Need help with connecting external pc to used for raid storage

[vawrvawerawe]

Basically I want to set up raid in a separate pc to be used only for the hard drives.

But I don't know how I would best connect this raid setup into my computer.

• Do I use a NIC card to gigabit over multiple channels?
• Or perhaps a really long sata III cable?
• I don't want to connect it over the network. I just want to directly connect it.

Goals:

• Access data quick
• Keep hard drives external to PC
• Ease of use
• Keep costs down (hence DIY PC instead of prebuilt NAS)
• Expandability (hence DIY PC instead of prebuilt NAS)

How do I do this?

See this illustration.

 

[EarthDog]

Buy a proper external enclosure for the drives is my suggestion...

 

[vawrvawerawe]

Added more details including illustration. Yes I am using a proper enclosure, it is a mid tower.

 

[Kursah]

Setting up as a diy NAS would be fine honestly. If you insist on hiding it, use a vlan if your switch or router is capable.

Mind if I ask why you don't want to use LAN? You could use a NIC direct connected on each device and use APIPA IP addresses so they have their own private network. Most modern nics do auto MDX (err...whatever is needed so you don't need to make or buy a crossover cable).

Honestly...the one with the drives use a Linux server is or windows server os and manage your access to the data array over the network. Not too hard to do.

You could use a longer data cable but you would be far more limited in usable distances. If you're using gigabit switching and routing hardware you'll have good bandwidth for data access and transfer.

 

[vawrvawerawe]

Setting up as a diy NAS would be fine honestly. If you insist on hiding it, use a vlan if your switch or router is capable.

Mind if I ask why you don't want to use LAN? You could use a NIC direct connected on each device and use APIPA IP addresses so they have their own private network. Most modern nics do auto MDX (err...whatever is needed so you don't need to make or buy a crossover cable).

Honestly...the one with the drives use a Linux server is or windows server os and manage your access to the data array over the network. Not too hard to do.

You could use a longer data cable but you would be far more limited in usable distances. If you're using gigabit switching and routing hardware you'll have good bandwidth for data access and transfer.

I don't mind using lan (ethernet), I just don't want it networked because I don't want others to have possible access and it opens up potential hacking possibilities.

Additionally, I want to feel like I'm using it all inside the same pc, not having to go into a network folder to access my files which also makes dlna more difficult if not impossible (unless i'm wrong about this).

On another note, are you saying that if I have a nic on both ends then it automatically configures so I can just plug in a cable and then open up the drive like it was on the same pc?

 

[Disparia]

I've used USB 2.0 bridge cables in the past, but unfortunately I can't find any that work with USB 3.0. A shame because that would be quick, easy and fast.

It it were me, I'd probably grab a couple refurbished/used 10Gbe NICs and try that. I've seen them quite cheap before, better deal than dual and quad-port 1Gb NICs.

 

[Kursah]

I don't mind using lan (ethernet), I just don't want it networked because I don't want others to have possible access and it opens up potential hacking possibilities.

Additionally, I want to feel like I'm using it all inside the same pc, not having to go into a network folder to access my files which also makes dlna more difficult if not impossible (unless i'm wrong about this).

On another note, are you saying that if I have a nic on both ends then it automatically configures so I can just plug in a cable and then open up the drive like it was on the same pc?

You might have to manually configure if you use a man cable between them but it would be easy. Both would be on the 169.254.16.x network iirc.

If you use a server os and follow some YouTube tutorials you won't have to worry as much. Especially if you make it to where you must have a certain accounts to have access...which is easy to do and manage..you won't have to worry as much. This is what I would do. Ubuntu Server or Debian or Server 2012r2 or Zentyal or even FreeNAS would be good options.

If you want like in system performance on a budget then run the raid in your system. Usually the next option is gigabit networking of you have a newerish router, switch and NIC. That's upwards of 100MB/s. While not full speed would be fast enough for most.

What are you planning to use this data store.for? I run a Raid 5 in my server and access it over the network, run 6+ virtual machines, a plex server, file server, all sorts of stuff and have no issues with performance. Make sure your raid is capable of write back cache mode and if you need a battery backup, absolutely install it.

