Entry-Level unRAID Server Build

Not a hardware issue but for me of the various guides and threads I actually found the wiki to be the most straightforward and up to date set of instructions for installing unRAID with SABnzbd, Sickbeard, Couch Potato. Compared to everything else it was dead easy and I managed to dodge entirely any issues with files having user permissions that keep me from moving them around, which apparently can be an issue depending on how you set up the user permission for these apps.

You will want to change the wget URL for SAB to the most recent stable version, of course.

seand Wrote:Maybe just because I thought they look cool when you slide out the HD's, for my build I used the recommended Norco 5-in-3 drive racks but it inflated the cost. I do like how the racks have incorporated fans however and so far seem to be doing OK even in an un-air conditioned room here in the muggy mid-Atlantic. The 5-in-3's do seem to help to simplify cable management a little too, FWIW, but nothing you couldn't work around.

I used the recommended Azza Helios case from Raj's 5-drive expandable to 15-drive template. It also added some expense but I wanted to play it safe in terms of cooling on a known build and honestly I think these sort of look cool when fully loaded with 3 x the 5-in-3 racks. Currently I have 5 drives in the first rack and a cache drive in the built in 4-in-3 rack on the bottom.

It was my first experience assembling a box from scratch so it seemed wise to go with a known entity.

I'm using that case too, although I didn't plug in that ENORMOUS side panel fan. Don't be put off by the blue led lights either, one snip and they are out forever.

To those that want to avoid the much higher expense of hot swap bays but still have good cooling get these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...4%20in%203

There have been complaints about the stock fans on those coolermaster units being too loud but they are easily changed, took me about 10 mins to change the fan.

Zedd Wrote:To those that want to avoid the much higher expense of hot swap bays but still have good cooling get these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...4%20in%203
.

+1, those 4-in-3 Modules are the best Money Can Buy!!

They'll be in our next unRAID Server Build, hopefully, soon

I would never use one of those Cooler Master 4-in-3 drive cages. Why you ask? Because in order to install/remove a HDD from the unit you have to completely remove the entire drive cage from the case. It's a major PITA, but if you are on a budget it is one of the cheapest options. I would rather pay the extra money for a 5-in-3 hot swap enclosure. You'll get an extra slot and also have the convenience of the hot swap capability.

wsume99 Wrote:I would never use one of those Cooler Master 4-in-3 drive cages. Why you ask? Because in order to install/remove a HDD from the unit you have to completely remove the entire drive cage from the case. It's a major PITA, but if you are on a budget it is one of the cheapest options. I would rather pay the extra money for a 5-in-3 hot swap enclosure. You'll get an extra slot and also have the convenience of the hot swap capability.

I think the Cooler Masters are a great value at half the price (at worst) of the cheapest 5 in 3 hot swap backplates. The provide a quiet 120mm fan, a filter, vibration protection, and better storage density than traditional 1 to 1s.

For storage density nothing beats a 5 in 3 backplate though, and if you are willing to pay they are the only way to maximize storage density in tower cases.

With that said, Unraid does not support hot swap and hopefully you will not be swapping HDs often once they are in the array so its basically a trade-off between the small amounts of PITA when you put in a HD every time (I can do it in 5 minutes) vs. the huge PITA the one night you have to break off all the little tabs in a case for the backplate to fit. Unless you buy one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811219033

And then, well....

seand Wrote:Not a hardware issue but for me of the various guides and threads I actually found the wiki to be the most straightforward and up to date set of instructions for installing unRAID with SABnzbd, Sickbeard, Couch Potato.

I've had my setup running for about a year now, so I don't need it, but that guide is INCREDIBLE! Very well done, should make installing all of the goodies a piece of cake.

For the record, I love my Cooler Master 4-in-3 drive cages. Yes you need to disconnect all 4 drives when taking one drive out but for how often that happens it doesn't bother me at all. It only takes a few minutes. Nice quite 120mm fan with a filter on the front and look good to me. A hell of a lot cheaper then the hot swap cages.

How well would this build cope with SABnzbd and Sickbeard running whilst streaming?

T800 Wrote:How well would this build cope with SABnzbd and Sickbeard running whilst streaming?

I would get a little beefier CPU and maybe a cache drive, but otherwise its good.

eskro, many thanks for starting this thread. I was wondering if you have any mini-itx solutions bouncing around in your head. I haven't got the space for a large NAS case setup unless I start removing family members. The Lian-Lin PC-Q08B suits my needs as it fits into the space that I've have available but. Apologies for any hijacking of this thread,
Mucus