[[fester:hardware_general]]

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fester:hardware_general [2016/06/10 14:14] – [General Hardware Recommendations] danfester:hardware_general [2017/06/24 17:57] – [Power Supply Units (PSUs) and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs)] Add NUT HCL link dan
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   - Use only Error Correcting Memory (ECC memory). I know it is more expensive, but you are introducing a possible source of corruption into the file system (ZFS) in FreeNAS if you don’t use ECC memory.   - Use only Error Correcting Memory (ECC memory). I know it is more expensive, but you are introducing a possible source of corruption into the file system (ZFS) in FreeNAS if you don’t use ECC memory.
-  - The minimum amount of RAM for a FreeNAS system is 8GB. But Fester recommends a minimum of 16GB.+  - The minimum amount of RAM for a FreeNAS system is 8GB. But Fester recommends a minimum of 16GB. Even more is better. More RAM is the best payoff to improve performance of your system, since ZFS will use it for caching.
   - If you have time take a look at Cyberjock’s article entitled “ECC vs non-ECC RAM and ZFS”. It is detailed, but excellent ( __[[https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/ecc-vs-non-ecc-ram-and-zfs.15449/|ECC vs Non-ECC and ZFS]]__   - If you have time take a look at Cyberjock’s article entitled “ECC vs non-ECC RAM and ZFS”. It is detailed, but excellent ( __[[https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/ecc-vs-non-ecc-ram-and-zfs.15449/|ECC vs Non-ECC and ZFS]]__
   - If you have time take a look at Jgreco’s article entitled “How To Fail … a guide to things not-to-do”. It mentions ECC memory amongst other things ( __[[https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/how-to-fail-a-guide-to-things-not-to-do.40924/#post-259705|How Not To Do Things]]__).   - If you have time take a look at Jgreco’s article entitled “How To Fail … a guide to things not-to-do”. It mentions ECC memory amongst other things ( __[[https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/how-to-fail-a-guide-to-things-not-to-do.40924/#post-259705|How Not To Do Things]]__).
-  - If you have time have a read through of this. It talks about hardware choices and ECC memory ( __[[https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/4iepsw/freenas_all_disks_suddenly_degraded/|FreeNAS All Disks Suddenly Degraded]]__).+  - If you have time have a read through this. It talks about hardware choices and ECC memory ( __[[https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/4iepsw/freenas_all_disks_suddenly_degraded/|FreeNAS All Disks Suddenly Degraded]]__).
  
 ===== CPU ===== ===== CPU =====
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   - If you follow the advice on ECC memory then the processor must support ECC memory (not all do). All Xeon CPUs do, as do many Pentiums, Celerons, and Core i3 CPUs. No Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs support ECC.   - If you follow the advice on ECC memory then the processor must support ECC memory (not all do). All Xeon CPUs do, as do many Pentiums, Celerons, and Core i3 CPUs. No Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs support ECC.
   - Home users with modest demands generally do not require expensive dual or multiprocessor setups.   - Home users with modest demands generally do not require expensive dual or multiprocessor setups.
-  - If using encryption select a processor that supports AES-NI. Otherwise, don’t use encryption; it results in too much of a performance hit. +  - If using encryption select a processor that supports AES-NI. Otherwise, don’t use encryption; it results in too much of a performance hit.  In fact, unless you have a specific legal requirement for full-disk encryption, don't use it.  The risk of data loss is too great. 
-  - If using a SAMBA share (SAMBA is basically a program that runs on your server that provides file and print sharing services to other computers connected to the server via your network) then a 3GHz plus CPU is recommended.+  - Most modern (i.e., Sandy Bridge or newer) Intel CPUs will have adequate performance for any sort of file sharing over a gigabit network.
  
 ===== Motherboard ===== ===== Motherboard =====
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   - The FreeNAS OS must reside on a separate drive. It cannot be installed on the HDD/s you will use for data storage.   - The FreeNAS OS must reside on a separate drive. It cannot be installed on the HDD/s you will use for data storage.
   - A minimum of 16GB capacity for the FreeNAS boot device is recommended. Any larger than 32 GB is wasteful.   - A minimum of 16GB capacity for the FreeNAS boot device is recommended. Any larger than 32 GB is wasteful.
-  - A SATA DOM or Solid State Device (SSD) is recommended. If your budget does not stretch this far you can use a high quality USB device.+  - A SATA DOM or Solid State Device (SSD) is recommended. If your budget does not stretch this far you can use a high quality USB device.  If you are using a USB stick, consider using two, and mirroring them.
  
 ===== Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) and RAID Controllers ===== ===== Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) and RAID Controllers =====
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   - If your budget allows, invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). If your budget doesn't allow, adjust your budget until it does. I know it’s not the most seductive bit of kit (incidentally, the most seductive bit of kit I ever bought was a leather thong, but that’s another story) and it’s expensive (the UPS, not the thong!), but it is good practice to use one. Although the ZFS file system, along with the ZIL is designed to stop data corruption when experiencing a power outage, apparently it can still happen (I don’t know how or why??).   - If your budget allows, invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). If your budget doesn't allow, adjust your budget until it does. I know it’s not the most seductive bit of kit (incidentally, the most seductive bit of kit I ever bought was a leather thong, but that’s another story) and it’s expensive (the UPS, not the thong!), but it is good practice to use one. Although the ZFS file system, along with the ZIL is designed to stop data corruption when experiencing a power outage, apparently it can still happen (I don’t know how or why??).
   - Some server PSUs will not work with a UPS that uses a simulated sine wave output. Some PSUs don’t seem to mind. The reasons are beyond the scope of this guide. I have seen the output of some simulated sine wave UPSs on an oscilloscope and some of them are shockingly bad and do not even come close to a sine wave. If you don’t want to take a chance, then get a UPS that provides a proper sine wave at its output. Unfortunately, this will cost you more.   - Some server PSUs will not work with a UPS that uses a simulated sine wave output. Some PSUs don’t seem to mind. The reasons are beyond the scope of this guide. I have seen the output of some simulated sine wave UPSs on an oscilloscope and some of them are shockingly bad and do not even come close to a sine wave. If you don’t want to take a chance, then get a UPS that provides a proper sine wave at its output. Unfortunately, this will cost you more.
-  - Whatever UPS you choose make sure it is supported on the Network UPS Tools (NUT) hardware compatibility list. This will allow the server via an attached USB cable to monitor the UPS.+  - Whatever UPS you choose make sure it is supported on the Network UPS Tools (NUT) [[http://networkupstools.org/stable-hcl.html|hardware compatibility list]]. This will allow the server via an attached USB, serial, or network cable to monitor the UPS. 
  
 ===== Miscellaneous ===== ===== Miscellaneous =====
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   - Do not use RAIDZ1, as it has only 1 disk redundancy (Z2 has 2 disk redundancy and Z3 has 3 disk redundancy). THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!   - Do not use RAIDZ1, as it has only 1 disk redundancy (Z2 has 2 disk redundancy and Z3 has 3 disk redundancy). THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
   - Remember when any vdev fails in a pool it takes the entire pool with it!   - Remember when any vdev fails in a pool it takes the entire pool with it!
 +  - Read Cyberjock's [[https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/slideshow-explaining-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/|guide to ZFS for newbies]].  Then read it again.  It would probably be worth reading it a third time.
   - Home users will generally not benefit from a SLOG or L2ARC. More RAM is a better buy.   - Home users will generally not benefit from a SLOG or L2ARC. More RAM is a better buy.
  
  • fester/hardware_general.txt
  • Last modified: 2017/06/24 18:02
  • by dan