can freely add as many drives in the future as the motherboard allows you to. Adding a eSATA PCI expansion card is also an option if you need more ports in the future. 

 

Pretty much any router would do.

 

Good luck and post some photos once the build is done.

 

Captain_WD.

[Grisly Blackstone]

thank you guy's

 

 

Good luck and post some photos once the build is done.

 

Will do,
I'll also post any trouble I ran into with setting up the nas (not a hole lot of info about that out there, or maybe it's just that easy that you don't need a lot of info)