WTB Storage Controller

[kazimurtaza]

Hello,

My Nas4Free Build is:

Motherboard: GigaByte GA-G41MT-S2PT (1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16, 1 x PCI Express x1 slot, 2 x PCI slots, 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors)
Processor: Intel Pentium D CPU 2.80GHz
Ram: 2GB Kingston DDR3 @ 1333Mhz
Storage: 2X1TB WD and 1X2TB WD
Power Supply: CoolerMaster 430W
Casing: Open front, open side, old casing ripped apart.
Network: Giga ethernet throughout.
Services I am using is:
Samba, NFS, SSH,Dynamic DNS and have also install deluge torrent server.

File System: for all drives is, UFS.

Nas4Free Version: FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE-p5 (kern.osreldate: 901000)


Now I thinking of expanding its storage capabilities, now when I started off with my build I did the stupidity of buying green drives, and they are running on Sata1, now I plan on buying WD 2TB SATA3 one at a time, but seeing that my motherboard only supports maximum SATA2, I was thinking of buying a storage controller, with SATA3 Support, with >=4 SATA3 Ports. and I can use any of these slots (1 x PCI Express x16 slot, 1 x PCI Express x1 slot, 2 x PCI slots). now I need your help, to find me good storage controller, I do not need RAID support and all. Just a simple Storage Controller with SATA3 Support and >= 4 Ports.

and I thinking of Making the shift to ZFS that would require More Ram and Better Processor right ? or Should I just give up on this rig and by AMD Apu and motherboard with 8 ports of SATA3 board ?

Thanks
Kazi Murtaza

[alexey123]

Hmmm, as for me for home users not differences between SATA2 and SATA3.
Speed ?? Haha, 6Gb/s or 3Gb/s is speed from host to disk buffer. Speed from host to disk considerably less, ~50-120 MB/s

[raulfg3]

I use and recommend : http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40

But I say same as Alexey123 you do not notice any speed improvemens.

and I thinking of Making the shift to ZFS that would require More Ram and Better Processor right ? or Should I just give up on this rig and by AMD Apu and motherboard with 8 ports of SATA3 board ?

Your spec are right to have a decent Home NAS, ZFS works fine whit only 2GB if you do not use advanced features like dedupe, (Works a slighty better if you have 4GB), but the recommendation of have 1GB of RAM per 1TB of data is only necessary if you use dedupe.

So my suggest is: Try ZFS your data are more secure, and test speed, having disk in ZFS mirror and create a pool of mirros is a good way to have a grow system and a speedy system.

[kazimurtaza]

Hmmm, as for me for home users not differences between SATA2 and SATA3.
Speed ?? Haha, 6Gb/s or 3Gb/s is speed from host to disk buffer. Speed from host to disk considerably less, ~50-120 MB/s

I have multiple 2 HTPC's for Full HD movies, and various system using that system for storage purposes, I don't want to bottleneck anything .. and I would like to invest only once.

I use and recommend : http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40

LSI SAS 9211-8i 8-Port 6Gb/s SAS/SATA PCI-e RAID Controller, seems like a perfect option, but isn't there something else, equal in performance but cheaper in price ?

But I say same as Alexey123 you do not notice any speed improvemens.

and I thinking of Making the shift to ZFS that would require More Ram and Better Processor right ? or Should I just give up on this rig and by AMD Apu and motherboard with 8 ports of SATA3 board ?

Your spec are right to have a decent Home NAS, ZFS works fine whit only 2GB if you do not use advanced features like dedupe, (Works a slighty better if you have 4GB), but the recommendation of have 1GB of RAM per 1TB of data is only necessary if you use dedupe.

So my suggest is: Try ZFS your data are more secure, and test speed, having disk in ZFS mirror and create a pool of mirros is a good way to have a grow system and a speedy system.

no I am not using anything like dedupe, so Ill switch to ZFS with new WD RED drives and add one another ram just to be sure.

[raulfg3]

Old post but totally true: http://constantin.glez.de/blog/2010/01/ ... still-best

Mirrors improve your read speed.

[alexey123]

I have multiple 2 HTPC's for Full HD movies, and various system using that system for storage purposes, I don't want to bottleneck anything .. and I would like to invest only once.

You must do as you want. But read it first http://www.buildcomputers.net/hard-disk-speed.html "SATA 3 Hard Disk Drives = Faster than SATA 2 Drives - False"
Your network (usually 1GB/s, really less, I tested maximum speed 102MB/s, it give to see 3 films per time, 2 per TV and 1 per PC ) will slower then SATA2.

[ChriZathens]

I use and recommend : http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40

LSI SAS 9211-8i 8-Port 6Gb/s SAS/SATA PCI-e RAID Controller, seems like a perfect option, but isn't there something else, equal in performance but cheaper in price ?

I recently purchased this: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=ls ... r&_sacat=0
Sata2 (does not matter, trust me) but limited to 2tb disks (for me no problem)

[Lee Sharp]

Unless you purchase fast SSD drives, the spinning platters are your limitation, not SATA2. Spend that money elsewhere.