The ULTIMATE NAS.

As avid readers might know, I've been trying to find the ultimate NAS build, be it new or old. 

So far I've tried N6005 boards from AliExpress (with the dreaded i225 network interface, which keeps hanging) HP Microservers (with a limit of 4 dirves), a DL350 G9 (which I hoped would carry 3.5" and 2.5" drives, boy was I wrong.

So I've always searched for way to get a simply unlimited number of drives, for very little money.
This was way out of the question, and still I thought was very limited in terms of number of drives.

I think I have stumbled upon the 'perfect' NAS with some possibilities of running docker containers and 10Gbit ethernet at the same time.

It consists of an MD3220 chassis (24 slots for 2.5" drives), make sure to get it with the SAS controller, it's much cheaper.:

 a SAS cable:

A Lenovo Tiny P340 of the 10th Gen (Intel)

A PCI riser card for the Lenovo Tiny P340 (and slot plate, optional)

A SAS card:

A couple of Drive cages:

A serial cable and USB>Serial converter:

So, as you can imagine, the SAS controller fits into the P340, you just need to cut a nice hole in the slot-plate (measure 2x cut once). Then you connect the serial cable to controller 0, using this site as your guide:
https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/fun-with-an-md1200-md1220-sc200-sc220.27487/

Then, using the script suggested, you can reduce the noise output of the fans (down to 10%, and you can even keep an eye on the temperatures, to increase when needed.

At 10% fans I am at 51.8-52.1W with one controller (non-redundant) without any disks. Disks add wattage of course. But if you use 8Tbyte Samsung QVO drives, each one takes 10mW in standby:

In terms of performance, when filled with a number of drives, I am getting around 2Gbytes/sec of throughput which is the maximum the 4x 6-SAS connection can deliver.

I have also purchased one of the new USB-C 10Gbit RTL8159 adapters. In theory, the USB present on the 10th gen i7 should have enough bandwidth to get around 9gbit/sec:

So for just about 1000 Euros you can get a 24-drive NAS, no janky wires, all nicely connected. Good luck finding drives, but at least you can fit SAS drives now too, just no NVME drives yet ;-) 

By the way, if you go for an 7th gen i5 P340, you can have a NAS, that already includes the Intel quicksync video-re-encoding that's so useful for Plex (that brings the price down to around 650 Euros for the whole set (excl drives):

 

I managed to get a P360 i7 10th gen stacked with 2x 1Tbyte of internal drives and 64Gbytes of memory, as I intend to run some docker workloads too.

One optimization I could still imagine is a 'power stealer' where I take the 12V supplied to the drives and power the 19V Lenovo, The i7 10th gen needs around 200W maximum, it could be done:

I also tested the consumption of the MD3220 chassis with one power supply connected and one controller (no disks), that was 34.4W! Not bad for something capable of holding 24 disks

Robert.

 It's happened!

NVME storage is now cheaper than 2.5" SATA 

(For 8Tbyte disks)

The frustration of other thing and my Garage.

 My Garage, one huge mess.

TL:DR Too much going on in life. Not enough time and energy to be working on it all. 👎

My garage is 80m^2, and it's full of unfinished projects. It's basically so full that:

• Even though it's a 5/6-car garage, I can just about fit 2 cars inside.
• I don't really have room to any projects, once the two cars are in.
• I want to start work on a habitat and truck, that's 7.5m x 2.5m, so completely impossible, currently.

It's frustrating to say the least. I was diagnosed with ADHD recently (around 6 months ago) and am now in a wait loop to start medication (around 1 year). I've tried 'cognitive therapy', it was not for me, so phase two, medication. 

I've been quite active on Facebook, following Jolly Good on https://www.facebook.com/groups/campervanelectricsmastery/ and his efforts to teach people electrical systems. But I am so far from starting my own camper electrical install, it's quite frustrating.

I also still have not started my 'C' driving license, which will be needed to do our 2026 Iceland trip with Bliss, and I can feel time running out quickly. 

