[SOLVED] What is the best option for a home file server for me?

[olafec]

I am looking to build a home file server, and I have done a little research with overwhelming options and differing opinions. I would like to know what your opinions are for the hardware as well as software/OS to use.

Activites:
- Simple file server with separate drive space for different users in my home (my files that I only have access to, wife's own folder, and a folder to store my parents' data when they come over to backup their stuff)
- Access movie & picture files on the drive to stream/watch on a Kodi build attached to my TV

Options:
- roughly 12TB in a raid config, and another 12TB that it will back up to
- No internet/web connection, only intranet within the household (to keep it off the net)?
- Minimal downtime with no updates (I realize this is mainly a windows limitation)
- Low power to run 24/7, but enough to do the activities I want and not have the hardware strained

Hardware:
- I have an Intel Core i7-950 on an Asus Rampage III Formula mobo, with Corsair Vengeance 3 x 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM
- I also have an AMD Phenom II X4 925 on an Asus M3N72-D mobo, with 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM
- Additionally, I have an AMD Sempron 140 on a Biostar MCP6P M2+ mobo, with 2GB Wintec 800MHz DDR2 RAM
- I will run the OS on an SSD, and host the files on SATA hard drives ~12TB
- I have a server rack with ample cooling, will be placing the build on a 2U computer chassis
-10GB NIC

For the hardware: Is either of what I have too much, not enough? I know the Phenom is a little more power hungry. I would be willing to spend to downgrade if there is something that's more optimal with power/performance. Would also be willing to upgrade if that's more of the requirement too. Let me know if you have an opinion on an optimal low-power build too - I am flexible with the hardware.

For the software: I would want to avoid using Linux if possible, but I do know my way around it -- so if I could essentially set it up and forget it, maintaining only when need for reboot or hardware changes, that could work too. I also read that windows server is shite, and that windows 10 could also get the job done here too (hex those automatic updates). I need some clarity on what is the best for my situation. With that, are there any apps that would help with my two specific tasks?

Yes, I know I am greedy by asking a lot, but I come to this community because you are the best for this stuff.

Thanks!

 

[kanewolf]

I wouldn't recommend Windows for network storage. I would recommend a purpose built NAS OS like FreeNAS or XigmaNAS. FreeNAS has an 8GB memory requirement. So either your i7 or Phenom CPU meet the minimum RAM requirement. None of the hardware you have is low power by current standards. The biggest problem you have will be enough PCIe slots. That 10GE needs an x4 slot, you have to have a graphics card with the i7 but the Athlon motherboard has an HDMI port. You also have to have a hardware RAID controller, IMO.

For low power, the commercial NAS units will beat almost any home brewed from leftovers.

 

[USAFRet]

2 yrs ago, I was at this same deciding point.
Replace my then low end Windows box that had been serving at the "house server", for shared files, movie, music, backups, etc.

Option 1. Build up a new box, either Win 10 or Windows server 2012/2016 (no, they don't suck)

Option 2: A prebuilt dedicated NAS box. Qnap, Synology, Theacus.

The dedicated NAS won handily. Qnap TS-453a., 4 x 4TB Ironwolf drives, RAID 5.
Small, quiet, low power consumption (about 1/2 that of a regular PC)...zero issues in 2 yrs of 24/7. The only "maintenance" is a firmware update and reboot once a month or so.

 

[olafec]

I wouldn't recommend Windows for network storage. I would recommend a purpose built NAS OS like FreeNAS or XigmaNAS. FreeNAS has an 8GB memory requirement. So either your i7 or Phenom CPU meet the minimum RAM requirement. None of the hardware you have is low power by current standards. The biggest problem you have will be enough PCIe slots. That 10GE needs an x4 slot, you have to have a graphics card with the i7 but the Athlon motherboard has an HDMI port. You also have to have a hardware RAID controller, IMO.

For low power, the commercial NAS units will beat almost any home brewed from leftovers.

When I mean low power, I dont mean essentially none - I am talking about a low power to minimum spec performance ratio for what I want to do. Also, I dont need a video card after OS installation, as I would be accessing via RDP.

 

[kanewolf]

If you are going to have Windows in a headless config here are some things to think about -- https://deskroll.com/blog/article.php?id=Remote_Access_to_a_Headless_System:_10_Things_to_Consider

 

[olafec]

2 yrs ago, I was at this same deciding point.
Replace my then low end Windows box that had been serving at the "house server", for shared files, movie, music, backups, etc.

