[[fester:hardware_general]]

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fester:hardware_general [2016/06/10 14:20] – [Miscellaneous] link cyberjock's zfs guide 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.  Even more is better.  More RAM is the best payoff to improve performance of your system, since ZFS will use it for caching.+  - 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 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 =====
  • fester/hardware_general.txt
  • Last modified: 2017/06/24 18:02
  • by dan