Will this hardware work with TrueNAS?

[Spenser]

Hi,

I have just placed a order on NAS hardware, will this work with TrueNAS :

From what I understand Realtek NIC is generally no good in NAS so I at last found a motherboard that have a Intel 2.5 NIC.

Regards

 

[ThreeDee]

Will it work? .. sure .. is it recommended? ..no

Nice start for a PC gaming rig though ..

 

[Spenser]

Honestly I do not got enough knowledge within this segment to even know if that is a sarcasm response, it do sound like that.

I do not aim to build a PC gaming rig, it is suppose to be a NAS setup.

Why is the hardware not recommended? Is it because its missing ECC memory?

 

[Etorix]

You should have asked before pulling the trigger…
10th generation i3 no longer support ECC memory, so that's a negative.
The motherboard is typical consumer stuff rather than server grade. As to 2.5 GbE, another thread suggests it may be better to go all the way to 10 GbE, possibly with some NBase-T transceiver to interface with consumer-grade client NIC at 2.5 GbE.

Hopefully, it will work but it will not be optimal for a ZFS NAS.

 

[Spenser]

Thanks, I was not aiming to use ECC memory even if I know its standard within the server segment. The extra layer of security that ECC gives me is not really worth the extra money(for me)..I think. I have used my consumer gaming rig as a NAS for 10+ years now and have hade no issues with data degradation that I know of. I'm using cloud backup(Backblaze) for important data but yes if a memory error occurs and a photo or whatever get data degradation this will be backed up as well. I guess I have to live with the risk that some photos could get artifacts or likewise.

What CPU would have been a better choice? Or do you even have a full recommendation on the hardware that is not aimed for business use(often alot more expensive).

It sounds like I might run in to multiple problems forcing a real NAS OS into this hardware, is there even any point in trying? Or should I just go back to Windows 10 with regular SMB shares until there is better support, if ever?

Note, the hardware have still not arrived so there is a chance to change it but I do not want to invest more money, its already on the limit.

 

[Etorix]

You may at least try. The 2.5 GbE NIC, albeit being Intel, is the most striking point of contention.

Server-grade hardware does not have to be super-expensive. A Core i3 of the 9th generation (or older) on C242 or C246 chipset would have provided access to ECC memory for essentially the same price (at least with the shops I'm familiar with "on the continent"). There are a few threads here discussing builds with the Supermicro X11SSH-F motherboard, for instance.
Server hardware can even be a bargain if you go for second-hand/refurbished hardware and pair it with RDIMM, which is cheaper than consumer UDIMM (WAY cheaper if you go back to DDR3). All it takes is some time to be acquainted with the hardware you'd be looking for.

 

[ThreeDee]

If money is an issue .. I picked up a Chinese knock off x79t with an M.2 slot, 8 core/16 thread LGA 2011 CPU and 32GB ECC RDIMM's used for $125. Sold the RAM and picked up 64GB of ECC RDIMM's for $70 .. and a beefier CPU for $120'ish (12core/24thread something).. 128GB M.2 NVMe drive for $15, M1015 HBA crossflashed to LSI9211-8i IT Mode for $25 and $10 10/100/1000 PCIe Intel NIC .. and $10 for a Quadro 400 video card .. it ran great (Plex,Unifi Controller,SMB shares) ..

I unnecessarily upgraded to what I have now (in sig)

 

[jgreco]

Server-grade hardware does not have to be super-expensive.

And this is kinda the point that

Will it work? .. sure .. is it recommended? ..no

Nice start for a PC gaming rig though ..

was making. PC mainboards are designed for various purposes, and the intended task informs the featureset supplied. For example, there are typical desktop PC's, which offer integrated GPU graphics from the CPU, modest numbers of SATA and maybe M.2 options, a Realtek NIC, etc. Then there are gaming PC's, often set up for two or more GPU cards, and gamer features like all the LED's and connectivity options appropriate to that. There are server boards, which drop the onboard audio, add a VGA connection and onboard video controller, along with IPMI remote management, and you typically move on up to decent quality ethernet controllers, often two or four, along with things like properly functioning VT-d and PCIe bifurcation. Then there are workstation boards, which lose the VGA and IPMI, but add GPU support. The desktop boards are cheap, sometimes in the $50 range, but the gamer, server, and workstation boards for an equivalent type of CPU and form factor tend to be priced within reach of each other.

It's like buying a car. When you buy a two-seater, yeah it's nice to zip around town in by yourself, but it isn't useful for a thousand mile road trip with the wife and kids.

What CPU would have been a better choice? Or do you even have a full recommendation on the hardware that is not aimed for business use(often alot more expensive).

"aimed for business use" is basically meaningless. Businesses use cheap PC's, servers, and workstations, so they cut through three of the four general classifications of mainboards.

 

[Etorix]

Why is the hardware not recommended? Is it because its missing ECC memory?

ECC is just one instance of the general theme "consumer/gamer PC repurposed as NAS". ECC would be better, but its lack is not a fatal flaw and you undertand the issue.
Generally, you're paying for features a NAS does not need (audio, USB 3.2 2x2, PCIe 4.0) or barely needs (video output, just for setup) but do not get enough SATA ports to fill up your case. Again, just look up the Supermicro X11SSH-F: 8 SATA, 2*PCIe x8 for expansion cards, VGA output from the BMC for setup even with a "F" CPU—and that's just a close server counterpart to a consumer Z390 mATX motherboard.
I feel no sarcasm in @ThreeDee's post, which nicely made up my points about old server hardware and DDR3 RDIMM being super, super cheap with a practical example. He likely also made up my other point that you're not familiar at all with his part list…

I suppose you don't know server-grade hardware (neither did I before I began thinking about FreeNAS) and thus picked up parts from the consumer hardware you're familiar with. I understand from an earlier thread by @SeaWolfX that new server hardware is rather expensive in Scandinavia (Norway in his case). The second-hand European market is not as favourable as the US market. But at least Sweden is in the EU, so you could buy from eBay.de and not pay crazy high taxes on import, right?
If you can send back some or all of your order, we may discuss your options to get cheap server hardware and try to help you save money yet get a better NAS. But you'd need to expose what you want to achieve (just store? / also VM/jails? network?) and what are your constraints (noise? / keep the microATX case? / etc.).

 

[ThreeDee]

Honestly I do not got enough knowledge within this segment to even know if that is a sarcasm response, it do sound like that.

I do not aim to build a PC gaming rig, it is suppose to be a NAS setup.

Why is the hardware not recommended? Is it because its missing ECC memory?

missed this response .. but as stated, not being sarcastic at all .. like @Etorix .. I didn't know really anything about server hardware nor the differences from regular desktop PC components .. and I'm still learning. My main world majorly consists of desktop PC Windows stuff .. with a severe minor in Linux distro dabbling ...

My first couple FreeNAS boxes consisted of AMD E-350's in a mini-ITX case mounted with more hard drives than the case was designed for mounted in various funky ways .. Yeah they worked .. but far far from Ideal...

Ultimately .. it's your setup and data to do with as you will .. whatever YOU decide .. you might want to throw a battery back up in the mix