FreeNAS with NTFS and disk swapping

[Tommm]

I intend to use FreeNAS with different harddisks, which are NTFS-formatted and partitioned in different drives. One disk should be in permanent use, the others should be inserted when needed (hot swapping).

Are there limitations, if NTFS is used?
Is it possible to operate it that way or do all disks have to be inserted all the time?

 

[cyberjock]

Yes. NTFS is NOT designed to be used as a file system on FreeBSD. NTFS support is good enough that you could mount a hard drive via USB and copy it to a file system that is better supported on FreeBSD/FreeNAS. It is very flaky to actually use it as a file system though.

If you want to use NTFS you should consider using Windows.

 

[Tommm]

If I use ZFS, could I operate it, as described?

 

[Stephens]

I intend to use FreeNAS with different harddisks, which are NTFS-formatted and partitioned in different drives. One disk should be in permanent use, the others should be inserted when needed (hot swapping).
Are there limitations, if NTFS is used? Is it possible to operate it that way or do all disks have to be inserted all the time?

What problem are you trying to solve and why do you think FreeNAS is the answer?

 

[Tommm]

Can I change hard disks easily in FreeNAS? Adding only when I need the data on it?

 

[cyberjock]

Why don't you answer Stephens question? Perhaps there is a better idea than what you are planning.


It is completely "do-able", but definitely not the best situation to be in. You'll have to constantly be importing and exporting your drives otherwise the GUI will be very screwed up. It's just not the optimal solution to install and remove drives with FreeNAS. I'm really just not understanding why you want removable drives. It's not good for hard drive to do that. Most people don't know this, but that cute little SATA connector that replaced the 40 pin IDE connector..its only rated for 50 cycles. There isn't alot of metal there and you wear it down every time you plug and unplug a drive.

 

[Tommm]

I'm doing this for years without problems.

trayless racks like this, are a wonderful and fast solution:
http://www.raidsonic.de/en/products/mobile-racks.php?we_objectID=7013

I have a huge file archive on different hdds, which are only randomly used: from once a day to once a week. It would make no sense to keep all those disks constantly running all the time. So a insert/eject solution would be perfect. FreeNAS would be a good solution for low hardware requirements and low power consumption and access from different PCs.

 

[cyberjock]

I have one of those in each of my desktops :P

I'm really not sure if FreeNAS is the best for you. You will have to shutdown to install and remove disks. You will also have to export the disks before shutting down and importing recently installed disks after bootup. Failure to do so will give you the yellow warning light because the FreeNAS middleware will think that your drives should still be attached and are failed instead of being removed.

 

[Tommm]

those racks are a good choice :)

you are right. That sounds not practicable.
Maybe Windows Server would be better for that. But it consumes much more energy

 

[cyberjock]

I wouldn't say it consumes alot more energy. You do have an extra hard drive(versus FreeNAS on a USB), but you gotta do what you gotta do. :P

I really think if you are going to be doing what you are trying to do you are much better off with Windows or perhaps Linux. I'm pretty new to Linux myself so I'm not sure if there would be any side effects for what you want to do. I don't think there would be any as long as you know what you are doing. Again though, NTFS is (AFAIK) not a great choice for file system in Linux. About the only OS I know of where NTFS is a "good" choice is Windows itself(no surprise there).

 

[Tommm]

The problem is, windows has much higher hardware requirements which lead to higher energy consumption.

Would it make sense to make one PC which combines a NAS/Fileserver and a HTPC? :P

 

[cyberjock]

Would it make sense to make one PC which combines a NAS/Fileserver and a HTPC? :P

That is totally up to you. I've done that before. It works well as long as you know your limitations and your hardware is powerful enough to handle being a NAS and HTPC.