I've finally got my build up after a couple of weeks waiting for parts. Unraid is set up and I'm currently transfering my files from my HTPC to my unRAID server.

 

My original plan was to just run SB/CP/SAB all from my HTPC but now it seems pointless with my unRAID up.

 

My question is, do I NEED a cache drive in order to have all those plugins running? Is it doable with what I have?

 

Which is 1x3TB parity and 2x3TB data drives.

 

I'm currently using the free version right now and will upgrade soon, but hoping I won't need to purchase another hard drive for Cache.

 

Please advise what my options are.

i have SB/SAB running on my server for the past 6 months... and i never had a cache drive... but i was only D/L at 800k... but one thing that i would look at is is that there's a plugin that caches your DIRs for you... the reason being that while browsing your video files by defualt it will want to spin up all the HDs to browse... vs using this plugin it will only spin up the HDs once you have chosen to access a file vs requiring spinning the HDs just to view the files that you have on it...

 

just my 10c...

 

mat

My question is, do I NEED a cache drive in order to have all those plugins running? Is it doable with what I have?

You do not NEED to have a cache drive, but it will make things easier, as many of the plugins assume a cache drive is available, and need extra customization or configuration if you don't have one. You may run into a situation that requires more computer knowledge, as the tutorials and install instructions are geared towards having a cache drive. The other downside is that without a cache drive, you will have two disks constantly spinning, instead of just one.

I assume where you say cache drive, you actually mean an SSD drive? A cache drive is only usefull when copying regularly to the array, speeding up transmission. Usually people us an SSD as a cache drive, but a normal harddisk will work as well...

 

Adding an SSD however is good idea, not as cache drive, but as a low energy, superfast disk to install and run apps on, and use as temporary download location for sabnzbd where it can download parts and assemble its download. That is how i am using my SSD, NOT as a cache, but as an off-arry, fast disk where all my apps are installed. That way you can still download with all your physical disks spun down, saving energy... once a download is completed, you can move it to the array. I'm using automated scripts to do that.

"Need"

 

Well, that's kind of up to you.  Rajahal started a thread a while ago that addresses this: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=5754.0

 

But for my 2 cents, especially if you're running CP, a cache drive, or alternatively, a drive mounted outside of the array is the way to go.  Couchpotato is a particular criterion here because its logs will keep the array drive it is installed to spinning, and thus the parity drive spinning at all times.  Doesn't exactly fit in with the energy-saving features of unraid.  And that's annoying.

 

I run the holy trinity (SAB/SB/CP) on my 160GB cache drive.  If I had it to do over again, which I guess I do really, I'd put them on a SSD mounted outside of the array.  I cannot even begin to count the number of times I forgot to close out sickbeard or headphones or some other app, or the unmenu script to stop a program didn't work for whatever reason, and it hung my array when I needed to stop it, necessitating some command-line intervention, or even the dreaded hard reboot followed by resync and parity check.

 

It seems like you don't want to purchase another drive to use as cache, which is understandable, perhaps a workaround can let you try something.

 

What do you use for an HTPC?  If you are running openelec or xbmcbuntu or another "live" type distribution, you could install it to a thumb drive you might have laying around, and repurpose the hard drive in your HTPC as a cache/non-array drive.  Or for a minimal outlay, purchase a very small SSD (32/64/128GB) to power your HTPC, where you really need the speed, and move the old spinner in your HTPC to the array as a cache/non-array drive.  Prices on that are a little under $1/GB until the 128-256 sweet spot where they get a little cheaper.  But $61:

 

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Solid-State-Consumption-SDSSDP-064G-G25/dp/B007ZWLRSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377113229&sr=1-1&keywords=64gb+ssd

 

for a 64GB SSD isn't really a bad deal, and will significantly speed up your HTPC.

 

Bottom line, I'd avoid running those applications from the array itself.  Unraid isn't really designed for running programs from the protected area, and any operation involving writing data will take at least twice as long.

 

Hope this helps!

 

P