Hi guys, I've been wanting to build a unRAID server for over a year now.  I finally bit the bullet and bought some components.  My main goal is to use the unRAID server to stream my blu-ray movies.  However, I want to put my music on the server too.

 

I'm basically going with components from Raj's budget build.  I'm starting small, but have room to grow.

 

OS Level: Undecided and looking for suggestions.

CPU: AMD Sepron 140

Motherboard: BIOSTAR A760G

RAM: Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 x 2 for 4GB total

Case: Helios 910

Drive Cage(s):  Icy Dock MB454SPF-B 4 in 3

Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series 430W

SATA Expansion Card(s): None until I need it.

OS Drive: Lexar JumpDrive FireFly 2GB

Hard Drives: 2 x 2TB WD20EARS Caviar Green Hard Drive and 1 x 2TB Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000

 

So here are my questions:

 

• What drive should I use for my parity?
  
• What level of unRAID should I use?  I saw that 4.7 doesn't require the jumpers, so I thought maybe I go with that.
  
• Is 2GB big enough for the flash drive?  I don't know what extensions I'll be using.  Is it easy to upgrade the flash drive in the future?
  
• If I do add a cache drive in the future, what kind of drive would I need?  Meaning how big, etc
  

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Ed

Hi Ed, congrats on your first build!  Your parts list looks good.

 

It shouldn't matter what drive you use as parity.  A few people have reported the Hitachi drives being slightly faster than the WD EARS, but I've used both and haven't noticed any difference.

 

Unless you have a specific need for some of the features in 5.0beta6a, then go with unRAID 4.7 (the current stable release).  The first thing you should do is to set the '4k mbr-aligned' option on the settings page.  From then on you won't have to use jumpers on the EARS drives.

 

Yes, 2 GB is plenty big enough for a flash drive.  If you are only using the free version of unRAID, then it is very easy to upgrade the flash drive.  However, once you pay for a Plus or Pro license, then that license is tied to that specific flash drive, it won't work with any other.  If you are buying a new flash drive then it makes sense to get a 4 or 8 GB one since they are so cheap, but in general you won't even use 1 GB's worth of that.

 

The rule of thumb about cache drives is that you want it to be at least as big as the amount of data you write to the array on a daily basis.  If you rip a single BluRay to the array each day, then your cache drive only needs to be larger than that (say 60 GB or larger).  However, there's also advantages to using a cache drive that is as large as your parity drive.  Read about 'warm spare' and other alternate cache drive uses in this thread.

 

 

Raj,

 

Thanks for the replies.  Regarding the parity drive, seeing as I have two WD's that I bought at the same time, does that make a difference in the decision?

 

Ed

Nope.

Thanks Raj.  Just waiting on the mobo and I can start my build.  I'll update this thread once I'm up and running.

So all my parts have arrived and I'm going to start to put this puppy together.  Couple things I still need to get.

 

1) More SATA cables.  I have enough to start, but I need more.  Monoprice here I come.  I guess 18" are the usual length people get?

 

2) One of the USB header adapters so I can mount my flash drive inside the case.  Really wish I had gotten this with all my other NewEgg stuff.

 

I also wanted to mention something.  Compared to all the experts here, I'm very green to building PCs.  I built one before this one.  Anyway, I noticed that the Biostar A760G is a AM2+ mobo and the Sempron is a AM3 socket CPU.  From the reading I've done, they should be compatible (and why would Raj list them in the budget box if they weren't  ).  But it is a little confusing at first.

 

Did anybody have to update the Biostar BIOS before actually running unRAID?

 

Ed

Yes, 18" seems to be the new standard SATA cable length, which is too bad because it is far longer than is needed in most cases.  Gives you a chance to practice your cable management skills, though...

 

The USB header is just a frill, though it can help protect the flash drive if you have kids who like to eat small, expensive things.

 

The AM3 CPU is backwards compatible with the Biostar's AM2+ socket.  You shouldn't have to update the BIOS - I never have, and I've used probably 10 of these boards in various servers and other builds.

Thanks again Raj.

 

I thought of a few more newb questions.

 

1) The icydock has 2 molex power plugs, do I need to attach both to the power supply?  Or is the second for a optional redundant PS?

 

2) Also, the icydock has other connectors (no, not the sata connector), what are those for?  They seem to be communication connectors for when the HDD fail.

 

3) When installing the power supply, does the fan face inside the case or out? I thought I read either, but dependent on the scenario.

 

 

1) The icydock has 2 molex power plugs, do I need to attach both to the power supply?  Or is the second for a optional redundant PS?

 

Yep, need to plug both in...

 

2) Also, the icydock has other connectors (no, not the sata connector), what are those for?  They seem to be communication connectors for when the HDD fail.

 

I believe those are inputs and outputs for things like HDD fail and activity LED if your SATA controller supports them. Typically you don't need to worry about it...

