Hi everyone,

I'm at the point that I want to install unraid fresh on my existing hardware. It grew historical, with all my bad decisions and configuration. And sometimes I get a lot of trouble, when I want to install new apps. So for that I what you're advices, ideas and support. So more or less a brainstorming area.

First my hardware setup. I use a Lenovo ThinkCenter M720q, Intel i5-8500T, 32GB RAM, 4 1TB SSD for storage, 256 GB nvme as Cache and storage for my docker and a 2 TB HDD with Unassigned Devices as Backup and as Unraid license an unraid basic.

So I use this config for about 2 years and now I want to redesign everything.

My idea is to create an array with my 4 1TB SSD and 2 pools. 1 for unraid system folders and one only for my datagrave/nas and all other user files.

My nvme should work as boot device and cache, docker location.

The 2TB HDD will be used as backup again.

Will this work, do you have any suggestions for improvements?

Thanks in advance

Patrick

SSD should not be used in the unraid array, these should only be used in pools.

You’d be better off making a raidz pool with your 4x 1TB SSDs.

The 256GB ssd for a boot drive + cache partition is fine.

You may consider putting the HDD in the array as disk1 I don’t see why it needs to be kept as an unassigned drive.

Also in the future since you have a basic license you are grandfathered into being able to still upgrade to the Plus and Pro tier legacy licenses should you choose to expand later.

Edited May 31May 31 by MowMdown

Why should ssd only used in pools instead of an array?

If I create an riadz pool, which benefits do I get? I my thinking it's better to create an array, to be able to expand the array later if I upgrade my license like you mentioned. With an raidz pool this is not possible as far as I know.

So the idea behind the hdd as unassigned decide, is to use the hdd a dedicated device which is not liked to anything. so if everything went down (fire, explosions, virus, etc.) I just need to grab that device and all is fine.

I was thinking about to upgrade to the Pro tier, but my system is limited to max. 7 USB ports, due to the fact that I use a mico pc. Upgrading to plus or pro would not be a benefit for me at the moment. And running a system that can handle all my ssds that I have, would be too expensive energy wise.

My Lenovo costs round about 55€ per year just for power 24/7 compared to 300€ an existing HP Z420. Maybe later this year.

10 hours ago, whiteout said:

Why should ssd only used in pools instead of an array?

One of the main reasons is because the array doesn't support TRIM.

10 hours ago, whiteout said:

If I create an riadz pool, which benefits do I get? I my thinking it's better to create an array, to be able to expand the array later if I upgrade my license like you mentioned. With an raidz pool this is not possible as far as I know.

No, the general rule of thumb is NOT to use SSD's in the array. Yes, the default unraid array is more flexible if you want to expand later. ZFS has better overal performance and does a better job with data integrity. BUT what MowMdown wanted to say (i think) is that you should create a POOL instead of an ARRAY. Those are two different configurations in unraid. Pools support TRIM while an array does not. This is not by choice but more a 'side-effect' because of the way a pool or unraid-array works. Whether you choose btrfs of zfs is up to you.

10 hours ago, whiteout said:

So the idea behind the hdd as unassigned decide, is to use the hdd a dedicated device which is not liked to anything. so if everything went down (fire, explosions, virus, etc.) I just need to grab that device and all is fine.

This is fine for an USB backup-drive. Use the user-scripts plugin to create a backup script.

10 hours ago, whiteout said:

I was thinking about to upgrade to the Pro tier, but my system is limited to max. 7 USB ports, due to the fact that I use a mico pc. Upgrading to plus or pro would not be a benefit for me at the moment. And running a system that can handle all my ssds that I have, would be too expensive energy wise.

My Lenovo costs round about 55€ per year just for power 24/7 compared to 300€ an existing HP Z420. Maybe later this year.

Are you talking about SSD's attached over USB?? If so, then this won't work.

[edit] what docker containers do you use? What is your use case?

Edited June 2Jun 2 by Aran

Hi Aran,

thanks for your answer.

I'm running my current setup with 4 ssds connected by USB in an array over 2 year now. I saw this config in some YouTube videos and it works fine for me. No issues or what so ever. That why I want to go this way. This is also the reason why it is so hard for me to understand why I shouldn't use array, except of the TRIM. Over all for me it's more useful to have an array with the better flexibility than a static pool. Also I'll "loose" possible storage space.

I think I "ignore" your advice and stay with the array instead.

I'll use the following docker:

• AdGuard

• ClamAV

• LuckyBackup (for the backup to the hdd)

• Duplicati (for encrypted backup to one drive)

• Plex

• TeamSpeak Server

22 hours ago, whiteout said:

I think I "ignore" your advice and stay with the array instead.

No hard feelings 👍 But remember. You won't get SMART data from your ssd's so unraid cannot monitor the disks health and cannot warn you for any disk-issues. Also, i think you cannot use the full potential of your ssd's in an array (speed-wise) but since you use USB that won't matter anyway.

My advice is to upgrade your Lenovo to a desktop model (lenovo or any other brand will do fine) that has more sata ports. I don't know where you live but you can get s1151 xeon desktops basicly for free in Belgium. (i have one in our basement and you can have it for free) They are surpisingly energy efficient. DO NOT focus on TDP wattage only.

Hi Aran,

your offer for a free desktop is really generous, thanks for that. I'll think about. The options that will offer this are interesting. I'll come back to you.

"DO NOT focus on TDP wattage only." -> no I focus on the number my Kill a Watt is showing me ^^. What I need is a system which uses something round about 30W max. Like I said electricity in Germany is expensive...

Anyway, another question.

With my current setup, I use for all docker as standard "Network Type" Custom: br0. During the last 2 years I tried to install some different docker like immich or stirling pdf, with bad results that the docker aren't working proper and can't see the used ports.

In the YouTube video from the unraid cast show about the installation of stirling pdf, I heard that the standard way of using unraid with docker, is bridge mode. Now I'm thinking further. When I want to install AdGuard oder PiHole, I need a dedicated IP for the docker, to enter this in my router to populate it in my network as standard DNS server.

My question is now, what will be the best way?

Stay static like before/now or switch to a mixed mode where I use bridge and br0?

Regards

Patrick

I don't know what your home network looks like, but Pi-hole and AdGuard Home can also work without a dedicated IP address, using Bridge mode. A dedicated IP is not a requirement.

For Immich, Redis, and PostgreSQL, it's generally a good idea to create a custom Docker network (for example, immich) and place your entire Immich stack on that network so those containers are isolated from the rest.

For reference, I run 18 Docker containers. Only 3 of them have a static IP address, one uses the Host network, and all the others use Bridge mode.

That said, I'm not an expert when it comes to Docker networking, and I'm not claiming this is the only correct way to do it. Others here can probably provide more in-depth advice.

Hi Aran,

Mindgame:

So if I use Bridge mode for AdGuard, which IP should I enter in my router to publish it in my hole network by DHCP?

I think I‘ll install a test unraid and try it with this.

On 6/9/2026 at 12:12 PM, whiteout said:

So if I use Bridge mode for AdGuard, which IP should I enter in my router to publish it in my hole network by DHCP?

The same IP as your unraid server and port 53 (unless you changed the port number).

Hi Aran,

That‘s the point. This is not possible for my AVM Fritzbox router.

Bitte Like I said, I install a test server on a very old Laptop and give a try for my most needed docker.

Regards

Patrick