First Unraid build sanity check and a couple of queries

[blackshadow]

This is my first foray into building an Unraid server. I'm proficient in putting together PCs and have mucked around with a linux box years ago to use sonarr/radarr and kodi and know Windows well and some networking basics.

 

I'm re-purposing my old desktop PC - I'm wanting the server to do the following

• Media server for movies and TV shows
• Photo back up from a couple of PCs
• Document back up from a couple of PCs
• Sonarr/Radarr set up with newsgroups
• Nextcloud
• Bitwarden

 

The hardware I am using is:

CPU: Intel i5 8400

Motherboard: MSI Z370-A PRO

RAM: 16GB (single stick) Corsair Vengeance 3000 CL15 kit - Part # CMK16GX4M1B3000C15

Case (new): Antec - P101 Silent

PSU (new): be quiet! - BN902 600W Gold semi-modular

SSD1 (cache): Samsung 256GB SATA

SSD2 (pool for docker containers): Crucial 480GB SATA

HDD1 (new): 6TB HGST Deskstar NAS - 7200RPM 128GB cache

HDD 2 & 3: 2TB Hitachi 7200rpm drives

HDD 4-7: 2TB WD Green (from old HP microserver)

 

 

 

My motherboard has 6 SATA connections and I have 9 SATA drives I want to connect - some recommendations on a cost effective PCI card that will work would be appreciated. Would something like this 4 port ASMedia 1064  do the trick? https://www.amazon.com.au/IO-Non-Raid-Profile-Bracket-ASMedia/dp/B08J2PK1HF/ref=rvi_3/356-1639176-9771617?pd_rd_w=VJGqA&pf_rd_p=27aa7904-0762-4d7d-89ab-5c11fd177d32&pf_rd_r=98RZJH86FMDX5S3ZEK22&pd_rd_r=02c7cc35-3e75-457f-be26-161d51fe2231&pd_rd_wg=HZl8b&pd_rd_i=B08J2PK1HF&th=1

 

Is there much advantage in adding another 16GB RAM stick to the build?

 

Overall how does this build look for my needs? Is there anything I am missing or any other suggestions?

 

 

[Lolight]

On 1/26/2022 at 8:45 AM, blackshadow said:

HDD1 (new): 6TB HGST Deskstar NAS - 7200RPM 128GB cache

HDD 2 & 3: 2TB Hitachi 7200rpm drives

HDD 4-7: 2TB WD Green (from old HP microserver)

The 6TB is your biggest drive therefore must be allocated to a parity.

Then you have left with a bunch of  2TB drives for data.

IMHO, you'd be creating a huge reliability uncertainty since every single drive is a potential failure point.

You'll end up with a smallish storage space exposed to a high probability of failure.

I think it would be wiser to repurpose the old drives to something else and build up the Unraid server with a couple of new higher capacity disks.

Overall, it would be more reliable and cost efficient in the long run.

 

[blackshadow]

Thanks I realise that about the parity but at this stage it's a punt I'm willing to take. Nothing is mission critical or not stored elsewhere.

At some stage I'll grab another 6 or 4TB drive and add it as second parity.

At this point to me it's more important to get the server built and running.

The component I'm not sure about is a SATA expansion adapter.

[Lolight]

On 1/28/2022 at 9:31 AM, blackshadow said:

The component I'm not sure about is a SATA expansion adapter.

The linked in your post ASMedia 1064 based card should work: