FreeNAS Build

This is a NAS build showcasing the viability of FreeNAS as a SOHO server for my
usage.
Background:
I have been using a Xeon W3690 rackmount with 12GB of RAM running Windows Home S
erver (since 2013) for long term storage and managing 8x1TB in RAID 6. I was at
75% usage and I started taking a hard look at what I should do next. I could hav
e replaced the drives and continued using this machine but for the workload, the
power consumption was not justifiable. I wanted something that was optimized fo
r being a NAS and the cost of a pre-built unit was also not justifiable (unless
i was in a critical situation and needed something, working, out of the box, now
). I really liked the open source distributions and from my research, I felt tha
t FreeNAS was the most mature in stability and user base.
Design Requirements:
1. Able to support 10 TB+ (up to 30-40 TB in the next few years) of usable stora
ge in RAID-Z2 (I may transition to RAID-Z3 in the future). This concerns both dr
ives and memory.
2. Must be able to be mmaintained quickly in addition to upgrades.
3. Internally connected with aerospace wiring and routing practices.
4. Contained within short tower or short depth rackmount.
Current Specifications:
I chose most of these components because its stuff I have lying around the house
. I put the upgrade path in paranthesis next to the components.
CPU: Intel Atom C2550 2.4 GHz Quad-Core
Motherboard: Asrock C2550D4I
HBA: LSI 9211-8i, flashed with IT firmware
RAM: 32GB ECC 4x8GB (Phase 2 will go to 64 GB)
OS Drive: 64GB Samsung 830 Series SSD
Data Drives: 8x3TB in RAID-Z2 of mish-mash
Case: Silverstone D380B
PSU: Silverstone SFX ST45SF-G 450W Full Modular
Storage:
The initial setup will have 8 3TB drives, which in RAID-Z2 (ZFS analogue to RAID
6) results in 16.4TB of usable space with 24TB of total space. The upgrade path
is to go up to 8 6TB drives which results in 32.4TB usable space with 48 TB in t
otal space.
As
1.
2.
3.

for the storage controller, the motherboard comes with the following:
Intel C2550: 2xSATA3, 4xSATA2
Marvell SE9172: 2xSATA3
Marvel SE9230: 4xSATA3

This should be enough to run 8 drives in SATA3 but i have had some terrible expe
riences with Marvell controllers so I decided to make use of the LSI 9211-8i car
d to add 8xSATA3 ports to the system. I flashed this card with the IT only firmw
are so that it passes the drives right through to the OS rather than add a RAID
layer. I can always move this setup to something bigger and get 15x drives in ad
dition to an OS drive.
I also want the storage block to be completely module.
In order to accomplish all of this, I needed to do mods:
1. Create standoff mount for LSI 9211-8i card
2. Create routing provisions on module for both SFF-8087 to SATA breakout cables
.

3. Add bracket to install 2.5" SSD OS drive

4. Create harness to power the storage drive backplane and the OS drive.