FreeNAS server suitibility

[Jackpot17]

Would this be suitable for a FreeNAS server:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121891485503?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It has ECC memory, sata drives so I'm guessing it fairly suitable.

 

Sound is a non issue as it will live in my loft.

I know electricity usage may be high compared to new hardware.

 

Do you think I would run into any compatibility issues?

Many thanks.

[tewynkoop]

Since you said sound will not be an issue it should be fine. The only thing to look out for so you aren't surprised is whether the server comes with a raid card. Some dell servers you have to use their raid card so hard drive management in freenas is non existent. Another thing is a lot of eBay sellers don't usually include the hard drive sleds so you may have to buy those separately

[leadeater]

Moved to Servers and NAS

[leadeater]

I would look for an Intel based server rather than AMD, also try and found out what SAS RAID or HBA card is in the server (ask the seller). Some RAID cards can be flashed to IT mode which turns it in to an HBA.

 

Also 4 disks isn't exactly much to work with from a ZFS/FreeNAS perspective.

[Electronics Wizardy]

If you got it i wouldn't use freeNAS id use a linux based soultion. You would be using hardware raid, not zfs. Also this will be LOUD.

 

If you want a budget server look at a hp dl 180 g6 or a dell c2100. 

[gamerking]

i was looking at dell/supermicro servers unless your going to spend 300+ its not really worth it unless you find a nice fire sale item

Spoiler

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2U-SuperMicro-H8DM3-2-2x-QC-AMD-Opteron-2381-HE-2-5Ghz-32GB-3x250GB-Rails-ZFS-/131832372198?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=9xi8nius%2BEG5dbxc%2B9TpacxQT%2F8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

. look for any supermicro systems  most of there servers come with a LSI intergrated controller which can be flashed which is needed for freenas  . i just build my server from consumer parts and its happy chugging away . ecc mem is not 100% needed its just nice to have . thats as far as im going on that .

 

that ebay listing you posted  has no caddies for the HDD's.  i found out looking at some of these cheap servers the server is cheap the parts to make it work arnt 20-50$ for a caddie for a HDD then you need the interposer sometimes from sas to sata, sometimes they are on the  hdd caddie included others they are extra ,again they can be not cheap .

 

if you go amd, find a post on freenas forums with someone using the exact cpu you want to use  with the same motherboard nothing can be different revison of mb , nothing  makes headaches go away, send a few questions  to that person and wait for a responses  . as ive been told amd is going to be a pain to make it work  and you will get no support , and i reply it will work alot of people use this combo cpu+mb. intel is less work but you pay more

 

a question for you is this for file storage or plex ? , system backup of other pc's  what you going to use it for