First time build advice - pure NAS build

TrueNAS General
1

Hi

I am planning to build my own NAS and can’t decide on hardware. My use case is pretty simple. TrueNAS on bare metal. I have a Mini PC running Proxmox for my other needs.

Requirements

  • Support for at least 6 HDDs - I plan to start with 2 x 8TB, mirrored so that I can tolerate 1 Drive failure. In future I plan to expand by adding more 8TB HDDs, in a config where I can tolerate 1 drive failure. If I have more than 4 Drives, I would like to shift to 2 Drive fault tolerance.

  • Low power consumption

  • ECC Support

I am okay with either Intel or AMD as I don’t need Intel QuickSync.

I am from India so I am limited by the hardware available here.

2

Sounds like AM5 would be a good fit for you. Most (depending on motherboard manufacturer, pay attention to the manufacturers QVL) support ECC ram.

3

Not saying that this is the best option, but there is an Asus WS C422 DC mobo, which is sometimes available for cheap.

  • LGA2066 mobo with 8x DDR4 Reg. ECC slots.
  • 6x SATA ports; 1x SFF-8643 (U.2 only); 1x M.2.
  • 3x PCIe16. With declared x4x4x4x4 bifurcation support. 1x PCIe4. All are Gen3.
  • Not cheap CPU coolers.
  • Very cheap used Xeons W available. Something like W-2123 (4C 8T).
  • No IPMI.
  • Perhaps not that great with low power consumption.

While you didn’t say that you are on a budget, I read it like this. Because locations with limited hardware choices are actually not that limited, but the prices are just nuts. I can be wrong…

4

Do you mean you would be okay with Mirrors or do you want Raid-Z2?
Pool1
VDEV1 mirror of two 8TB drives
VDEV2 mirror of two 8TB drives
-you can only lose one drive in each VDEV, otherwise you lose entire pool

or
Pool1
VDEV of 4x 8TB drives in Raid-Z2.
-you can lose any two drives in the VDEV

If you want Raid-Z2, you need to start with a 4x 8TB drive setup from the start. You can’t change from Raid-Z1 to Raid-Z2. It requires a new pool

5

Everything sounds perfect apart from the power consumption part. will still look into it

6

I may make a different post for the configuration part of it as I am not sure how to do it. But I was hoping to start with 2x8TB, and keep adding more drives when needed to increase space.

7

That’s a solid plan for a NAS setup. For your needs-TrueNAS on bare metal with ECC support and low power consumption-you’ll want a motherboard with at least 6 SATA ports or room to add an HBA card later. A Ryzen CPU with ECC-compatible motherboard is a good option if you’re leaning toward AMD. Intel Xeon CPUs or some older Core i-series with ECC support can also work well.

Starting with 2 x 8TB in a mirror is a great idea, and when you’re ready to expand, moving to RAID-Z2 or a similar setup will give you the 2-drive fault tolerance you’re aiming for.

Just make sure to check compatibility for ECC memory and power-efficient components, and go for a case with proper airflow and enough drive bays for future upgrades. Best of luck with the build!