Hi -

 

I'm going to build out my first NAS system using some old hardware.  I'd like to understand what my future options to expand look like using unRAID, though.  I know that unRAID allows adding drives to the array, which is one reason why I'm favoring it over something more complex like freeNAS.  The thing is, I'm going to max out my current motherboard with this implementation so a future expansion will mean more than just adding drives.

 

So, my newbie question is - assuming I outgrow an unRAID system in a scenario where I need to upgrade the motherboard/processor/chassis, what would my strategies to expand look like while retaining the data on the old array?

 

Thanks

just build the new system, move your drives to it and boot from the unraid stick on it.

you are done  :-)

 

 

although it would be advisable to first go to the webUI on the old system and print screen the setup so if needed you can properly reassign the drives in proper slot and order.

but with v5+ it is usually not an issue.

 

once your new system is up and running make sure your array started and all is ok, then add new drives to your heart content.

 

Additionally, if your current system is serving you well other than running out of SATA ports you could always buy a PCI expansion card to increase your drive count. There a several cards out there that will support 8 additional drives.

 

Further to vl1969's comments, the data that is written to your UnRAID disk is permanent, and self contained (i.e. there is no data stripping). So if you build a new UnRAID server you can just remove the disks and add them to your new server (you just want to make sure you know which drive was your parity drive, hence the recommendation to print a screen shot of your old system before you start this).

 

Either way, it's very easy to do. I've moved UnRAID to two new motherboard/cpu combo's without issue. It's just always important to do the screen shot so you know exactly where your disks sat before you started the process. You can choose to shuffle them around in your new server, but again you want to know which was parity, which was cache, etc. so that you don't accidently wipe out a data disk by assigning it as parity in the move.

Thanks to both of you.  I come primarily from the Windows world, where dropping an old OS disk into a new box is pretty much unthinkable - the confusing mess of licensing, drivers, hardware support, etc. make it unlikely the new windows box would ever boot properly.  I take it that this isn't a major issue in the Linux/unRAID world?

 

@bkastner, my motherboard is an old Asus P5B with 4 3.0 Gb/s SATA ports, but an older set of expansion slots:

1 x PCI-E x16

3 x PCI-E x1

3 x PCI 2.2

 

I have a video card in the x16 slot.  My thinking is that I'd be better off upgrading the motherboard than trying to string modern SATA drives off an expansion card in one of those older slots... thoughts?

Thanks to both of you.  I come primarily from the Windows world, where dropping an old OS disk into a new box is pretty much unthinkable - the confusing mess of licensing, drivers, hardware support, etc. make it unlikely the new windows box would ever boot properly.  I take it that this isn't a major issue in the Linux/unRAID world?

 

@bkastner, my motherboard is an old Asus P5B with 4 3.0 Gb/s SATA ports, but an older set of expansion slots:

1 x PCI-E x16

3 x PCI-E x1

3 x PCI 2.2

 

I have a video card in the x16 slot.  My thinking is that I'd be better off upgrading the motherboard than trying to string modern SATA drives off an expansion card in one of those older slots... thoughts?

You could probably get a PCI video card and use the PCI-E x16 for a SAS controller like a SuperMicro AOC-SAS2LP-MV8 or LSI based controller like IBM M1015 or Dell Perc H310 flashed to IT mode.  However I would upgrade if only to get a more energy efficient processor as well as the newer expansion slot options and built in Video so you don't need to waist a slot for video for unRAID console.

it's really depends on how much drives you want to add and how fast.

 

if your current case can hold the drives , you can get a PCI 8 port expansion card here or on ebay for like 40-80 bucks and have room for expansion almost instantly.

with no additional problems but adding the card to the box and rebooting the whole thing.

 

I am coming from windows world my self, but have been working on moving to full time Linux steadily.  have been running unraid box for 2 years and am building the new box as we speak.

 

have loaded OpenSuse on my old laptop (works great ) over win XP

 

moved my main office PC to Linux Mint 16 and rebuilding my HTPC to Linux as well.

still in trial mode for final decision on what to use.