Option 1. Build up a new box, either Win 10 or Windows server 2012/2016 (no, they don't suck)

Option 2: A prebuilt dedicated NAS box. Qnap, Synology, Theacus.

The dedicated NAS won handily. Qnap TS-453a., 4 x 4TB Ironwolf drives, RAID 5.
Small, quiet, low power consumption (about 1/2 that of a regular PC)...zero issues in 2 yrs of 24/7. The only "maintenance" is a firmware update and reboot once a month or so.

I have read everywhere that using 10/server is not really that great, considering the options out there. If you think it is not so bad, then what do you advise for lowest possible specs/power consumption for a self build?

A dedicated NAS seems like a really good option, but the cheapest ones are atleast $400 - and only 2-bay.. I will have to mull over the prices.

 

[olafec]

2 yrs ago, I was at this same deciding point.
Replace my then low end Windows box that had been serving at the "house server", for shared files, movie, music, backups, etc.

Option 1. Build up a new box, either Win 10 or Windows server 2012/2016 (no, they don't suck)

Option 2: A prebuilt dedicated NAS box. Qnap, Synology, Theacus.

The dedicated NAS won handily. Qnap TS-453a., 4 x 4TB Ironwolf drives, RAID 5.
Small, quiet, low power consumption (about 1/2 that of a regular PC)...zero issues in 2 yrs of 24/7. The only "maintenance" is a firmware update and reboot once a month or so.

Also - are you able to run that raid as double redundancy? first 2 drives as one raid, and the other 2 as a backup? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to know everything I can before making a decision. Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Also - are you able to run that raid as double redundancy? first 2 drives as one raid, and the other 2 as a backup? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to know everything I can before making a decision. Thanks!

Probably, but that is a serious drain on available drive space, for a mostly rare event.

2 drives = a RAID 1 or RAID 0. Then that mirrored or striped to the other pair.

Again, RAID is not a backup.
My NAS box gets a full backup every week, and then that drive it backs up to is OFFLINE until next week Wednesday at 7AM.
A RAID 1 as you're describing above is a mirror, not a backup.

And if you were to RAID 1 with two drives, RAID 1 with the other two, and then a RAID 1 mirroring both of those arrays....you're left with the drive space of ONE of the physical drives.

4TB+4TB+4TB+4TB = 4TB.

 

[olafec]

Also - are you able to run that raid as double redundancy? first 2 drives as one raid, and the other 2 as a backup? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to know everything I can before making a decision. Thanks!

Probably, but that is a serious drain on available drive space, for a mostly rare event.

2 drives = a RAID 1 or RAID 0. Then that mirrored or striped to the other pair.

Again, RAID is not a backup.
My NAS box gets a full backup every week, and then that drive it backs up to is OFFLINE until next week Wednesday at 7AM.
A RAID 1 as you're describing above is a mirror, not a backup.

And if you were to RAID 1 with two drives, RAID 1 with the other two, and then a RAID 1 mirroring both of those arrays....you're left with the drive space of ONE of the physical drives.

4TB+4TB+4TB+4TB = 4TB.

I was hoping to do 8+8 (for 8TB), and a backup of 8+8 for (8TB). It gets confusing because of striping and mirroring like you said. I didnt really think of the second Raid being a mirror as apposed to a 'backup,' but now I get the difference. How are you performing a backup offline - through a secondary system/enclosure with another raid, or another set of drives that connect and disconnect on your time interval? All this for a home server :lol:

 

[USAFRet]

I was hoping to do 8+8 (for 8TB), and a backup of 8+8 for (8TB). It gets confusing because of striping and mirroring like you said. I didnt really think of the second Raid being a mirror as apposed to a 'backup,' but now I get the difference. How are you performing a backup offline - through a secondary system/enclosure with another raid, or another set of drives that connect and disconnect on your time interval? All this for a home server :lol:

Yes, I have a 4 bay USB enclosure with a couple of drives in it, connected to the NAS box.
One of them is an 8TB. Every Wednesday (today!) at 7AM, the NAS kicks off its own backup to that 8TB. At the end of the backup around noon or so, it Unmounts that drive. Completely offline and untouchable.

For all intents and purposes, it does not exist, until I reconnect it next week...Tuesday night or Wed morning before I go to work.

I'm getting close to the point of the 8TB not being large enough.
In which case I'm going to have to split that weekly backup across 2 drives.
Some folders to the 8TB, some others to a different drive.

And there is no RAID for those. Just a bare drive and folders.
I can take that out and plug it into any system, and access the entirety of the data.