madmanmike

Sweet! This is the board I am about to buy and I am thrilled to see someone else has had mostly success using it. I, too, am bummed to read that you haven't gotten the BT nor the 2nd NIC to work, but maybe that will be worked out. Thanks for posting! Michael

Politely, I would like to say that I do not think you understand docker. They will have access to all, yes. It works like installing on a windows box, except its in a container. Basically when you are done, each docker runs on a different port, just like you are used to. No need to be polite. I almost surely don't understand Dockers. OpenVPN has its own docker container I believe. No need for more hardware I find info on an OpenVPN server, but can't find Client. Why would you want to use the passport when it wouldnt be protected by the array? If Time Machine supports backing up to a network location, do it directly to unraid, but to answer your question, yes you can mount devices to unraid outside of the protected array. I have a 500GB mounted for temp scratch storage. Want both. The more backups the better. Independent ones. This is personal preference. If you are planning to use something like Plex, a good CPU for transcoding would be nice. Otherwise, a single core CPU will do fine. Unraid is light. Similarly, will you be running VMs? If so, consider a decent CPU and RAM amount that matches your needs. I believe PSU is the most important. Read about this. make sure you get a PSU with a single 12v rail OK on the PSU. So, cache drive isn't even on your radar? I have not heard this, but you CAN pass the GPU to a VM and game on it. Remember, unraid will be almost 0 percent utilized mose of the time. Many people game on their rigs. But you need a board that will support VT-i for IO passthrough. Do your research Not sure about passing GPU stuff (on-board or separate card?), but do know about VT-i, my MOBO has it. Thank you for replying! I appreciate it. Michael

Hi guys I am on the cusp of pulling the trigger on my hardware build and I want to ask one more, all encompassing question. Presently I am running just about all my 'server' stuff on my MacBook Pro. Time Machine and other data backups done to an external USB3 MyPassport 2tb drive. The external drive also houses most all my media (movies and TV shows). I run PMS for the media. I run Sonarr and SAbNzbd for downloading. Movies I manually add by browsing my nzb server and downloading the nzb and adding it manually to Sab. My connection is via a 30mbit fiber connection. I run an OpenVPN client on the MacBook and run all my internet thru the VPN. I get about triple the download speeds using the VPN, I guess my ISP throttles if I just use them. I kinda understand the concept of Dockers, to a point. Now for the questions (Finally!): 1. Would I run Sab and Sonarr in their own, separate dockers? And even though they are isolated to specific areas of the server memory and storage, they can communicate with each other? Sonarr sends nzbs to Sab to download? Also, when I am browsing on my Mac and find a movie I want, I can somehow send the NZB to the Sab docker and have it download? 2. Can I somehow set up an 'Internet Docker' and connect to my VPN? Then have all apps that access the internet use that docker connection? My VPN service won't allow me to have multiple connections. Or is it easier (albeit more expensive) to buy a second router that has VPN client capability and run all internet thru that? 3. Can I plug the Passport USB3 drive into the server and still use it for critical backups (Time machine, not media), hopefully orchestrated by unraid? Can you please order hardware items as fas as their bang for the buck? (i.e. which are the most worthwhile to maximize server operation) Processor RAM Cache drive I ask that because I only want to buy once. Don't wanna buy the i3 and wish later that the i5 or i7 would have been a much better choice. Conversely, I don't want to buy 16gb RAM if 8gb is more than enough. 4. I want to eventually game on this rig, and I read that there are some Dockers and/or VMs that require a separate GPU (not the onboard one most MOBOs have). Does that mean it is difficult/impossible to casual game without one? I don't need 4k at 60fps, but can you generally do medium game settings on a rig without a GPU? Sorry for the long post, thank you for reading and I eagerly look forward to hearing from you. Thank you Michael

Hmmm. Interesting. Will look into this more. I was wondering if it had to do with other files, like the metadata, but I checked, and the only thing in my movie directory are movies. I am not sure where PMS puts the metadata, but it is not with the movies themselves. Thank you Michael