 

 

:-)

 

yeah, that is how I roll  :-P

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have an on-board video card you don't need the PCI based card. Your video requirements with UnRAID are so low there is no benefit to having a PCI based card.

 

The nice thing with Linux is you don't usually need to add drivers - they are all baked in. It's very different from Windows (where I am used to working as well).

 

As others mentioned, if you want a CPU with lower TDP then it's worth upgrading, or if you want to get into virtualization with UnRAID 6.0 then there is value in upgrading (though if you have a P5B VM DO motherboard you likely support most virtualization options).

 

Keep in mind that most of your drives are powered down most of the time and you are usually only using one at a time, so running on old hardware isn't a big deal. It may impact parity check time, but you usually only do that once a month at night, so it doesn't really matter.

 

@BobPhoenix

 

I'm thinking that these components aren't really ideal as well.  My build will be the Asus P5B (basic, too old for onboard video), 8GB RAM (I splurged on an upgrade from 2GB, I don't know if it was worth it), 3x3TB WD Red drives, and an older 250 GB cache drive.  Between the older PCI slots, inefficient Core2Duo processor, limited SATA ports and somewhat power hungry graphics card I could easily see wanting to upgrade if this initial setup is successful.  I have to start somewhere, though, so I'm hoping I have enough to get up and going.  I'm standing this system up with just the purchase of 3x3TB drives and the memory upgrade, so I get to play around with minimal cash outlay.

 

I figure I'll either decide my requirements are minimal and just go with this system for a while, or I may also quickly outgrow it... which led to my original question on how hard it would be to expand beyond an initial setup.

 

I'm not quite ready for the big Linux commitment that vl1969 is, though  .

I agree with you tdallen. Linux has it's place, but so does Windows.

 

Bottom line - UnRAID is very flexible and can accommodate almost any configuration - from the very basic to the extreme.

 

If you do outgrow your existing hardware I would suggest posting your suggested new server specs before buying. As I mentioned previously, UnRAID 6.0 leverages virtualization instead of plug-ins and really opens up the world of potential. If you are going to push cash down it's worth validating your selections with the gurus before putting down the money - this will help ensure the best bang for your buck.

 

Good luck with your build.

@BobPhoenix

 

I'm thinking that these components aren't really ideal as well.  My build will be the Asus P5B (basic, too old for onboard video), 8GB RAM (I splurged on an upgrade from 2GB, I don't know if it was worth it), 3x3TB WD Red drives, and an older 250 GB cache drive.  Between the older PCI slots, inefficient Core2Duo processor, limited SATA ports and somewhat power hungry graphics card I could easily see wanting to upgrade if this initial setup is successful.  I have to start somewhere, though, so I'm hoping I have enough to get up and going.  I'm standing this system up with just the purchase of 3x3TB drives and the memory upgrade, so I get to play around with minimal cash outlay.

 

I figure I'll either decide my requirements are minimal and just go with this system for a while, or I may also quickly outgrow it... which led to my original question on how hard it would be to expand beyond an initial setup.

 

I'm not quite ready for the big Linux commitment that vl1969 is, though  .

What you've got will definitely work.  But if you want the maximum space with that board you need to ditch the PCIe x16 video card and use a PCI based video card.  Then you can get a Dell Perc H310 or IBM M1015 and flash it to IT mode.  Doing that will get a minimum of 8 FAST sata ports.  You could also use a SAS expander and get to the unRAID maximum drive count of 24.  All from your existing MB.  But you need the x16 PCIe port to do it.  And that port needs to be able to support cards other than graphics cards.

I am not ready fr big linux comitnent either,  but I am switching a lot of hardware and as all of it use oem sku I would have to buy 3 windows retail. Why, when I can run free os.

 

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk

 

 

Yeah, the cost of Windows licenses is killing me now that my XP licenses are effectively useless.  It just isn't right when an OS can be the most expensive part of a build.  I wanted to play around with Windows based Raid solutions, and I was asked recently by a non-profit if I could quickly put together a machine. It's painful when the starting point of a low cost build is $100 (or more) for the OS. 

 

Thanks all for your help.