If you do direct nic to nic...ya 10 gig would be great. Otherwise if you use multiple q gig ports you'll need to create a nic team to dedicate to it...I run a team fory virtual machines mostly for failover.

Also you can map network.shares as drive letters...that plus managing who.has access by account limitations on shares (remove everyone and add only specific accounts for access) you would be pretty well set IMHO.

 

[brandonwh64]

Fiber channel using LSI fiber channel cards. FreeNAS supports this as well as windows server.

 

[Aquinus]

10GBase-T? If 1000BASE-T can push 130MB/s, I think 1.27GB/s should be enough to handle most RAID loads.

If you do direct nic to nic...ya 10 gig would be great. Otherwise if you use multiple q gig ports you'll need to create a nic team to dedicate to it...I run a team fory virtual machines mostly for failover.

It costs about 50% more to get a dual port 10GbE card, you could setup a handful of servers in a ring configuration if you really wanted to do that. 10GbE switches are expensive too but, it's really the only next feasible option beyond standard 1000BASE-T.

Before someone mentioned bonding, I'm not entirely sure that will help with all workloads. It could be cheap enough to try out. I'm sure you could get a 4-port PRO/1000-PT for 100 USD so, testing it out would only be a 200 dollar cost but, I can't say I would suggest it.

My question for the OP would be if 1GbE has already proven to be problematic or if this is just a hypothetical scenario?

 

[Rhyseh]

Fiber channel using LSI fiber channel cards. FreeNAS supports this as well as windows server.

This is by far the cheapest option. Really the recommended solution depends on what level of service is required and what data is being served.

 

[CjStaal]

2 10Gb nic's and connect them with a cat 7a cable.

 

[Aquinus]

I am still using JBOD since I don't have any absolutes how to properly build the best NAS yet.

How about you actually encounter a problem before asking for solutions to it?

 

[vawrvawerawe]

bump ignored the troll above, he is a long term troll been screwing with my posts for years, have added him to the ignore list so I will never see his posts ever again. Also used adblock to block his profile picture so I don't have to see that either.

This is by far the cheapest option. Really the recommended solution depends on what level of service is required and what data is being served.

Please send links to products so I can get an idea of what you are referring to and read about them. Thank you!!

 

[Rhyseh]

Please send links to products so I can get an idea of what you are referring to and read about them. Thank you!!

Or you could google it. Not going to help you. You have been dismissive, ignorant and outright rude to other people who have been trying to help you in previous threads. As a result I am not going to waste my time helping you.

 

[Aquinus]

Or you could google it. Not going to help you. You have been dismissive, ignorant and outright rude to other people who have been trying to help you in previous threads. As a result I am not going to waste my time helping you.

Apparently that's what I get for making some recommendations then saying that he should stick with what he has until he encounters a problem. Although, I can't say I'm completely surprised by @vawrvawerawe 's response. Someone is a little overly sensitive in my honest opinion. A troll isn't someone who tells you what you don't want to hear. If 1Gbps works fine, I don't see the problem. I can't imagine JBOD saturates it but, I guess that depends on the drives.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

bump ignored the troll above, he is a long term troll been screwing with my posts for years, have added him to the ignore list so I will never see his posts ever again. Also used adblock to block his profile picture so I don't have to see that either.

Why do you even have to say shit like that? I'm surprised anyone bothers to attempt to help you anyways, your just a dick to about everyone. Aquinus is a knowledgeable guy.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Why do you even have to say shit like that? I'm surprised anyone bothers to attempt to help you anyways, your just a dick to about everyone. Aquinus is a knowledgeable guy.

And a helpful guy. I have never seen Aquinus attack or troll anyone. Sometimes people don't like his advice, and that's ok. It doesn't make him a troll. What I have seen over time is the OP is a know-it-all who attacks anyone that doesn't tell him what he wants or expects to hear.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

And a helpful guy. I have never seen Aquinus attack or troll anyone. Sometimes people don't like his advice, and that's ok. It doesn't make him a troll. What I have seen over time is the OP is a know-it-all who attacks anyone that doesn't tell him what he wants or expects to hear.

He's pretty much not in tune with reality at all. Its about time he comes out of the rabbit hole.

 

[erocker]

vawrvawerawe in incapable of asking for help without insulting those who help him/her. Not something we encourage at TPU.