Hi!

 

1. I want to install unRAID on my HP Proliant ML330 G3. Due to the fact, that it does not support USB-Boot I bought an CF-Adapter (to IDE). Besides unRAID no other OS is needed on the machine. Is there a tutorial how to setup the CF-card? So far I understand, the USB-Stick is still needed with the license information on it?

 

2. I would like to install a cache drive. Is there a recommendation regarding the size of the disc? I'm planing to setup 4 data drives (WD GP 1,5 TB), one disc for the parity (WD GP 1,5 TB too) and a the cache drive.

 

Thanks.

 

Bye.

Hi!

 

1. I want to install unRAID on my HP Proliant ML330 G3. Due to the fact, that it does not support USB-Boot I bought an CF-Adapter (to IDE). Besides unRAID no other OS is needed on the machine. Is there a tutorial how to setup the CF-card? So far I understand, the USB-Stick is still needed with the license information on it?

 

2. I would like to install a cache drive. Is there a recommendation regarding the size of the disc? I'm planing to setup 4 data drives (WD GP 1,5 TB), one disc for the parity (WD GP 1,5 TB too) and a the cache drive.

 

Thanks.

 

Bye.

Basically, you want to create a FAT or FAT32 partition on the CF drive, then run syslinux on it, exactly as if you were setting up a USB flash drive.  Then, install all the files on it as extracted from the unRAID distribution.  You'll not need the "config" folder, but it will not harm anything.

 

The BIG difference is that you'll NOT want to set the volume label to UNRAID.  Name the CF volume anything else  Also, since the USB drive will be needed it will ALSO need to be loaded with all the files as extracted from the unRAID distribution.  (Probably only need the "config" folder and its files, but having them all won't hurt.)  The USB drive will need the UNRAID label.

 

That should do it. You'll need to choose the CF drive as the boot device in your BIOS.

 

Joe L.

2. I would like to install a cache drive. Is there a recommendation regarding the size of the disc? I'm planing to setup 4 data drives (WD GP 1,5 TB), one disc for the parity (WD GP 1,5 TB too) and a the cache drive.

 

You can use whatever size drive you like.  I use an old 320 GB drive.  I like to just take my smallest, slowest drive and make it my cache drive.  However, some people like to use a drive that is the same size or larger than their parity drive so that their cache drive doubles as a 'warm spare'.  See this thread for more info on the warm spare concept as well as other uses and tips about cache drives.

Hi!

 

I will setup the CF card as soon as I get the ordered adapter.

 

Regarding the cache drive:

 

The 10000rpm drives are quite expensive. 150€ for 300GB. I think I will try one of these new hybrid drives. The performance seems quite good in comparison to a 100% SSD drive. The Seagate ST92505610AS 250 GB (SATA 300, Momentus XT, 4 GB Flash) costs here 90€. Anyone using this disc?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Bye.

 

 

Hi!

 

I will setup the CF card as soon as I get the ordered adapter.

 

Regarding the cache drive:

 

The 10000rpm drives are quite expensive. 150€ for 300GB. I think I will try one of these new hybrid drives. The performance seems quite good in comparison to a 100% SSD drive. The Seagate ST92505610AS 250 GB (SATA 300, Momentus XT, 4 GB Flash) costs here 90€. Anyone using this disc?

 

As cool as I think that drive is, I do not feel it is well fit for this purpose. The SSD portion of this drive will probably not get that much use to make it worth the cost.

 

if you are purchasing a new drive, I would recommend you consider the cache drive warm spare concept and purchase a drive the same size as your parity drive.

 

The Seagate ST92505610AS 250 GB (SATA 300, Momentus XT, 4 GB Flash) would be excellent in a laptop (and I'm considering it myself). With the usage patterns of the cache drive, I doubt you will get much bang for the buck vs speed and peace of mind having a warm spare sized cache drive.