I'm looking to build a home server to run as NAS for media and backups primarily. Other possible secondary uses if it has the power to handle it are as a web server, router, and an always on downloading machine for torrents, etc... I intend this to be a learning experience as much as a functional device so I'm not so interested in going with a simple standalone NAS solution.
I have some parts on hand and am interested how much my server will be able to handle considering the parts I'll be using are a bit dated and low power. The low power part is quite important since I don't want to waste money on electricity on a device that might not really get that much use. I don't anticipate a large number of users (primarily me, but maybe my girlfriend or a few friends from time to time).
Motherboard: Via J7F2 (http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/J7F2.html)
CPU: Via C7-D 1.5 ghz
Memory: 512mb, plan to upgrade to motherboard max of 1GB
System HDD: 30gb IDE
Graphics: On board
The board has a built-in 10/100 ethernet port, but I plan to purchase a Gigabit ethernet adapter built for my motherboard (http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/J7F2.html). If I am using it as a router I assume I need at least 2 ethernet ports, but do I need both ports to be gigabit? I imagine I could hook the gigabit port to my LAN and the 10/100 port to the modem and it shouldn't really create a bottleneck. How many gigabit ethernet ports do I need?
For my main storage I'm still debating how much space I will buy. I'd like some redundancy for my data so I'm torn between software vs hardware RAID. I'm quite interested in ZFS and Raid-Z. Software RAID sounds better in general because it seems more flexible for future upgrades or in the case the RAID controller dies. My concern is if my CPU and other hardware will be able to handle the software RAID?
The motherboard has 2 SATA ports that could do a RAID 1, but I'm planning to buy a PCI SATA/RAID controller so I'll be able to add up to 4 more disks. Will I be able to RAID all 6 SATA ports together with the harware RAID controller? Would I be able to RAID all 6 with software RAID?
So before I go out and buy a case and other parts to make the current setup I have work, am I going to be dissatisfied with it's performance? Should I just start from scratch with a newer low-power motherboard and CPU?
Any other advice or suggestions appreciated.
I have some parts on hand and am interested how much my server will be able to handle considering the parts I'll be using are a bit dated and low power. The low power part is quite important since I don't want to waste money on electricity on a device that might not really get that much use. I don't anticipate a large number of users (primarily me, but maybe my girlfriend or a few friends from time to time).
Motherboard: Via J7F2 (http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/J7F2.html)
CPU: Via C7-D 1.5 ghz
Memory: 512mb, plan to upgrade to motherboard max of 1GB
System HDD: 30gb IDE
Graphics: On board
The board has a built-in 10/100 ethernet port, but I plan to purchase a Gigabit ethernet adapter built for my motherboard (http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/J7F2.html). If I am using it as a router I assume I need at least 2 ethernet ports, but do I need both ports to be gigabit? I imagine I could hook the gigabit port to my LAN and the 10/100 port to the modem and it shouldn't really create a bottleneck. How many gigabit ethernet ports do I need?
For my main storage I'm still debating how much space I will buy. I'd like some redundancy for my data so I'm torn between software vs hardware RAID. I'm quite interested in ZFS and Raid-Z. Software RAID sounds better in general because it seems more flexible for future upgrades or in the case the RAID controller dies. My concern is if my CPU and other hardware will be able to handle the software RAID?
The motherboard has 2 SATA ports that could do a RAID 1, but I'm planning to buy a PCI SATA/RAID controller so I'll be able to add up to 4 more disks. Will I be able to RAID all 6 SATA ports together with the harware RAID controller? Would I be able to RAID all 6 with software RAID?
So before I go out and buy a case and other parts to make the current setup I have work, am I going to be dissatisfied with it's performance? Should I just start from scratch with a newer low-power motherboard and CPU?
Any other advice or suggestions appreciated.
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