Freenas or alternative?

[Zirax]

Lo all, I'm looking at implementing a server/nas solution on my home network and after some advice. I have previously used a standard windows install and used raid 1 for redundancy. I now need to upgrade components so I thought I would take the opportunity to do it properly. I have a backup solution in place, so no issues there.

The file server will be fairly low duty with its main duty being streaming media. I may add a print server on there as well. Ideally I am looking at software raid 5 with expandable storage. To do this I would need to use Suns filesystem (whose name escapes me).

I have looked at FreeNas, but my understanding is that it is a bit of a git to expand due to the core being stripped so much. Amahi has also turned up as an install ontop of a full Linux installation and appears to get good reviews.

One other consideration is say I have a raid 5 install of 4*500gb array. With expandable storage can you rip out a 500gb and replace (and use) say a 1tb disc?

So in summary I guess I am after a server install:-

• Raid (5) software
• Expandable storage (allowing chopping/changing of hdds).
• Print server
• Act as a media server
• Fairly intuitive. I don't mind some command line actions, but I don't want to spend hours on the command line fighting obscure syntax. (I'm looking at you HP-UX *spits*).
• Power management. W.O.L and drive management.

I was originally thinking about WHS but that doesn't support raid and redundancy is supplied by duplication (rubbish basically).

[LeperousDust]

Haven't read this at all, so ignore my if i'm jumping the gun, but i'm off to bed-ski right now and thought i'd just mention Windows Home Server Vail. Seems an odd choice, but for media serving over networks a fair amount of add-ons, a large community, totally versatile expandable storage with tombstones and redundancy plus backups if necessary its go everything most people would want for home server goodness. When i get a chance i'm properly investing in my server and setting it up properly for good.

Only thing missing is built in TV tuner support/media centre, it would be the perfect duo/match whereas atm technically you have to have two separate machines unless you want to go hacking around (and lets be honest you dont with your server ).

So only downside is no RAID5 but i actually got over this very quickly... user fast drives fast controllers and gigabit and you'll be fine

I tried desperately to use every linux distro under the sun to replicate the unified storage and nothing has come close yet, not to mention the massive faff involved (and my total lack of understanding of course)

I could recommend WHS more

[Zirax]

Yep I hear what you are saying. Having had quite a few higher capacity drives fail I do feel that I need something with raid. While I could go to backups, this would pee me off. I don't know what I am doing to them but the average is about one every 6 months (well ventilated, filtered UPS supply, good PSU).

[LeperousDust]

But the windows home server is a kind of JBOD raid. Just without the RAID mess no expanding shrinking, or even worrying about sizes. Any amount of drives, two copies of everything ( if you want) on different physical drives, and automatic recovery and notification when one goes pop. Linux doesnt have a leg to stand on in comparison (yet, im still waiting)

[Zirax]

Hmmm, might be worth considering then. It's a pain that Vail is still beta though. No point paying for v1 in the mean time.

[LeperousDust]

Yeah i'd honestly hold off till vail, can't be long now? (havent checked release date). it's what i'm doing

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Zirax

well ventilated

What sort of temperature are the drives running at? Ideally you want moving air over the drives themselves. I try to keep all mine sub-40c and for the most part it seems to work (I still get failures, but we're talking years, not months).

In theory for bulk storage the WD GP or Samsung F2 is a good choice (I go WD out of personal choice) - lower rotation spead = less heat and potentially less wear.

PS - I just dump a stack of 4 WD GP drives into a Drobo these days. Not the cheapest, and far from the quickest, but they 'just work' most of the time. I don't intend to tempt fate by suggesting they're perfect because like any RAID-like solution, they're certainly capable of self-destructing the array in spectacular and permanent fashion.

[Zirax]

The drives have 80mm fans turning directly over them. Literally right beside where they are mounted taking cool air in from the front of the case. I think I've just had a run of bad luck. Never had any go for years previously with the same case setup.

[Mondo]

I just bought a Drobo !!! Will start with 2 Samsung F4, which i am guessing will running In RAID 0 mirror each other until i put in more drives. Can't wait till tomorrow!

[Joe 90]

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about drobos. Tend to hear great things from people who are somehow involved with them, and disaster stories from everyone else.

Which have you got?