55 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
55 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
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---
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title: Building NAS - hardware
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date: 2013-03-31 20:27:52
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tags: [nas, hardware]
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category: hardware
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---
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For a long time I've wandered the voids of the intertubes in search for
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the parts for my NAS/backup/home server solution.
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Online backup solutions are fine to some extent, however, someone else
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than you then is going through that cat picture collections of yours and
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other private stuff. Also the cloud tends to not be the cheapest option
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possible.
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## Case
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{{< figure src="/images/building-nas-hardware/Node304_nocover-top-view_lores.jpg" postition="center" >}}
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The need for moar virtual disk space calls for moar physical disk space.
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To build any reasonable RAID solution you need 4-5 disks at least, plus
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maybe one for system disk. That is a minimum of 6 disk slots in the
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computer case. As I have quite some variety of disks laying around I'd
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like this case to have an option for using either 3.5" or 2.5" disks.
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Ah, and the whole thing should not take big amounts of space. Hence
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["Node 304" by Fractal Design](http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=94).
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Although I intend my NAS to be fanless in the future, I couldn't resist
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to leave the original fans connected. These are beautiful, supersilent,
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hydraulic bearing fans, all included in the Node's package.
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There are really only two things that you need to be wary of: metal
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where the screwholes are is very soft and it is easy to damage - and
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that if you have a PSU without detachable cables you're going to have
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bad time fitting these inside.
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By the way, other small but nice thing is a user manual for this case.
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Nice paper, nice clean print and friendly attitude. Attention to details
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!
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## Motherboard
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{{< figure src="/images/building-nas-hardware/lkpq2whHjMbzUSAU_500.jpg" postition="center" >}}
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What board supports at least 6 SATA disks, has low power consuption and
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fits into miniITX format ? Easily obtainable in central Europe ? And not
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super expensive ?
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It took almost 3 months for me to find it, I present to you [Asus P8H77-I](http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8H77I/). All the usual stuff, most of it I don't need, frankly and not so low on power, but hey - 6 SATA in miniITX.
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One caveat - it needs 2 power cables connected to function. The
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usual 24-pin EATX and also 4-pin ATX 12V also called P4. What if your
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PSU has only those fancy new EPS8 and EPS6 as mine do ? Fear not,
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connect half of the EPS8 into P4 port and everything shall be okay.
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