Finalized FreeNAS server upgrade

[79wjd]

I think I've finally decided what I'm going to be doing. My plan is to upgrade my G3250+H81 board+8gb of memory to an Skylake setup. I've been trying to decide whether to go with the X11SSL-O or the X11SSM-O (or -F). From what I understand the SSL supports 6 sata ports while the SSM supports 8 sata ports (while -F adds IPMI). I don't see myself ever really needing IPMI, but the option may arise and for only $10 more on the SSM I would consider it. Are there any other difference I might have missed? And are there any cheaper places to buy either board from? Right now I'm looking at $170 for the SSL-O, $200 for the SSM-O, and $210 for the SSM-F-O all from Newegg.

I already have a sata controller card (Syba Si-PEX 40064 giving me an additional 4 sata ports), and I can't imagine needing more than 9/10 sata ports as it is I only really have three drives -- and in the future I would be planning on adding 8tb Seagate archival drives. So I really can't see a need for more than 9/10 sata ports, and as such I'm leaning more towards the SSL-O, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't overlook anything important.

Does FreeNAS check the integrity of the boot drive in case I decide to use my old hard drive as the boot drive instead of buying a new SSD since FreeNAS doesn't supports USB booting on Skylake.

P.s. here's the memory I was going to get, I just wanted to double check that it would be compatible.
16gb memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148855

P.p.s. I'm hesitant to get a UPS as I'm afraid to put a battery in the location where my server is, so what would be the likely outcome of a power failure (keeping in mind that I'll be using the server for permanent backup and media storage).

[TheGeeker]

I would rather have a battery there than a power outage wiith freenas. I use a UPS. P.S. Why do you need to upgrade? I am fine with my G3258 and 8Gb of ram here. 

[2FA]

I would rather have a battery there than a power outage wiith freenas. I use a UPS. P.S. Why do you need to upgrade? I am fine with my G3258 and 8Gb of ram here. 

I'm guessing streaming media.

[79wjd]

I would rather have a battery there than a power outage wiith freenas. I use a UPS. P.S. Why do you need to upgrade? I am fine with my G3258 and 8Gb of ram here. 

I'm guessing streaming media.

I'm going to be upgrading to 16gb of RAM either way and I have a bunch of hardware and a windows 7 license lying around. So I have two options: sell my current system for $250~ (G3250, h81 board, 8gb of ram, misc hdd+odd+psu+case+w7) and buy an i3-6100+X11 board+16gb ECC memory for $450~, or buy another 8gb of RAM for $35. IMO it's worth $150~ to upgrade to ECC and an i3 (not that I need the extra cpu power). 

 

 

I would rather have a battery there than a power outage wiith freenas. I use a UPS. P.S. Why do you need to upgrade? I am fine with my G3258 and 8Gb of ram here. 

Well the thought of a battery on top of a wooden cabinet posing a fire risk is a bit worrisome. 

[TheGeeker]

I'm going to be upgrading to 16gb of RAM either way and I have a bunch of hardware and a windows 7 license lying around. So I have two options: sell my current system for $250~ (G3250, h81 board, 8gb of ram, misc hdd+odd+psu+case+w7) and buy an i3-6100+X11 board+16gb ECC memory for $450~, or buy another 8gb of RAM for $35. IMO it's worth $150~ to upgrade to ECC and an i3 (not that I need the extra cpu power). 

 

 

Well the thought of a battery on top of a wooden cabinet posing a fire risk is a bit worrisome. 

I mean get a good UPS> But I have a server rack with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102087&cm_re=cyberpower_rackmount_ups-_-42-102-087-_-Product

[79wjd]

I mean get a good UPS> But I have a server rack with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102087&cm_re=cyberpower_rackmount_ups-_-42-102-087-_-Product

Even still, it would be in a somewhat precariously flammable position. 

 

I was considering the Cyberpower EC750G for $70~ since I wanted to make sure I would have enough headroom going forward to allow the system to properly shutdown regardless of how many drives I throw in (I want to guarantee for at least 10 drives -- although that too probably only needs a few hundred watts).