2 questions which I can't seem to find from my web searching (mostly because I pull up the wrong topics).

 

1) Can you add a flash drive as an array disk? I have a very specific plan - use it to store the XBMC thumbnails.

 

2) Can you create a shared drive from RAM? In other words, load the thumbnails into the unRAID box RAM and share this?

 

Thanks!

You cannot add a flash drive as an array drive, BUT you can add a symbolic link from an array drive to a flash drive that holds the thumbnails.

 

In the same way, you can create a "drive" in memory and create a link to it from a shared drive. You can also just define your own "share" pointing directly to it using smb-extra.cfg

 

You can create an in-memory file system by typing:

mkdir /mnt/temp

mount -t tmpfs tmpfs /mnt/temp

 

You can now copy your thumbnails to it

cp xbmc_directory/*.tmb /mnt/temp

 

ln -s

will create a symbolic link from one of your data disks.

 

If you create a tmpfs filesystem to be shared. I would suggest you create a swapfile or swap partition on a disk somewhere. tmpfs filesystem space can be swapped out if there is ram pressure.

 

You'll see me all over the forum with recommendations on not using an SSD for cache. however, this is actually one place where you would see me suggest the use of an SSD.

For thumbnails and a share that requires rapid access of small files.

 

Putting application files that supplement the system, or mostly read of many small files, SSD's are an excellent choice.

Nothing beats a ramdisk in speed, however, you are always limited to the network speed for access to these files.

I don't think it needs to be part of the parity protected array. Yet I would suggest use of the rsync-linked-backup tool on my google code page to protect it on the array via some frequency.

 

Another choice is for an actual Ram disk via the Gigabyte i-ram PCI card. I have one,  I like it. Yet for the cost I think an SSD would be more effective.

 

I use the gigabyte i-ram for a log filesystem that is updated continually throughout the day. Then rsync it to another area once an hour.

 

I was thinking about adding an SSD for just the reasons you mentioned. I was going to include it in the array though. Since I don't really care about write speeds anyway, it gives me peace of mind. Further, it's easy enough to exclude the disk from all the shares except the Thumbnails one.