Setup fpr KODI and Crashplan?

[TexasDave]

Hello,

 

My Synology just died (bad motherboard) and I want to move to a system where if one thing dies, I can just replace that, not the entire setup. My situation

 

• My house is wired for ethernet.
  
• I also have a decent HTPC that I run Kodi on.
  
• I only access my media at home
  
• I want to use CrashPlan to backup my media
  
• The server sits in the kids playroom
  
• I am trying to get decent bang for the buck...
  

 

I just really want to point KODI to my UnRAID and make sure everything is backed up to Crashplan with room to grow...

 

I tend to "overbuild" things and am trying to avoid that in this case. I only have about 3TB of media right now but this will grow and grow.

 

• I had been looking at the "Supermicro X10SLL-F Micro ATX LGA1150" as my starting point. Is this overkill for my simple needs?
  
• If it is NOT overkill, based on the above, what would be a good CPU that is tried and true for UnRAID?
  
• If it is overkill, based on the above, what is the "tried and true" board and CPU that works for my simple needs
  
• I am looking for a good build for my simple requirements where I can add 12-15 drives over time...
  
• I have to admit I like the cube cases that have a smaller footprint
  
• I want this to be headless
  

 

I think if I can get the motherboard and CPU right, the rest can sort itslef out?

 

But ideas on cases would also be welcome...Thanks!

 

DZ

[garycase]

That's a nice board ... and not "overkill" => it's a good choice for a rock-solid server setup.  Pop in a good server-class CPU (Xeon E3 series) and 8-16GB of ECC RAM and you'll have a VERY reliable server that will server you well for a long time.

 

If you like the cube form factor, the Fractal 804 is hard to beat:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352047

 

Won't hold 12-15 drives ... but if you only have 3TB of media, and simply use high-capacity drives as you build up your new system, you'll likely find that the 10 drives the Fractal case supports is PLENTY.  e.g. if you used 8TB drives, that would give you 72TB of protected storage      [Even with only 4TB drives you'd still be able to build up to a 36TB protected array.]

 

Running headless is no problem at all, as the motherboard has IPMI.

 

 

 

 

 

[TexasDave]

 

Thanks you very much for this - much appreciated. I was actually leaning to that case. I was thinking about get some drive enclosures but that is where I am doing overkill. As you point out, I really do not have that much stuff and do not see it growing too much. I just want a setup that will last and if something goes wrong, I do not have to start from scratch.

 

Many thanks!!

[CHBMB]

 

Thanks you very much for this - much appreciated. I was actually leaning to that case. I was thinking about get some drive enclosures but that is where I am doing overkill. As you point out, I really do not have that much stuff and do not see it growing too much. I just want a setup that will last and if something goes wrong, I do not have to start from scratch.

 

Many thanks!!

 

The other thing I'd recommend is hot-swap drive bays like this or this or this  Makes life a lot easier if there is a drive problem and I wouldn't be without them.  You need a case with external 5.25 bays to fit them in.  I use the Zalman MS800 Plus, got 3 x "5 in 3" and 1 hotswap 5.25 to 1x 3.5" So essentially 16 hot swap bays.

 

Also means that to change drives you don't risk knocking SATA cables and causing issues with drive problems that can be a pain in the whole to figure out.

[HellDiverUK]

Another vote for the Supermicro board.  I finally settled with a Supermicro board, in a Supermicro case (nice feature is the ribbon cable from the front panel fits straight on to the board, no messy leads).

 

I'm using an older S1155 board, the X9SCL-F, with an E3-1240 Sandy Bridge Xeon. 

[flaggart]

Won't hold 12-15 drives ... but if you only have 3TB of media, and simply use high-capacity drives as you build up your new system, you'll likely find that the 10 drives the Fractal case supports is PLENTY.  e.g. if you used 8TB drives, that would give you 72TB of protected storage      [Even with only 4TB drives you'd still be able to build up to a 36TB protected array.]

 

It will fit 12 drives using OCW Multimount or similar

 

https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=38678.msg359786#msg359786

[garycase]

...  The other thing I'd recommend is hot-swap drive bays...

 

Not an option for a small cube case like this; but the 804 has slide out holders for each set of 4 drives, so it's not at all difficult to change a drive.    And while I do like the convenience of hot-swap enclosures, they ARE another failure point -- electronically every connector adds an additional potential point-of-failure, and with a hot swap you've got a SATA cable from the controller to the hot-swap cage; then some electronics on the hot-swap backplane; and then a connector for the drive ... whereas an internally mounted drive only has the cable from the controller to the drive.

 

 

It will fit 12 drives using OCW Multimount or similar

 

There are a variety of ways to "cram in" more than the 10 3.5" + 2 2.5" drives the specs say it can hold; but I'd try to avoid it, as you start to compromise the internal airflow, which is not a desirable thing to do.

 

 

One STRONG recommendation for this or ANY mini-ITX case ==> Regardless of any manufacturer's claim that you can fit a standard ATX power supply in the case, use an SFX power supply.    You'll really appreciate the additional "working space" in the chassis (not to mention the improved airflow).    For the Node 804, I'd use one of the Silverstone SFX units.  450w is probably plenty, but if you think you'll exceed 8 drives I'd go with one of the larger units.

 

450w Modular:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256084

500w Modular:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256116

600w Modular:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256109

 

They also have a nice 300w SFX unit that I've used for a few builds lately, but those were for systems that didn't have more than 4 drives (including an optical drive).  It's a great unit for an UnRAID system with up to 6 drives, but when you go beyond that I'd step up the output capability to one of the units I listed above.

 

 

 

[00b5]

I'll add in that I originally came to unraid with the mindset that I could just pile in drives of all shapes/sizes and have TONS of storage space.

 

However, just like when you try too hard to future proof a pc upgrade, it turns out bigger drives keep coming along, and they keep getting cheaper/etc.

 

Figure out how much storage you really need, then figure out how many drives you'll need to get there today, and then get a setup that supports that (onboard sata slots, 3.5" drive bays/etc).

 

Also, if you spend big today on an oversized parity drive (say an 8TB), then when you want to add/replace/etc drives in the future, you won't be stuck with a too small parity.

 

I'd go 4TB at least, so if you got just a 3x4Tb (and something for cache to run some dockers/etc for your media setup/needs/torrents/crashplan/etc, you'd still have 8TB of storage, a cache drive, and only need a small case and any MB with 4 sata. If you get something that can hold 6 3.5" drives, somewhere to put a 2.5" drive (assume an ssd as a cache), and then a MB with enough onboard sata slots, you can have (as gary mentioned) tons of storage in something smaller/lower power/etc.

 

Not everyone needs (or wants) 24 hdd setups. Sometimes replacing is easier/better than adding.

[flaggart]

 

There are a variety of ways to "cram in" more than the 10 3.5" + 2 2.5" drives the specs say it can hold; but I'd try to avoid it, as you start to compromise the internal airflow, which is not a desirable thing to do.

 

 

Airflow above the extra 2 drives is easy to fix with something like this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GELID-Solutions-PCI-Slot-Fan-Holder-VGA-Cooler-With-Two-Slim-120mm-UV-Blue-Fans-/121500924668?

[TexasDave]

 

I really appreciate everyone's comments - many thanks!!