Case Mod Project: Huge NAS (Fractal Design Define R3) - Update 03/06/2011

[chemikalguy]

I just came across your post. This is an awesome build. What OS did you end up going with? Also, how are the backplanes held in? None of the 8 appear to have any screws or rivets in them. I'm looking at doing a similar build, although it probably won't turn out this cool.

Scott

[TAG]

Thanks for your interest
I was supposed to build S profiles to attach the backplanes to the existing HDD cage but I haven't reopened this box since I got it running ... How sad is that
I don't have a brake to bend sheet metal, I should really get a shop to make those for me.

It's running WHS2011 quite nicely.

[Nnyan]

I was looking for some inspiration on my nine 3TB drive NAS build and I ran into this thread and I have to say great job especially the wire work. I'm actually trying to find a shop that can do some custom wiring for me so I can get that clean look (not very talented myself = (

[TAG]

Nnyan,
It's really not that hard, this was my first and only wire sleeving job. It takes some trial and error but really not that much as long as you take it slowly and steadily.
As for pretty much everything, patience makes perfect. It's a job that doesn't require lots of or very expensive tooling so really everyone can have a go at it.
DIY and enjoy a job perfectly dimensionned for your build and the satisfaction of having done it yourself

Good luck!

[Nnyan]

I think I could manage if I had the time, my two little ones don't leave me enough for something like this (and I think you are modest with your talent =) I was interested in you RAID, the speed you are getting seems closer to single drive speeds. I also did RAID 5 then 6 since I did not want single drive failure. But being attached to a specific raid card was to scary for me so I went ZFS. With my new NAS I don't know if I will do an 8 disk raidz2, 3 three disk raidz vdevs in one pool or just an 8 disk mirror with a spare.

Would you have a pic of the backplane with data/power cables connected?

[TAG]

Sorry this took so long to reply.
Had to actually be willing to turn the beast OFF

So here it is all connected with the backlplanes still not secured

[KidMod-Southpaw]

Damn, this is just insane, and awesome!
Looking good! Too bad you couldn't get yourself some sleeved SATA data cables too.

[TAG]

So, we can see 4x SATA cables going into the 2x5"1/4 bays.

Up there we have
1x2.5" SSD
1x3.5" 2TB member of the raid array
1x3.5" 500GB "temp" drive for downloads, scratch and so on
1x2.5" bay is empty

1x 3.5" external 2TB is connected outside the box for backups.

ps: I wouldn't "get myself" sleeved sata, I'd cut them up and make them myself
Haven't got round to that, but never say never

[argonn]

Sweet . How much storage do you have in total now?

[TAG]

Enough

[TAG]

Main rig
1X128GB SSD
500GB 3.5" temp drive
4x 1TB Raid 0 short stroked for game installs and the rest is used for high perf storage to work on my raw files etc

NAS
1x64GB SSD
1x500GB temp
12x2TB raid 6 + hotspare --> 18TB
1x2TB for system backups, which is transparent

So probably around 23TB of visible storage, which equates to quite a bit less once formatted
I guess this is what you want to see

[Nnyan]

That is lovely work, if you ever decide to make some extra cash doing custom cables let me know I'll be your first customer! = )

Would anyone happen to know if the smaller FD cases could be modded to hot swap the same way as this one?

[AllGamer]

Hi TAG followed your siggy from the OC.net forum

Nice NAS rig you got there

I should upload some pictures of my old recycled rigs & converted them to NAS servers, running Ubuntu server.

not as neat as what TAG did here, but it gets the job done.

[argonn]

Looking good. Must cost a lot with HDD prices these days

[TAG]

Thanks
I built the thing when the prices were at their lowest so it wasn't all that bad.

[Nnyan]

Another quick question, what gauge wire did you end up using for your power?

[TAG]

I used electrical wires pulled from a 240v extension lead.
I'd say it was at the very least twice the section as standard PC wire.

[Nnyan]

My wife would love that as she is into recycle/reuse!

[king75]

hi,
how do you call the black "wire to molex adaptors" in the molex connectors?
example:

[TAG]

They're called Molex pass-through connectors or T Molex connectors or punch down connectors.
You can find SATA and 4 pin Molex variants, both as passthrough or end cap (as a line terminator).
mdpc-x has the SATA variants.
I think I found my molex ones on ebay but can't locate the same anymore. I found some white ones.