Hi

Currently my unraid server sits in a fractal design define 7. I would like to switch to something more compact and convenient.

 

Thought about buying a mini PC with oculink like this (only announced but not released yet)

https://videocardz.com/newz/minisforum-um790-xtx-mini-pc-features-70w-amd-ryzen-7040-apu-and-oculink-connector

 

And attach it to an expension unit like this

https://www.qnap.com/en/product/tl-d800s

 

Will that work? Is there an oculink cable that can connect 2xsff-8088/8643?

 

Thanks

That expansion unit retail is over $2k.

I would rather pay to have this case printed (about $800) - or see if I can print it myself.  One or the other will eventually happen as I'm actively downsizing the physical dimensions of my server - currently the gigantic full tower Antec Nineteen Hundred case.

Edited October 24, 20232 yr by whipdancer

It's 600$ at Amazon

QNAP TL-D800S 8 Bay SATA 6Gbps JBOD Storage Enclosure. PCIe SATA Interface Card (QXP-800eS-A1164) Included https://a.co/d/84BZgpS

Essentially I'm asking if oculink to 2x sff-8088/8643 will work

Oculink is a standard PCIe connection, so there is no reason you cannot run any PCIe card you want over it. 

 

That said, the solution seems a bit expensive and complicated. I run my server on a UM970 Pro connected to an 8 bay JBOD enclosure using good old USB. It works just fine, though maybe a bit slower than a true PCIe -> SATA/SAS connection. The enclosure was less than half what the QNAP would cost before dealing with any of the Oculink componentry.

Edited October 25, 20232 yr by ssb201

Thanks for the response

The PC/DAS I referenced are just an example, but they are in my budget.

Regarding the PCIE card, I thought I just need a cable from the 8611 oculink to dual 8643 mini sas.

Something like this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196017309523?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fYpGzdwPTTG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=MORE

 

How do I use PCIE card with a mini PC?

 

It's encouraging to hear USB case working fine for you

I can consider it too

I'm a little bit afraid of the reliability of USB storage.

What device do you use with the UM 790 pro?

Edited October 26, 20232 yr by Omri

You would need an external dock (USB4 to PCIe) to connect the card to a miniPC. Most are "intended" for graphics cards, but should work for any PCIe card.

 

I have had no problems with USB storage. Essentially it is just a different communications protocol.

 

I had an 8-Bay Syba USB Drive Enclosure laying around. It is only USB 3.0 which does seem to limit my performance to around 110MB/s. If I was getting something new, I would probably go with USB 3.1 to double the performance. Since my NAS is primarily media and I have NVMe cache drives, disk performance is a relative non-issue. Especially since most of my home network is still limited to gigabit.

I understand, I still need the sata controller

why USB4 related?

Thanks

Edited October 27, 20232 yr by Omri

MiniPCs like the UM790 do not have expansion slots. You cannot put an extra SATA/SAS controller into it. It does have a USB4 port or, as you posted originally, the new one has an Oculink port. You can take the QNAP you posted above or any other SATA/SAS JBOD enclosure, connect the PCIe SATA Interface Card it comes with into a PCIe "dock" and connect it to your machine using OcuLink or USB4. I am not sure why you would want the SATA/SAS controller external to your drive enclosure, but it is possible to do.

 

If you were thinking of just a cable conversion between SATA/SAS (SFF-8088/8643) and PCIe(Oculink/USB4/Thunderbolt). That does not exists. They are completely distinct protocols.