From Ashes to Arrays: Building a Backup NAS for Bitwit

Laying the Foundation

First, a solid shelf is essential, not just for aesthetics but as a stable base for the NAS. After a quick detour involving some humorous instruction manual misinterpretations, the shelf was assembled, ready to house the soon-to-be-built NAS.

Hardware Highlights

At the heart of this build is the Intel Xeon E-2488, a workstation-grade processor known for its reliability and performance. According to Intel, the Xeon E is designed for robust and reliable performance for workstations and servers of all shapes and sizes. Paired with an ASRock Rack server motherboard, this setup is geared for 24/7 operation, crucial for a NAS. While gaming isn't the primary focus, the server-centric features like IPMI for remote management make it ideal for its intended purpose.

Essential Components

• CPU: Intel Xeon E-2488
• Motherboard: ASRock Rack Server EC262D4U Micro-ATX
• Boot Drive: 4TB NVMe M.2 SSD (Crucial T705)
• RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal RGB (temporarily, replaced with ECC non-registered memory later)
• GPU: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 OC Low Profile 8G
• Storage: Seagate IronWolf Pro 12TB NAS HDDs (x3)

Step-by-Step NAS Construction

1. CPU Installation: Carefully place the Intel Xeon E-2488 onto the ASRock rack server motherboard, ensuring it's properly seated in the LG 1700 socket.
2. Cooler Mounting: Attach the CPU cooler. Given space constraints, a low-profile cooler is preferable. The team ran into some physical space issues, but were saved by the lower TDP of the Xeon versus similar chips.
3. Memory Installation: Insert the G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal RGB RAM into the appropriate slots. Note that these were temporary and would be swapped for ECC non-registered memory to leverage the Xeon platform's capabilities.
4. SSD Installation: Install the 4TB NVMe M.2 SSD (Crucial T705) as the boot drive. A large cache like this allows for quick file transfers and direct server work.
5. GPU Installation: Add the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 OC Low Profile GPU. Its compact design ensures it fits within the limited space.
6. HDD Installation: Mount the three 12TB Seagate IronWolf Pro NAS HDDs into the case. These drives are designed for the vibrations and constant operation typical of NAS environments.
7. Power Supply: Connect the power supply, ensuring all components receive adequate power.
8. Fan Installation: Install case fans for cooling. Due to a mix-up, a trip to Micro Center was required to acquire the correct 80mm fans.
9. Cable Management: Neatly arrange and tie the cables to ensure optimal airflow and a clean build. Note, this build ran into some interesting issues where the cable management was suspect.
10. Test Fit: Before fully installing the NAS, perform a test fit to ensure it fits in its designated space under the desk.

The Software Side

With the hardware assembled, it's time to configure the software. Unraid was selected as the operating system, offering flexibility in scaling storage and accommodating various hardware configurations. According to Linus, Unraid gives the flexibility to scale up or scale down his storage as needed. Setting up Unraid involves installing the OS, configuring the storage array, and setting up user permissions.

Key Takeaways

• 3-2-1 Backup Rule: Maintain at least three copies of critical data, on two different mediums, with one copy offsite.
• NAS-Specific HDDs: Use hard drives designed for NAS usage, like the Seagate IronWolf Pro series.
• ECC Memory: For mission-critical applications, consider using ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory for added reliability.
• Unraid Flexibility: Unraid's ability to mix and match drive sizes and types makes it an excellent choice for a home NAS.

Building a NAS isn't just about the hardware; it's about safeguarding your digital life. With the right components and a bit of know-how, you can create a robust backup solution that offers peace of mind, even in the face of unexpected disasters. And remember, a little bit of cable management goes a long way!