Help me build my own network-attached storage server

valletitov

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May 18, 2014
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Hello everybody, I just finished building my home cinema and now i need a bunch of storage for my blueraymovies. I´ve build a gaming computer before, but now i want to build my own network attached storage server. I have no idea what parts to get, so please help me out. Here are my requirements:

1: i want it to fit into a 19 inch server rack like this one: http://schneider-consulting-elektronik.de/Fantec-2HE-Server-Gehaeuse-19-Zoll-TCG-2830KX03-1-2HE-528mm-ohne-Netzteil-schwarz

2: i need it to be able to run four 7200 rpm hardrives (I think those are max 120 mb/s) and deliver full speed through lan to two users.

3: i want to be able to run the hardrives in pairs with raid 0 (basically 4 hardrives= 2 pairs running in raid 0)

4: I want it to be cheap, between 200 and 300 dollars

I not sure if its possible to build one youself cheaper than a premade Nas server. If not, what NAS servers would you recommend in that price range?


edit: i didnt include price of the hardrives (i already have two 4 terrabytes 7200 rpm drives, and was planning on buying two more when those run out of space), also i already have a server rack

 
Solution


RAID 0 will do nothing for you in terms of performance, its used for data redundancy, so you don't lose anything. In your case you don't need it. Also you really don't even need to split hard drives, you're still limited by the network.

As for a server case I wouldn't use a 1U case as suggested before, its...
$200 to $300, with 4 NAS hard drives? You can't even buy 3 NAS hard drives for that little let alone the rest of what you need.

Lets re-try that budget or change your requirements down a bit. And I agree why are you RAIDing these drives for a media server?
 
Yeah...the RAID zero won't get you anything.

My media server is just one of my old machines with a bunch of hard drives in it. (I have a RAID 5 for one logical volume, plus some redundancy) with Linux OS and the Plex Media Server software installed. This allows me to stream to my Roku, smart TV....even my tablet over the web.

Basically, you don't need much horsepower, since you're just streaming files. You just need bulk storage....but that alone can outpace the budget you have, especially if you need space for BlueRay files.
 
1. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811152137

2. If two users access it at the same time the speed will be split. No way to really speed that up.

3. Agreed with USAFRet. RAID0 is pointless in most situations.

4. See #1. Supermicro makes good cases. Does not include the components though, that would be damn hard to fit into $300 bucks considering even the cheapest rack mount cases are $150+.
 
Dammit, im really new to this forum so dont realy know what im doing 😛 (accidently pressed best solution). And wow, so many answers and i posted this minutes ago. Is there a way to "unsolve the thread"?

 




I honestly cant see it... feel so dumb
 


haha :lol: , sorry im poor, thats why i need a cheap Nas server.

Ok, first of all i forgot to mention that i didnt include my HDD;s in the price. And second of all, i want to use it mainly for media but i also want to be able to transfer huge files quickly, therefor i thought raid 0 would be a good idea.

Also i already have a server rack
 


RAID 0 will do nothing for you in terms of performance, its used for data redundancy, so you don't lose anything. In your case you don't need it. Also you really don't even need to split hard drives, you're still limited by the network.

As for a server case I wouldn't use a 1U case as suggested before, its going to be LOUD to cool, this is much better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811165572

With that case you can use a low end motherboard and processor like:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117374&cm_re=pentium_g3258-_-19-117-374-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128822

Give it 8gb of ram and a quiet PSU like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151139&cm_re=seasonic_S12G-_-17-151-139-_-Product

and you're set. Just to get it going and run something like FreeNAS and host your files.
 
Solution
Rack is one thing.
Case for the parts is quite another.

RAID 0 + transferring large files.
This needs big speed on both ends, and in the middle.

From your main PC to a 'server' with RAID 0 drives = just as slow as the read rate of your PC hard drive.
Transferring between two RAID 0 arrays, over a gig-e LAN...ok, probably fast(er).
Playback from a RAID 0 is no faster. a 90 minute movie is still 90 minutes.

Transferring from my main PC to another PC on the LAN. A movie (The Martian, just arrived today via Netflix).
gig-e devices throughout.
6.25GB data = 4 minutes 39 secs.
RAID 0 on only end or the other would not matter.
 


Well the benefit will be bottlenecked by the fact that SATA 6Gbps will not fit through 1Gbps and I doubt he will be planning on running a 10Gbe network (hell we just got a 10Gbe switch and a new Nimble with 10Gbe that costs $100K).

I have had USB 3.0 external drives attached to a system that I could transfer to just fine and I have streamed a 17Gb Bluray rip over my wireless network (which my HTPC tops out at 300Mbps) with no buffering, hiccups or slow downs.