Problem/Justification
QNAP devices running TrueNAS Scale currently don’t have proper fan control. Without the qnap8528 driver, which exposes the functionality of the ITE8528 embedded controller, users face two big problems:
- Devices can overheat, leading to potential hardware damage.
- Fans must be manually set to run at 100% speed, which is noisy, inefficient, and not a practical long-term solution.
The qnap8528 driver already supports most QNAP devices and lets users monitor and manually control fan speeds. Without this driver, QNAP users don’t have an effective way to manage hardware temperatures on TrueNAS Scale.
Here’s the project that provides the driver:
Impact
Adding the qnap8528 driver to TrueNAS Scale would make QNAP hardware much easier to use. It would allow users to monitor and manually adjust fan speeds through the ITE8528 embedded controller, keeping their systems cool without running fans at full blast.
While this driver doesn’t automate fan control, it gives users the tools they need to manage their hardware effectively. It could also pave the way for future enhancements to fan control on QNAP devices.
Benefits:
- Prevents overheating and protects hardware.
- Offers more flexibility than running fans at 100% all the time.
There aren’t any real downsides to including this driver, as it simply exposes the controller’s functionality without forcing any changes.
User Story
I have a QNAP TS-H886, and I’m thinking of replacing QuTS Hero with TrueNAS Scale. QuTS Hero has been frustrating to use, with a slow interface, confusing file-sharing settings, and a ZFS implementation that feels off.
I already use TrueNAS Scale on a Dell R510 and find it to be a much better system overall. I’d like to upgrade the TS-H886 to a proper NAS OS like TrueNAS Scale, but without the qnap8528 driver, I’d either have to let the system overheat or keep the fans at 100%, which isn’t ideal.
With the qnap8528 driver included, I’d be able to monitor fan speeds and adjust them as needed, giving me the confidence to transition the TS-H886 to TrueNAS Scale and make the most of my hardware.