My first NAS build

Sheriff · 4. Mai 2015

Hello everyone,

I am new in the NAS world and also new to OMV. I wanted to have a NAS for a long time and have been searching around for a while now. I checked Synology, which I find to expensive. I checked FreeNas which I think is overkill for me and then I found OMV which I think is great!. I am rather familiar with Debian so that is a plus and it would suffice my needs I think.

I want to use my NAS as a file server, want to set up OwnCloud, use it as a download station with SabNZB, couchpotato etc. and I want to use it as a Plex media server to stream to just 1 or 2 devices.

I looked around and made a list of components which I think should be enough for what I want and have the possibility to upgrade if needed.

CASE: Fractal Design Node 304
MB: ASRock Z87E-ITX 100 6xSATA+Intel LAN
CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 OR Pentium G3258
RAM: Crucial CT102464BA160B 8GB DDR3
PSU: Cooler Master GM G550M
DISKS: 3x WD Red SATA 6 Gb/s WD20EFRX, 2TB in RAID5 + a 128GB SSD for OS+OMV which I take from my current system

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance!

ryecoaaron · 4. Mai 2015

Very nice Should work perfect.

Dennis · 5. Mai 2015

Why do you want RAID for a Homeserver? Backup should be crucial, not availability.

Sheriff · 5. Mai 2015

Thanks for the quick reply guys!

Would you think it is better to use then, JBOD or no raid set at all? I have a 1TB USB 3.0 disk around for backup which I could use or look for an online solution for my crucial data.

What about the CPU, should I go for the i3 or the cheaper G3258, don't know if it's worth it?

Thanks again for your help!

Dennis · 5. Mai 2015

My opinion:
Don't use JBOD if you're not forced too. Keep it simple. Add the discs you need, activate for example shares called "Crucial Data" to HDD1, and "Video", "Music" to HDD2 and use HDD3 for an external backup with a docking-station (Example).

In my opinion there is no need to backup entrainment so often. So you got it on a separate HDD. But you images, your documents are on another HDD. Backup is quick an easy without any worries.

G3258 should do fine for homeuse. I don't know from the back of my head if encryption is supported at this time. If it will come in near future and you need to use that, grab a CPU with AES-support.

Sheriff · 15. Mai 2015

Well, I got the system together. I had some problems to start with since I got the MB with an old firmware which didn´t support the CPU but got the firmware upgraded with an older CPU.

Now my next problem is installing OMV. When I run the setup my NIC doesn´t get the correct driver. After some searching I found that there are a lot of problems when it comes to installing Debian when you have a Intel I217-V NIC.

Even when I try to install Debian 7.8.0 from the CD-iso there is no correct driver.

Do you guys have any idea how I can get this to work? I do not have a spare NIC laying around for installation as I read to be a solution.

Thanks in advance!

Dennis · 16. Mai 2015

Year, the new Intel NICs are causing trouble. Those things are "Plug and Prey!" Do yourself a favor: Don't spend time trying.

Buy a proper PCIx by Intel. These cards are "Plug and Play" since Kernel 2.2.5. Yes, we're at 3.2...

Sheriff · 16. Mai 2015

Thanks for the reply. When I manualy install debian and install the driver afterwards it does work but manual omv install is not a succes for me. Is it possible to install omv on the disk in another machine and move the disk back to the NAS box afterwards?

Dennis · 17. Mai 2015

Yes, you can do that. But a question: Which Debian have you tried? Wheezy of Jessy? Have you searched the Forum with the name of the nic? IIRC the new nics have been discussed earlier.

Sheriff · 17. Mai 2015

I installed Wheezy, the last stable 7.8.0 netinst. I did search the forum and the rest of the internet but it seems impossible to install debian with this NIC. The funny thing is that the NIC isn't even that new and a e1000e driver gets loaded but it's the wrong driver.

Dennis · 17. Mai 2015

I was right - there is a solution: OMV doesnt detect Onboard Network Card nor does it accept the correct driver The kernel in Wheezy is 3.2.x and if you do go to a backport-kernel via OMV-Extras, you should be fine.

Sheriff · 17. Mai 2015

Thanks again for your quick reply Dennis!

So you think my best option is to install debian netinst 7.8.0. Then install the network driver by hand and OMV manually and then insatall the backport-kernel? I do not have a spare PCIe NIC and they are pretty expensive. The board doesn´t have an old fashion PCI slot.

Dennis · 17. Mai 2015

If I got it right, you're on the latest netinst. Of not? What have you done for installation?

Maybe you've a WLAN-Stick around? Friends?

Sheriff · 17. Mai 2015

What I did was install Debian 7.8.0 netinst without network connection. After that I installed make and gcc packages via USB stick. Then I installed the NIC driver and set up the connection. I then added the repos and installed OMV by hand but got all kinds of error messages. I can get in the webinterface but I got the feeling the installation is not stable and thus want to make a clean install.

I do have a WLAN stick and could try to install OMV with that and install the backport kernel before connecting the intel NIC.

Dennis · 17. Mai 2015

Good point. If you dount find OMV stable at this time, I'm assuming, that there is no important data on that device. Given that:

use Google to find out, if your WLAN-Stick will work out of the box
plugin your WLAN-Stick, get your login-credentials ready
do Debian 7.8.0 net-install (uncheck all options when asked for packages)
follow these instructions and activate the WLAN
then do that, what Aaron posted here
install OMV-Extras like shown here
activate the Backport-Kernel in OMV-Extras
try your NIC

Good luck!

If you stuck somewhere, I would recommand to open threads in the best categories. Typically you get better help, when you do so.

davidh2k · 17. Mai 2015

@ryecoaaron has a compile script for the e1000 kernel somewhere, I don't remember where exactly, but let him post it here.

Greetings
David

ryecoaaron · 17. Mai 2015

Shouldn't need it with the latest kernel but here it is - link

KM0201 · 17. Mai 2015

Zitat von Sheriff

What I did was install Debian 7.8.0 netinst without network connection. After that I installed make and gcc packages via USB stick. Then I installed the NIC driver and set up the connection. I then added the repos and installed OMV by hand but got all kinds of error messages. I can get in the webinterface but I got the feeling the installation is not stable and thus want to make a clean install.

I do have a WLAN stick and could try to install OMV with that and install the backport kernel before connecting the intel NIC.

If the installer detects your WLAN stick, there's no reason not to do this (temporarily). Just install OMV using the wlan, boot it, log in to the webUI and install the backports kernel. Shutdown, disconnect wlan, boot up, run omv-firstaid to set up the NIC connection. Done.

Another way to do it.. if you have access to another machine (this is how I did it a while ago w/ a wonky realtek device). Take your OS drive and put it in another computer (that the installer presumably recognizes). Disconnect all other hard drives on that system, but the OS drive, Install OMV, upgrade to backports kernel via the webUI, shutdown, pull OS drive and install it in your NAS. Boot OMV on your NAS, run omv-firstaid and configure the Intel NIC

ryecoaaron · 17. Mai 2015

You could try this iso too

Sheriff · 17. Mai 2015

Thanks for your help guys, gonna try and will let you know what worked for me.

Jetzt mitmachen!