Hardware recommendations power efficienced

TrueNAS General
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Hi everyone, I am not as into in hardware and I need suggestions for a new build. At the moment I have 2 old qnaps and I want to build one new Nas. What I like to have: one pool with 2 SSDs for fast pool, one pool with 6x HDDs and 1or2 ssds for Cache. And an nic with sfp+. If possible I like to install truenas on an hardware raid with two small ssds or HDDs. Can someone give me suggestions for that especially for cpu und Mainboard recarding to power consumption. It should be as low as possible. I was thinking about an n100 system but I don’t fine a board with enough pcie Lanes for additional sfp+ and sata controller…
Thanks in advance
Matze

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I’ll just point you towards the documentation, see the hardware guide sections
https://www.truenas.com/docs/scale/24.04/

I am seeing you want or need
Hardware raid is discouraged. ZFS needs direct access
1 mirrored pool (SSD or HDD) boot
1 mirrored pool of SSD
1 Z2 pool of 6 HDDs. So you get 4 HDDs of capacity, two parity HDD
Cache? RAM is the first thing to increase and you haven’t mentioned it. Recommend 64 to 128Gb, since you mentioned wanting cache. See your zfs arc % hit ratio over normal use and consider after.

Have you considered the iX Systems Mini R. That would give you what you desire and has an option for Chelsio SFP+ card or you could procure your own.
https://www.truenas.com/truenas-mini/

Please tell us about your storage and usage needs

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I read in the documentation that I can use cache drives in a pool isn’t this true? Ok so software raid is supported for os? Than I am fine :slight_smile:

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Posting links so you can see what ZFS is about. It may help you sort out what you need and the language or terms for different items or features.

see ZFS Primer and ZFS ZIL and SLOG

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Ok got it thanks :slight_smile: and regarding to the hardware Mainboard cpu with low power consumption any suggestions?

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Low power would be anything with Intel Atom C3000 series (if you can find one), xeon D, intel Pentium class.

For NAS only and some apps they offer plenty of power. TDP 15-45 watts.

Look for server boards. So supermicro, AsRock Rack, Gigabyte Datto rebrands.

Most Aliexpress “NAS” motherboards with more than 2 SATA ports use port multipliers and therefor are no bueno for Truenas → high risk of dataloss.

Also PCI cards that have 4x/6x/8x SATA ports have the same risk for complete data loss.

For HDs choose CMR drives. SMR drives have abyssimal performance on ZFS.

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