Entry level NAS

[xiaofan]

i wiill miss unlimited photos storage. i upload about 100GB daily. got one time my hdd crash, i just redownload the original from there

Wow, then even paying 2TB tier of Google One is not a solution to you. So I guess you will need to look for alternatives as well. NAS?

I know there are grey area "unlimited" Google Drive account or OneDrive account out there, but I would not upload my photos there.

 

[xiaofan]

Nice write up from another thread.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...entry-level-nas-recommendation-5692421-2.html

I'm currently using QNAP TS-453d (4 bay NAS with 2x 2.5GbE) fitted with 3x 4TB Seagate Ironwolf HDD config in Raid 5.

Plex works fine and did streamed 4K video over internet. Continuous upload bandwidth consumption is around 5~8Mbps (dependent on how the movie was encoded) with peak @ 12Mbps (during start of video for buffering). NAS transcoding capability is subpar even @ 1080p. So to avoid buffering @ client and hammering of NAS CPU, best is to avoid any transcoding at all.

Some tips to avoid transcoding @ NAS

For videos stored @ NAS, try to use SRT subtitles (a separate very small size text file) and avoid embedded subtitles with image type and/or .IDX and .SUB file type of subtitles.

For client side, change video quality to ORIGINAL or Maximum (default settings @ 4Mbps 720p) especially for remote streaming to avoid transcoding by Plex @ NAS to client.

For LG and Samsung smart TV, on their app store, they do have Plex app for free and that certainly help to reduce clutter. For android TV boxes or TV (e.g. Sony) loaded with Android TV OS, Plex app is free with no limitation while the rest (e.g. mobile, tablet & etc), there's a 1min limitation or you pay USD5 to remove the limitation.

Backing up photos from PC, mobile or tablet to NAS

There's a QFile app (from QNAP) available for both Android and iOS client. This app will help to upload the pictures in your device to NAS. Currently, I set the app in "mirror" mode whereby it will upload your selected folders to target folder in your NAS. In iOS, it's restrictive, it will upload all images (including WhatsApp pics on top of those that pics taken by camera).

There's another app from QNAP, QSync which I did not like it. After sync, you will not be able to see those files from desktop PC as it's hidden and doesn't support Windows SAMBA file access. And for Hybrid Backup Sync (see next topic), by default, it will not sync hidden files as well. You need to force it during the profile setup which is more job

For desktop PC, I'm using FreeFileSync software to sync between PC and NAS.

Hybrid Backup Sync

There's an app within NAS app store (from QNAP) that allow you to set automated sync between NAS and cloud (quite a huge selection and including Amazon S3). So for selected folders, I set a weekly sync to OneDrive for added redundancy.

Others

There are many apps @ QNAP app store which also include torrent client as well (I did not use it). Yes, it does support VPN with their QVPN app.

QNAP may not be the cheapest (compared with other brands and DIY) but certainly, their ecoSystem are not too shabby and save you the trouble from running around to get different app to work together.

Take note, not an expert user (novice) so the above content maybe outdated or incorrect. Do check it out.

 

[croc1977]

Building my own NAS

my Specs

- Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX PC Case
- AMD Ryzen 3100 + Asus Gaming plus ITX B450
- KLEVV 8 GB DDR4 Ram x 2 ( Existing spare ram)
- Ironwolf 4TB x4 ( RAID 5) (From Existing NAS)
- 120/128GB NVME SSD (TBC)
- FreeNAS
- Others TBC
- Optional SATA RAID card of PCIE Slot for Drive 5&6.

Of cos i will back up my files to another HDD first from existing HDD before wipe but

- Is the stock cooler able to fit in to the casing ? Or should i go for CM Master Liquid Lite? can fit also?
- PSU any recommendation? must i go for Gold? Bronze can? cos just act as NAS. 450W is it overkill?

 

[yusoffb01]

my Specs

- Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX PC Case
- AMD Ryzen 3100 + Asus Gaming plus ITX B450
- KLEVV 8 GB DDR4 Ram x 2 ( Existing spare ram)
- Ironwolf 4TB x4 ( RAID 5) (From Existing NAS)
- 120/128GB NVME SSD (TBC)
- FreeNAS
- Others TBC
- Optional SATA RAID card of PCIE Slot for Drive 5&6.

