RAM enough for NAS and 1-2 Plex users

[FilmBuff5]

Hello...recently signed up and looking to build my first Freenas build.

I3-4160
16 gb RAM
5 x 4tb hard drives (RAIDZ2)

My primary goal is to build a NAS to replace my old NAS which is a Netgear appliance. Secondary would be to support 1-2 Plex users at 1080p if possible.

Will 16gb be sufficient to support ZFS for Windows SMB/CIFS volumes and iSCSI/NFS support for VM hosts and also do the Plex?

Thanks for any feedback you can give. I look forward to being a participant here.

 

[Jailer]

16GB would be good for what you have planned.

 

[FilmBuff5]

Thanks, Jailer...I'd like to add more RAM but this mobo maximum is 16gb.

I'm torn between installing freenas11 or going to a tried and tested older version like 9.3.

Any thoughts? I am a noob on Linux but eager to learn..

 

[Jailer]

No question, start with 11. It makes no sense whatsoever to start on an older version.

I am a noob on Linux but eager to learn..

That's ok, FreeNAS is based on FreeBSD not Linux. ;)

 

[gpsguy]

As jailer said, start with 11. FreeNAS 9.3 is OLD. 9.10 was the predessor to 11.

 

[FilmBuff5]

The ayes have it then...11 it is! Thanks, guys.

Just awaiting the drives and misc parts to put this together.

 

[ThreeDee]

If you want the most up to date version of Plex, you'll be better served to manually set it up rather than use the plugins. ..

 

[FilmBuff5]

If you want the most up to date version of Plex, you'll be better served to manually set it up rather than use the plugins. ..

Do you have a link or two to point the way?

A tweak in the proposed build - going with 4x6tb drives (mirrored vdevs)

Will order the drives mid-week (after 1-2 more days to let this stew in my head) or barring any more feedback here.

 

[ThreeDee]

https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...to-install-plex-in-a-freenas-9-10-jail.19412/

 

[FilmBuff5]

https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...to-install-plex-in-a-freenas-9-10-jail.19412/

I'll take a gander...thx.

But a little while ago, I realized 2 mirrored vdevs weren't enough speed-wise ...so I'm going w/3 vdevs and back to 4tb drives.

 

[Jailer]

I'll take a gander...thx.

But a little while ago, I realized 2 mirrored vdevs weren't enough...so I'm going w/3 vdevs and back to 4tb drives.

That gives you the same usable space as 2 6TB drive mirrors.

 

[FilmBuff5]

That gives you the same usable space as 2 6TB drive mirrors.

True...but w/3 vdevs, it should be a lot better speed wise.

 

[toadman]

Good move if you are hosting storage for any host running VMs. Obviously depends on the guest OSes I suppose (Linux does much better than Windows for example).

Alternative to consider is hosting the VMs on pool created from a single SSD (or a mirror). You can snap it and replicate it over to the slower pool of drives (say a RAIDZ2 single vdev, which is fine for media streaming.) Just depends on your speed and storage space needs.

 

[FilmBuff5]

Good move if you are hosting storage for any host running VMs. Obviously depends on the guest OSes I suppose (Linux does much better than Windows for example).

Alternative to consider is hosting the VMs on pool created from a single SSD (or a mirror). You can snap it and replicate it over to the slower pool of drives (say a RAIDZ2 single vdev, which is fine for media streaming.) Just depends on your speed and storage space needs.

I want to try my hand w/VMs under Linux, etc later. That's the plan anyway. :)

I'm thinking now to ditch the micro-itx mobo and getting something in the microATX size.

That'll gain me up to 32gb RAM and support for 6-8 sata devices. Will have to shop for a new case / PS but this way, I can add another vdev later ( if my needs grow).

 

[FilmBuff5]

OK...to update this and sse how best to proceed.

Built the freenas system - (6 x 6tb WD Red Pros), 32gb RAM... then set up a test freenas under Virtualbox to test drive it and learn.

At this point, I need to add a PCI Intel NIC to give me 2 more ports (for a total of 3). I'd love to go with a I370-t4 but money is a little tight nearing the end and hoping this spare PCI Intel 8257EB controller that I have laying about can somehow work w/Freenas.

There is a FreeBSD driver that I d/led and hoping someone can share what to do next. I installed the card and rebooted and nothing new was detected so I'm thinking I have to do more if this has any chance to work.

 

[Chris Moore]

OK...to update this and sse how best to proceed.

Built the freenas system - (6 x 6tb WD Red Pros), 32gb RAM... then set up a test freenas under Virtualbox to test drive it and learn.

At this point, I need to add a PCI Intel NIC to give me 2 more ports (for a total of 3). I'd love to go with a I370-t4 but money is a little tight nearing the end and hoping this spare PCI Intel 8257EB controller that I have laying about can somehow work w/Freenas.

There is a FreeBSD driver that I d/led and hoping someone can share what to do next. I installed the card and rebooted and nothing new was detected so I'm thinking I have to do more if this has any chance to work.

I hope you can send those Western Digital Red Pros back and get a refund. Those drives are ridiculously overpriced.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

 

[FilmBuff5]

Maybe you're right.

3 yr on the WD Red to a 5 yr warranty on the WD Red Pro. Dunno if it's worth it, but seeing how the price difference between the 4tb and the 6tb wasn't too bad, I bit the bullet.