NFS Server...what to build??
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So you want to build an NFS Server to "share" files with other clients.
What o/s would you base this build on...?
Install o/s on bare metal or virtualize?HW is simple:
- 2x SSD for o/s
- 4 - xx SSD for NFS shares
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
So you want to build an NFS Server to "share" files with other clients.
What o/s would you base this build on...?
Install o/s on bare metal or virtualize?HW is simple:
- 2x SSD for o/s
- 4 - xx SSD for NFS shares
Well, first of all I wouldn't do a split array. OBR (One Big RAID), unless you have a very specific reason to do otherwise.
Virtualize, all the time and all the things.
Fedora, probably on top of XCP-NG. Assuming you don't have a Scale cluster to use at least.
Of course, I'd lean to using NextCloud for file storage anymore for most file storage, so probably wouldn't be deploying new NFS server in most cases.
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
So you want to build an NFS Server to "share" files with other clients.
What o/s would you base this build on...?
Install o/s on bare metal or virtualize?HW is simple:
- 2x SSD for o/s
- 4 - xx SSD for NFS shares
I set one up on Fedora Server to act as a storage repository for ReaR backups. I did it on a VM.
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Besides using an up to date OS like Fedora or Ubuntu, I would use NFSv4 instead of v3 unless some bad OS or applications doesn't support v4.
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@travisdh1 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
Well, first of all I wouldn't do a split array. OBR (One Big RAID), unless you have a very specific reason to do otherwise.
Easy to do with my SM box, since it has 2x 2.5" sleds on the backside running off the onboard SATA.
Virtualize, all the time and all the things.
Yes agreed!
Fedora, probably on top of XCP-NG. Assuming you don't have a Scale cluster to use at least.
You are one of those in the XCP camp! I tend to prefer Fedora 28.
Of course, I'd lean to using NextCloud for file storage anymore for most file storage, so probably wouldn't be deploying new NFS server in most cases.
No NextCloud, this is for storing backups of vm's.
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@obsolesce said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
So you want to build an NFS Server to "share" files with other clients.
What o/s would you base this build on...?
Install o/s on bare metal or virtualize?HW is simple:
- 2x SSD for o/s
- 4 - xx SSD for NFS shares
I set one up on Fedora Server to act as a storage repository for ReaR backups. I did it on a VM.
Where is that blog post or it didn't happen? ..jk
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@travisdh1 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
Well, first of all I wouldn't do a split array. OBR (One Big RAID), unless you have a very specific reason to do otherwise.
Easy to do with my SM box, since it has 2x 2.5" sleds on the backside running off the onboard SATA.
Just because it's easy to do, doesn't mean you should. Why not just get two more drives for the main array and not loose all that I/O by splitting things up? It's a serious loss of I/O as well when talking about an additional couple of SSDs!
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I like fedora, but I don't know if cutting edge tech is a requirement here. All he needs is a file server, centos would work well here.
While Fedora is a great platform, being on the edge could encounter issues if he updated with a buggy release.
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OBR5 made out of SSD would be perfectly fine, and expected. Splitting the arrays isn't a good idea.
But also don't use consumer SSD and make sure you have some backup plan developed.
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@obsolesce said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
So you want to build an NFS Server to "share" files with other clients.
What o/s would you base this build on...?
Install o/s on bare metal or virtualize?HW is simple:
- 2x SSD for o/s
- 4 - xx SSD for NFS shares
I set one up on Fedora Server to act as a storage repository for ReaR backups. I did it on a VM.
Where is that blog post or it didn't happen? ..jk
I thought I did... Or didn't publish it. I'll check later. I lost track
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@dustinb3403 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
I like fedora, but I don't know if cutting edge tech is a requirement here. All he needs is a file server, centos would work well here.
While Fedora is a great platform, being on the edge could encounter issues if he updated with a buggy release.
I assume using Fedora instead CentOS would be best if you were wanted to take advantage of NFS v4.
If only using NFS v3, I would probably use CentOS. -
@travisdh1 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@travisdh1 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
Well, first of all I wouldn't do a split array. OBR (One Big RAID), unless you have a very specific reason to do otherwise.
Easy to do with my SM box, since it has 2x 2.5" sleds on the backside running off the onboard SATA.
Just because it's easy to do, doesn't mean you should. Why not just get two more drives for the main array and not loose all that I/O by splitting things up? It's a serious loss of I/O as well when talking about an additional couple of SSDs!
No, there is no (zero) loss of i/o.
The 2 x 2.5" are connected to the onboard RAID.
The 24 x 2.5" are connected to the LSI raid. -
@fateknollogee You must have typoed your OP because it says 2 and 4 drives, not 24. At 6 drives total, it's a big difference than 26 total
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@bnrstnr said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@fateknollogee You must have typoed your OP because it says 2 and 4 drives, not 24. At 6 drives total, it's a big difference than 26 total
I typed "4 - xx SSD for NFS shares" - meaning a minimum of 4 to xx (max 24)
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@fateknollogee ah, I definitely didn't get that lol but it makes sense now that you say it. I probably would have just said 4-24 since we had no way of knowing the max was 24
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You have a server in a chassi (SC846) just like the pic right? And with the two 2.5" drive bays option in the back next to the PSUs?
When you say sharing files with clients, over what medium? 10Gbe local LAN?
How are the backplane connected to the LSI controller? Is the LSI on the motherboard or PCIe card?The reason I'm asking is to know what speeds we are talking about.
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
So you want to build an NFS Server to "share" files with other clients.
What o/s would you base this build on...?
Install o/s on bare metal or virtualize?Unless there is a reason not to, Fedora. Unless you can prove what you need to do is impossible with virtual, always virtual.
So by those rules (first one is personal, second one is industry best practice), it would be virtualized Fedora.
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
HW is simple:
- 2x SSD for o/s
- 4 - xx SSD for NFS shares
Why would you have drives for the OS? This both breaks standard storage practices AND assumes a physical install which is a 'no no'.
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@travisdh1 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
Well, first of all I wouldn't do a split array. OBR (One Big RAID), unless you have a very specific reason to do otherwise.
Easy to do with my SM box, since it has 2x 2.5" sleds on the backside running off the onboard SATA.
Even if someone did it for you, it's still bad.
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@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@travisdh1 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@fateknollogee said in NFS Server...what to build??:
@travisdh1 said in NFS Server...what to build??:
Well, first of all I wouldn't do a split array. OBR (One Big RAID), unless you have a very specific reason to do otherwise.
Easy to do with my SM box, since it has 2x 2.5" sleds on the backside running off the onboard SATA.
Just because it's easy to do, doesn't mean you should. Why not just get two more drives for the main array and not loose all that I/O by splitting things up? It's a serious loss of I/O as well when talking about an additional couple of SSDs!
No, there is no (zero) loss of i/o.
The 2 x 2.5" are connected to the onboard RAID.
The 24 x 2.5" are connected to the LSI raid.But there is money thrown away. Tell us "why it isn't SO bad" is in no way the same as tell us "why it is good."