Of cos i will back up my files to another HDD first from existing HDD before wipe but

- Is the stock cooler able to fit in to the casing ? Or should i go for CM Master Liquid Lite? can fit also?
- PSU any recommendation? must i go for Gold? Bronze can? cos just act as NAS. 450W is it overkill?

how to use if no graphics

 

[TanKianW]

my Specs

- Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX PC Case
- AMD Ryzen 3100 + Asus Gaming plus ITX B450
- KLEVV 8 GB DDR4 Ram x 2 ( Existing spare ram)
- Ironwolf 4TB x4 ( RAID 5) (From Existing NAS)
- 120/128GB NVME SSD (TBC)
- FreeNAS
- Others TBC
- Optional SATA RAID card of PCIE Slot for Drive 5&6.

Of cos i will back up my files to another HDD first from existing HDD before wipe but

- Is the stock cooler able to fit in to the casing ? Or should i go for CM Master Liquid Lite? can fit also?
- PSU any recommendation? must i go for Gold? Bronze can? cos just act as NAS. 450W is it overkill?

1) Your mobo can boot without a GPU? I know some can, but most consumer mobo can't. If you use a GPU, you will waste the slot for a 1G or 10G NIC expansion card. A chip with integrated GPU usually will do.
2) Using ZFS, similar to RAID5 with be RAIDZ1
3) Cooler height check chassis and cooler spec sheet
4) If it is a 24/7 NAS, then I recommend Gold certified. Bronze will do too. Whether overkill, go use an online PSU calculator to check. If can use ATX or SFX PSU will be good. Coz smaller Flex-ATX PSU are usually noisier due to smaller fan.

 

[croc1977]

1) Your mobo can boot without a GPU? I know some can, but most consumer mobo can't. If you use a GPU, you will waste the slot for a 1G or 10G NIC expansion card. A chip with integrated GPU usually will do.
2) Using ZFS, similar to RAID5 with be RAIDZ1
3) Cooler height check chassis and cooler spec sheet
4) If it is a 24/7 NAS, then I recommend Gold certified. Bronze will do too. Whether overkill, go use an online PSU calculator to check. If can use ATX or SFX PSU will be good. Coz smaller Flex-ATX PSU are usually noisier due to smaller fan.

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450I-GAMING-PLUS-AC/Specification

then maybe i should go for 3200G instead? since it will be intergrate with the board graphics?

i went to those psu calculator and around 250W so bronze 450w should be fine rite?

 

[TanKianW]

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450I-GAMING-PLUS-AC/Specification

then maybe i should go for 3200G instead? since it will be intergrate with the board graphics?

i went to those psu calculator and around 250W so bronze 450w should be fine rite?

I think 3200G is ok.

PSU is ok too.

 

[katoboy]

Hi guy anybody use Orico 5 bay HDD Enclosure it is good and durable any advise.

 

[croc1977]

just to check with experts here with freenas . my current asustor nas recommend use ironwolf cos can incorporate with ironwolf scan which the nas os understand .


if i use freenas ..and i use ironwolf drive does it have such feature ......or my future drive if i want to swap no need to lock to seagate ironwolf drive only ? i can go for toshiba n300 which is cheaper

 

[TanKianW]

just to check with experts here with freenas . my current asustor nas recommend use ironwolf cos can incorporate with ironwolf scan which the nas os understand .


if i use freenas ..and i use ironwolf drive does it have such feature ......or my future drive if i want to swap no need to lock to seagate ironwolf drive only ? i can go for toshiba n300 which is cheaper

I am not sure if the scan will even be of much help. But I know TrueNAS can do schedule resilvering, smart test (long and short) and scrub. Every data in and out is consistently checked and verified before write in real-time. Furthermore, you can create snapshots which restore back the previous state of your NAS in an instant.

If you read up, you will know that the file system used by most off-the-shelf NAS are just inferior as compared to ZFS on TrueNAS Core (previously FreeNAS).

If you want an even more reliable TrueNAS system, go with ECC memory and connect it to a UPS. One advise when you setting up the system, max up the memory!

 

[Mach3.2]

I am not sure if the scan will even be of much help. But I know TrueNAS can do schedule resilvering, smart test (long and short) and scrub. Every data in and out is consistently checked and verified before write in real-time. Furthermore, you can create snapshots which restore back the previous state of your NAS in an instant.

If you read up, you will know that the file system used by most off-the-shelf NAS are just inferior as compared to ZFS on TrueNAS Core (previously FreeNAS).

If you want an even more reliable TrueNAS system, go with ECC memory and connect it to a UPS. One advise when you setting up the system, max up the memory!

Doing things "properly" can get expensive very quickly.

I punched my calculator, and if you spec out a for decent set of hardware + 8 high capacity HDDs (8/10/12/14TB) for RAIDZ2, you're probably gonna be paying at least 2k for that setup, and that's assuming you're shucking your HDDs from WD Elements/Easystore. If you buy proper retail drives it's gonna cost a lot more.