I hope this is on topic, but why do the movies each need their own folder? I am not running my unread server yet, but I am running PMS accessing an external USB3 drive on my Mac. My TV shows all get separate folders, as does each season in that folder, but I have all my movies in one folder and Plex seems to operate fine. Thank you, Michael

Great ideas. Researching now! Thank you! Michael

Hi guys Just read thru about 40 threads on VPNs. I understand the NAS can be a vpn server. Another question as I get closer and closer to building my unraid nas. I currently run my Internet activity thru an OPENVPN client on my Mac. Sab..., Sonarr, all my downloading goes thru the VPN as well. We live in Asia and my Internet connection is fiber via True home Internet. I would love to have the VPN installed on the supplied modem/router, but no access. And Not allowed to provide my own device. I am wondering if I build my server, is it possible to have it connect to the Internet thru my VPN provider? I want to move all my downloading (SAB, Sonarr, etc) to the server but not sure if I can connect it to the Internet via my VPN. Just point me to a Wiki page or tutorial and I will be happy. Thank you Michael

Yes, a bit of hyperbole. But you guys must be familiar with the kiddy book "If you give a mouse a cookie"? If I pull the trigger on the i7, then, well, 8gb just doesn't seem like enough ram. And, the PSU? Better bump that. And that case? Pretty soon my rig is competing with Deep Blue. Here in Thailand, i3 is $130. The i7 is $397. This is significant to me for this build. Triple the price. And I am a very casual gamer (at the moment). I think the i3 will be great for now. Thanks for the input, it helps! Michael

I agree with Gary's assessment here. If you can sport for the i7, it'll give you the most runway out of that system, but an i5 is still certainly better than the i3. Yah, I can see the logic, but then again, gotta start somewhere. And with this MOBO, by the time I am ready to game, SkyLake will be old hat and I can get the i7 and swap it in then for much less $ than today. Gonna start with the i3, and will ask the CFO (the wife) about perhaps bumping to the i5. NO way the i7 is in the budget. It would almost double the build cost. Thank you for the input, Michael

Not familiar with IOMMU (will google) but do understand cores and threads. I could upgrade to the i5, get 4 cores, but lose hyperthreading. Worthwhile? Michael

Good day, everyone, Brand new here. Been researching, seems like forever, on what server software I need. I was impressed with some of the youtubers detailing actually gaming on their unraid NASs. So be it, UnRaid it is. Since I have finally decided to build my own (ALMOST pulled the trigger on the QNAP 453mini - awesome build for home media serving) I need some guidance on my (ever so close) hardware purchase. First, I am in Bangkok. Gaming is huge and all the cutting, bleeding edge hardware is mostly available, at a price comparable with US. I found the following hardware, and request some commentary: MOBO: Gigabyte h170 mITX CPU: i3-6100 RAM: G.Skill DDR4 2400 8gb PSU: Thermaltake Smart M 650w Case: Cosair Carbide Air 240 HD: 2 X WD Red 6tb Again, lots of this is overkill for a NAS, but should allow me to expand into gaming later. Everything is similar in cost except hard drives. They are about 50% more here, cannot figure out why. My initial question is regarding all the 'bells and whistles' on the MOBO. Things like the dual NIC, bluetooth, WiFi, super SATA (or whatever the heck it is). Will I be able to now, or later, take advantage of these features? Will UnRaid even run on the new SkyLake HW? I was a Win7 guy back in the day. Been a Mac guy for about 3 years. My history with *nix is playing with a Fedora/Win7 dual boot a few years ago, never got terribly fluent in Linux. My home network is 2 X Macbook Pro, 2 X iPad, 2 X iPhone6, connected via True Fiber 30mbit. Want to dump my online cloud services and do it myself. Want Time Machine for both Macs. Want to store all photos. Want to plug the NAS into the TV HDMI and home theater the unit while still possibly transcoding and feeding one or 2 other Apple devices on the network. The case is a choice because this will sit next to the TV and serve up home theater. Probably PLEX, maybe KODI, with the MOBO HDMI. I understand that starting with only 2 HDDs is not ideal, but since my case is limited to only 3 3.5" HDDs, I want to go with big ones. And price dictates only 2 to start with. So many questions. Your advice is eagerly awaited and happily received. Thank you so much, Michael