Storage server - Is this makes sense?

[csard]

Hi Eveyone,

 

I would like to ask for some guidence regarding my plans to upgrade my Unraid server and storage solution.

 

The current situation:

 

I have a Dell R720 with 2x E5-2665, 112 GB RAM, 16x SFF bays with 9x 1Tb SAS 10k (2 as parity) spinnig rust. I'm using my unraid box to run some VM's (eg. HAS, pfSense) and containers (eg. Plex) and to store my data (eg. docs, pictures, ISOs).

 

The reason for upgrade:

Right now I have enough space to store my data, but I would like to add some more storage capacity to my server. I would like to store security cam footage on my server, create my own cloud and play with iSCSI and boot from network (to remove all HDD-s from my computers around my house).

Best case I could upgrade to 16x 1 Tb (-2 Tb parity) but finding SAS drives (in good price and quality) is hard in my country (I'm from Hungary, usually VAT+shipping is to damn high, if somebody have a good goto place I'm open for it ).

For this reason I'm thinking to replace the 2.5" SAS drives with 3.5" SATA, but for this I would need a new server or a disk enclosure. Finding good used/refurbished servers (again) not an easy option, but recently I found this: https://www.bargainhardware.co.uk/hp-storevirutal-3200-12-lff-configure-to-order-39657

Since I don't have any FC my knowledge stops here.

I also looked for an FC HBA: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184000731329

 

The plan:

I would like to passthrough the HBA card to a VM (FreeNAS probably, to have iSCSI target support) and configure the storage array.

 

Questions:

* First of all would this make any sense? Do you have any better idea  how to solve my problems in a cheaper/better way?

* How can I connect the Dell server and the HP storage array? Should I use all 4 ports on the 2 controller from the HP side or the two controller only serves rendundancy (aka no performance benefit) or should I use the 6G SAS connection with a different HBA (also the question here, should I use both of them or just one?

* Is there any difference between the FC HBA mentioned above and this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/275047415257?epid=16020339509 (I see it has an SFP connection) Can I use something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274950964835 and https://www.ebay.com/itm/255188333783?var=555181099332 I guess I need to use the first module for the HP controller FC connection as well.

 

Thank you very much for reading throug all of this. Of course I don't ask to solve all of my problems, but if you have some good advice, tutorial or learning material how to configure something like this (or just part of it) I would appriciate it.

 

Thanks again!

 

BR,

Ricsi