 

3) When installing the power supply, does the fan face inside the case or out? I thought I read either, but dependent on the scenario.

 

That case you are using does have vents on the bottom, so a bit of personal preference I think. The fan draws air into the unit to cool it and is expelled out the rear. Placing the fan down, would draw cooler air from that vent below, but, will also draw in a lot of dust and junk if there is no filter. Faced up, not as much dust drawn in, but you are drawing in pre-warmed air. So, you have to weigh the good with the bad. Personally, if there is a filter, I place it face down. Otherwise, run it face up. But that is me.

 

Cheers,

Shawn

 

I always place the PSU fan up so that it pulls air from inside the case and vents it out the back.  I figure that any amount of negative pressure created inside the case is a good thing.  Plus, cleaning dust filters is annoying

Shawn and Raj,

 

Thanks for the replies.  I'm glad I asked about the 2 power plugs on the IcyDock.

 

Ed

So I've got my server built and I'm going through the Configuration Guide in the wiki (thank God for that guide!).

 

I'm about to start pre-clearing my drives and I know my WDs are AF drives, but what about the 2TB Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 I'm using?  Is that an AF drive too?  If so, that means all my drives should be 4k aligned, right?

 

 

So I've got my server built and I'm going through the Configuration Guide in the wiki (thank God for that guide!).

 

I'm about to start pre-clearing my drives and I know my WDs are AF drives, but what about the 2TB Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 I'm using?  Is that an AF drive too?  If so, that means all my drives should be 4k aligned, right?

 

 

 

Just preclear them all with the -A flag.  For more explanations search the forums.

Thanks for the reply prostuff.  I kicked off 3 preclears using the Configuration Tutorial instructions.  I had three screen sessions running.  However, my first one seems to have gone away.  It also appears that my first preclear isn't running anymore.  I seriously doubt it could have finished as my other 2 are only one step 2 of 10.

 

I looked in my syslog and don't see any preclear lines.  Is it safe for me to just try and run preclear again on the HDD?

Is it safe for me to just try and run preclear again on the HDD?

Yes

Another step complete!  All three hard drives are precleared.    Tomorrow I hope to get to setting up the array.

 

One question, I just shutdown the server and I'm hearing a faint beeping noise coming from the server.  Sounds almost like a digital watch alarm, but very faint.  I turned off the power supply and the beeping stopped.  Turning the power back on made the beeping turn to a faint ringing.  When the server is running I don't hear the beeping/ringing, but that might be because of all the fans/hdds running.

 

Any ideas on what the noise is?  Could it be something on the mobo?

Listen carefully - could it be coming from the PSU? Some bad PSU's make a noise after the system is powered down. Maybe unplugged the mains (24pin) and Aux (4pin) plug from the mobo - then you know pretty much nothing drawing power. See if it still occurs.

 

Shawn

Listen carefully - could it be coming from the PSU? Some bad PSU's make a noise after the system is powered down. Maybe unplugged the mains (24pin) and Aux (4pin) plug from the mobo - then you know pretty much nothing drawing power. See if it still occurs.

 

Shawn

 

Shawn, thanks for the idea.  Here's what I did:

 

I turned off the PS switch.

Disconnected the mains from the mobo.

Turned the PS switch back on.

 

Ringing stopped.

 

I connected the mains back to the mobo and the ringing resumed.

 

So, what's that mean?  The PS is bad?

Can you though verify the sound is coming from the PSU itself? Certainly sounds like it... Typically if the system if off and your hear some noise, usually is the power supply, and that is never a good sign...

 

Shawn

Can you though verify the sound is coming from the PSU itself? Certainly sounds like it... Typically if the system if off and your hear some noise, usually is the power supply, and that is never a good sign...

 

Shawn

 

It sure sounds like it.  It's really hard to pin point it though, even with the side of the case off.  So I guess I should RMA the PS and try a new one.

 

Thanks for the help Shawn.

I contacted NewEgg.com about returning my Corsair 430 power supply, but I couldn't return it to them because I had already cut off the UPC from the packaging for a rebate that was about to expire.  So I had to deal with Corsair directly.  I submitted the request for the RMA on their web site and within an hour the RMA had been approved and I was sent instructions on how to return the PS.  I sent in the PS via UPS which cost me $15.  I wasn't happy that I had to pay to return something that was defective, so I called Corsair.  Their customer service agent instantly offered to send me a pre-paid UPS label, but I explained that I had already sent it back.  I suggested that maybe they could upgrade the PS they send back.  He agreed and they are sending me the CX-500 and they shipped it immediately (instead of waiting for the original to arrive at their address).

 

I have to say Corsair's customer service was excellent.  Also, as a lesson, don't just take what's in the instructions for returning something. I should have called immediately to question me paying to send back the PS.

 

I'll update the thread when I get the new PS installed.

Yep, my experience with their customer service have been great as well.

 

Shawn