Table of Contents
Project: File Server
A project for HPC II by John Kosty during Spring 2015.
Objectives
- To create a really good file server
- One with a good amount of redundancy
Prerequisites
In order to successfully accomplish/perform this project, the listed resources/experiences need to be consulted/achieved:
- General hardware skills
- Knowledge of networking
- Knowledge of soldering
- Windows Experience
- Freenas Experience
Background
- Storing files locally is an extremely poor practice, and I want to eliminate it at my house
- I cannot get people to store files on the server/NAS no matter what I do
- I decided to make this transparent to them by using Folder Redirection for my windows devices, and having NFS shares for my linux home directories
Procedure
- In my never ending quest to have safe and resilient data, I stumbled ac crossed Western Digital Red drives.
- These beauties, while semi slow, run at extremely low temperatures, and they are made specifically for NAS applications. I don't think there is any other drive so perfectly fit for the job.
- I decide to buy 6x 2TB drives. I bought the 2TB drives since the 3TB+ have high failure rates, and the 1TB is too small.
- Here is my server with all 6 installed
- Specs are
- 128GB Samsung 830 for the OS
- Intel Pentium Processor G2120T
- 8GB Gskill Ram
- z77 Asus ITX Board
- ASM1061 Sata Expansion Card
- I cannot decide between REFS, ZFS, or BTRFS.
- The project will be done once I settle on OS and filesystem
Reflection
I unfortunately can't figure out what OS and filesystem I want to use on my server. I enjoy having native SMB due to most of my machines being Windows, but I want to have the experience of working in a Unix like environment. I probably will end up using FreeNas on the server, but until then, I will be using Windows Server 2012 R2 for trying out REFS.
References
In performing this project, the following resources were referenced: