Why We Designed Our Own NAS Servers For Use In Our Data Center
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Computers Technology -> subcategory Web Development.
Why We Created Our Own NAS Servers for Our Data Center
Overview
At Technetium, Inc., we faced significant challenges with our model 14000 Snap servers. After installing new managed switches, the Snap Web-based management console stopped functioning properly at gigabit speeds. Despite trying various solutions, we couldn't fix the issue without assistance. So, we reached out to Snap's technical support.
The Problem
Our query involved two Snap 12000s that wouldn't negotiate properly with a Dell PowerConnect 5324 switch, showing half duplex instead of full duplex. When asking for help, we discovered that support came at a hefty price: $120 per incident. Additionally, upgrading the software wasn't straightforward, and replication between two Snap servers would cost around $1,000 per box.
Exploring Alternatives
Faced with costly support and outdated technology, we started looking for new NAS replacements. Initially, each 14000 model cost $10,000 for about 1TB of storage. We hoped to find cheaper alternatives, but a quality NAS capable of RAID 5 ranged from $3,500 to $4,500. A comparable Snap 520 was over $5,000.
Designing Our Own NAS
With a solid background in PC and server hardware, I decided that building our own NAS servers was the best solution. Here’s the hardware we selected:
- FreeNAS: Customized to fit our hardware needs.
- Chassis and Power Supply: 4U IPC-4071 rackmount chassis with an Enermax 500W power supply.
- Components:
- Kingwin SATA internal hot swap mobile rack with cooling fans and key lock.
- Sony DVD-ROM Drive, EIDE.
- Seagate 500GB SATA hard drives (four units).
- Transcend flash card and Addonics CF to SATA adapter.
- Supermicro motherboard, Intel Xeon 3060 processor.
- Kingston 2GB RAM kit.
- 3WARE SATAII RAID controller.
Utilizing FreeNAS
We chose FreeNAS, which runs on FreeBSD, for its stability and efficiency. Remarkably, it operates from memory and boots from a CF card, reducing the risk of hard drive failure affecting configurations.
Conclusion
By designing our own NAS servers, we not only overcame our previous challenges but also saved our clients a substantial amount of money. The custom-built solution has proven reliable, showcasing our ability to innovate and deliver effective data storage solutions.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Why We Designed Our Own NAS Servers For Use In Our Data Center.
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