I just started setting up my TrueNAS SCALE system.
My hardware:
i5 10500
16 GB RAM
3 HDDs (2 TB each)
1 SSD (128 GB)
1 SSD (256 GB)
1 SSD (512 GB)
I’m a bit confused about how to set it up properly and want to find the best configuration for my needs.
I want to use it mainly for data storage, but also to run some applications like Paperless-NGX, Home Assistant, and maybe Immich.
Right now, I have the following setup, but I think it’s not really good (as I said, I only started with TrueNAS a few hours ago):
128 GB + 256 GB SSDs for the boot pool (I don’t really care about the “lost” 128 GB, but if you say I don’t need to mirror the boot drive, I’m fine with that too)
RAIDZ1: 3 HDDs + 1 SSD as cache device (but I’ve read that with this little RAM, it basically gives me no benefit)
How would you configure TrueNAS with this hardware?
You’re also going to need a motherboard and miscellaneous things like a PSU.
Knowing what exact drive models you have will give readers a chance to point out possible issues.
You don’t. Any benefit is extremely minimal given how easy it is to get a system with a failed boot drive back up and running, if you have a saved current copy of your TN configuration file+possible secret seed saved somewhere else, not on your NAS.
A SLOG will only help if you do sync writes. Given what little information you have provided, I am going to guess you won’t be doing sync writes. This is just a guess, based on almost no information at all mind you, Assumed Windows clients, SMB access.
An L2ARC is not a good fit with that little RAM and even then it mostly sees a use case if you keep reading the same data over and over.
Don’t even think about a DEDUP or Special Metadata VDEV.
You can use the SSD(s) as an Apps pool, possibly in a mirror, if you accept the unavailabe 256GB on the largest SSD.
3x 2TB drives in Raid-Z1
128GB SSD as a boot drive
256GB & 512GB SSD in a Mirror VDEV for your apps.
Read up on how to set up APPS and the data directories. Go through the TrueNAS documentation and play (practice) with how you do apps, sharing, datasets ,etc. Write down what works and what doesn’t for you. Ask questions on forums if you don’t understand something.
You’re doing trial runs of how you want everything set up before you commit. Treat it like you will lose everything and need to set it up again.
I’m using the system mainly as data storage for my Windows computer — and, as I mentioned, for Paperless right now, and later also for my photos.
I think it should be possible, for example, when I install Paperless or Immich, to have the application on a separate mirrored VDEV (as SmallBarky recommended), and store the main data (pictures, documents, etc.) on the HDD pool, right?
Not really. Have a regular backup of your config database (the multi-report script is good for that), and reinstallation is a non-event.
Correct.
Skip the 256 GB drive in the boot pool, and the cache in your data pool. Create a second pool on the 512 GB SSD for apps. Optionally, set up replication of that to your data pool, so you won’t lose your apps when that SSD fails. At some point, consider adding a second 512 GB SSD to mirror the first.
