File Server/HTPC VM Server?

[pinksnowmanshandle]

So eventually (possibly next year) I want to build a server that I can have a Ubuntu File Server and HTPC running off of it at the same time. I think that I'll either use an i7 2600 (or i7 3770) or Xeon E3-1230 v5 (and a X150 mobo).

 

I was thinking that I could essentially use the techniques that Linus did but a few steps I could probably ignore or not have to worry about. The HTPC portion would probably run SteamOS and I'd have it connected to my TV and our Living Room TV (~50ft away from my room) I'd probably have the sever in my room. 

 

Though I'd have to get an HDMI splitter for the living room because our TV only has two HDMI ports, one is occupied by a Chromecast and the other is occupied by a console (sometimes my Xbox 360, sometimes my PS4). 

 

I would probably use LimeTech Unraid Server Basic.

 

Anyways if I went the Xeon route, how does this look?

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V5 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($274.29 @ B&H) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X150-PLUS WS ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($76.43 @ Amazon) 
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($104.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($39.95 @ Amazon) 
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($39.95 @ Amazon) 
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($39.95 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($196.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 710 1GB Video Card  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($54.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($49.98 @ Newegg) 
Other: EVGA GT 710 ($29.99)
Other: RX 460 ($100.00)
Total: $1037.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-25 06:02 EDT-0400

[jj9987]

In unRaid, SSDs are set as Cache drives and HDDs as the main array (6.2 should bring some changes, not sure by heart). You must have at least 2 hard drives to fully make use of the array - one drive for parity (largest capacity in the system), rest for the data.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

2 minutes ago, jj9987 said:

In unRaid, SSDs are set as Cache drives and HDDs as the main array (6.2 should bring some changes, not sure by heart). You must have at least 2 hard drives to fully make use of the array - one drive for parity (largest capacity in the system), rest for the data.

Huh that kinda sucks that you can't use SSDs as the main drives and HDDs as the secondary drive. Because I literally only need the HDD for the Ubuntu Server. SteamOS, UnRaid, and Ubuntu Server only need 120GB.

 

Well it's kinda an up in the air thing anyways. I want to build "Ursa" (look at my sig or here's the PCPartPicker link) first. Since the Ubuntu server wouldn't have much use with out "Ursa".

[jj9987]

11 hours ago, wcreek said:

Huh that kinda sucks that you can't use SSDs as the main drives and HDDs as the secondary drive. Because I literally only need the HDD for the Ubuntu Server. SteamOS, UnRaid, and Ubuntu Server only need 120GB.

 

Well it's kinda an up in the air thing anyways. I want to build "Ursa" (look at my sig or here's the PCPartPicker link) first. Since the Ubuntu server wouldn't have much use with out "Ursa".

You can set up a share to only use SSD, not use SSD at all or first save to cache and then move to main array when Mover is ran. So theoretically, if you create a separate share for operating systems, you can set it to use cache only.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

28 minutes ago, jj9987 said:

You can set up a share to only use SSD, not use SSD at all or first save to cache and then move to main array when Mover is ran. So theoretically, if you create a separate share for operating systems, you can set it to use cache only.

Huh. Well I guess UnRaid is picky. Not sure why they don't let you use SSDs as boot drives.

[jj9987]

10 hours ago, wcreek said:

Huh. Well I guess UnRaid is picky. Not sure why they don't let you use SSDs as boot drives.

What do you mean as boot drives? You can install the VM operating systems onto the SSD.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

3 minutes ago, jj9987 said:

What do you mean as boot drives? You can install the VM operating systems onto the SSD.

Huh, well it sounded like you were saying that I can't use the SSDs quite like I wanted to. Linus used two SSDs for the VMs but I thought I could just for go the RAID 0 or 1 set up that he did.

 

Anyways. I might get a PowerMac G5 and use that as a file server and then either build a SteamBox for myself or buy one. I kinda want to build one though.

[jj9987]

7 minutes ago, wcreek said:

Huh, well it sounded like you were saying that I can't use the SSDs quite like I wanted to. Linus used two SSDs for the VMs but I thought I could just for go the RAID 0 or 1 set up that he did.

 

Anyways. I might get a PowerMac G5 and use that as a file server and then either build a SteamBox for myself or buy one. I kinda want to build one though.

As I said, you can set up a share to only use SSDs.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

1 minute ago, jj9987 said:

As I said, you can set up a share to only use SSDs.

Okay, so I can't use an SSD for the VM to run on. It has to be an HDD array. Hmmm. 

[jj9987]

2 minutes ago, wcreek said:

Okay, so I can't use an SSD for the VM to run on. It has to be an HDD array. Hmmm. 

VM virtual disks are placed into a share

A "share" is a folder in unRaid, that is stored on the array or cache and where all your files will be located at.