Can I Run FreeNAS on a System Without Much RAM?

[chetmaster12]

Not sure if this is the right category to ask this in, but here is my situation:

I have an old Dell Optiplex 755 that I am not using, and I wanted to turn it into a NAS. I don't need much power at all, basically I want to be able to store files and be able to access them from both my gaming PC and my laptop. It will not be under heavy load at all, just so I can avoid copying files back and forth between my laptop using a USB drives so much. Here is the issue: FreeNAS says that you need at least 8GB RAM. This ancient thing has 1 GB RAM. Can I still run freeNAS? It doesn't need insane performance.

 

[USAFRet]

FreeNAS hardware requirements:
http://www.freenas.org/hardware-requirements/

It's calling for 8GB, but it will probably run under much less.
1GB? Dunno.

For your use though, any OS would work. Win 7, or some Linux variant.

Also, instead of USB to transfer, why aren't you doing this through the LAN?

 

[chetmaster12]

But if I were to do some other OS, how would I access the files on it?

 

[USAFRet]

But if I were to do some other OS, how would I access the files on it?

I do it with a vanilla Windows 7.
Select the relevant folder, Share.
Connect to it from the other PC, map a drive letter.

My HTPC/server box has multiple shared folders. Some for all other PC's, some just for me, some just for the wife.
For instance, on my main PC I have an "M" drive. Music. This 'drive' is actually a folder that lives in a PC across the room. Similarly a "V" drive (video). If I want something moved to the HTPC, I just copy it to the V drive. It is then available to whoever has that folder mapped.

FreeNAS is more capable, but for your stated use, I don't see the need.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

FreeNAS hardware requirements:
http://www.freenas.org/hardware-requirements/

It's calling for 8GB, but it will probably run under much less.
1GB? Dunno.

For your use though, any OS would work. Win 7, or some Linux variant.

Also, instead of USB to transfer, why aren't you doing this through the LAN?

8GB is pretty much the minimum with the latest release. ZFS requires loads of RAM and FreeNAS now only supports ZFS. Just for grins I tried on a 4GB system and performance was, to be kind, abysmal (Q9550@3.6GHz, ZRAID2 on 250GB drives)

 

[McHenryB]

Use NAS4Free (many people prefer it to FreeNAS). Don't use ZFS (shame, but 1GB is pushing it with ZFS).