[Tfug] NAS suggestions

[Dean Jones]

Check out FreeNAS.

Uses ZFS on freebsd.  The OS runs off usb stick, so all drives are for
data.  There are some caveats with ZFS like ECC memory is a must, and
it loves large amount of memory.  But the previously mentioned HP
microservers run it well, just max the ram.

On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 5:30 PM, Bexley Hall <bexley401 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi Zack,
>
> --- On Sat, 10/13/12, Zack Williams <zdwzdw at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > I'm looking for suggestions for a NAS to use, here.
>> > Primarily to keep *large* dataset snapshots "offline,
>> > but easily accessible".
>>
>> How much redundancy do you need?
>
> I can go with simple mirroring.  Even if I have to do it
> pseudo-manually (e.g., rsync(1)).  This stuff isn't
> "precious" but, rather "highly desirable" -- until I
> finish the project (then it's scrap!).
>
>> By offline, you mean "I only turn it on when I need to get
>> at the data" correct?
>
> Correct.  As well as "... when I need to dump more data onto
> it".
>
>> > In the latter case, am I better off with just a
>> > junk/spare PC, USB3 card, GB NIC and "however many
>> > disk trays I can support"?  Or, something more
>> > targeted to this sort of application?
>>
>> This will give you more flexibility going forward than
>> whatever OS will be unsupported by the NAS vendor next year.
>
> Yes, that was my fear.  As well as the little things you
> learn after the purchase:  "Oh, we only support *this*
> 2TB drive from manufacturer FooMatic"
>
> It also makes it easier to "outboard" drives (which I can
> then spin down until needed) to expand the archive.  I.e.,
> anything "internal" tends to have to be spinning whenever the
> device itself is powered.
>
>> If you're going to buy new, I really like the HP Microserver
>> hardware
>> - 4x 3.5" trays, low power CPU, ECC RAM, decent price.
>
> Thanks, I'll take a look!
>
> --don
>
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