I am also currently working on getting our Kangoo Greece trip ready (May-June) to get the suspension fixed. Top mounts, bottom arms, anti-rollbar links, all brake pads and disks replaced. It needed some work, let's say. 

Also working on the office in garage (a small 3x3m insulated space with double-doors to be able to have a small heated space in the garage, rather than heating 80m^2 which is not economical or sensible.

In short: Too much going on. Need to concentrate on one or two things to get those finished, but as always with ADHD, having problems focusing on one task.. :-( Story of my life, I fear..

In other news, I can now do up nuts to 980Nm, needed to go to 300Nm on the back axle of the Kangoo, but can now also do the wheelnuts on the truck 😀

There is also a breaker bar on the way, and some 3/4" sockets. For the 300Nm, I had an adaptor, but that did not feel great. 

Saw another candidate: https://www.auroracommerciosrl.it/automezzi/iveco-100-4x4-balestrato-anteriore-e-posteriore/

Also still working on Home Assistant:

Ideas are finally taking shape!

 A couple of important restrictions/requirements.

1. Garage height: 2.7m (2.55m at the door)

2. Garage length, max ~7.5m

3. Must be able to carry 2 adults and 2 dogs or 4 adults in a pinch.

4. Must not have a 'tilting cab'.

5. Toilet and shower must be of 'normal size'.

6. Ideally, a washing machine/dryer combo should fit.

Found it:

Stats: 

1113B Mercedes Benz Kurzhauber, 4x4 with locking middle and rear diff. 4.2m wheelbase.

7.1m long, 2.5m high and ~2.5m wide.

With a shortening of the cab, it should be possible to have a 13ft (4m) box. Examples of the layout here (from Bliss Mobil) The bed raises up. To be able to fit in the garage, you would need a raising top

Modifications:

1. Remove pump from front bumper and replace by a winch, should save ~30cm in length? Maybe even more

2. Shorten cab by ~1m to create more space for the box.

3. Convert to 'singles' tires (https://rundhauber.eu/wielen-en-banden/ , https://rundhauber.eu/banden-4-de-finale/). Could be difficult, as the rundhauber has rims with 8 holes, rather than the more usual 10 holes at Mercedes. Would like 'sprengringfelgen' to enable easy removal of tires from wheels. Also the hutchinson runflat would be very cool: https://vrakking-tires.com/20-inch/913-1000vx20-jamak-wheel-8-holes-et-90.html and https://vrakking-tires.com/run-flat-protection/528-run-flat-system-3-pieces-hutchinson.html with beadlock protection https://vrakking-tires.com/run-flat-protection/621-711-beadlock-tire-protection.html#/21-quality-new (enabling you to run lower pressures, down to 0 bar?) 

 

Fixed it, up & running!

 

The sweet 'smell' of succes. 

Finally just caved and got a 'new' motherboard (new to me). Put my two E5-2630L v4 (ES) processors in. Works like a charm, 

ChatGPT actually gave some useful suggestions!

ChatGPT actually gave some useful suggestions!

Thought I'd share them here.

Physical impacts can cause a range of issues, from visible damage to subtle problems that only manifest under specific conditions. Here's a systematic approach to surveying the motherboard for damage:

1. **Visual Inspection**:

   - **Magnifying Glass or Loupe**: Use a magnifying glass or a loupe to inspect the motherboard closely. Look for any visible cracks, broken traces, or damaged components.

   - **Check Connectors**: Ensure that all connectors, including the PCIe slots, are intact and not bent or broken.

   - **Inspect Solder Joints**: Look for any solder joints that might have cracked or become loose due to the impact.

   - **Check for Debris**: Ensure there's no debris or foreign objects lodged between components or traces.

2. **Physical Inspection**:

   - **Press Gently**: Gently press down on various parts of the motherboard to see if there's any unusual movement, which could indicate a broken stand-off or mounting point.

   - **Check the Back**: Turn the motherboard over and inspect the back for any signs of damage or unusual marks.

3. **Functional Testing**:

   - **Power On**: If the visual and physical inspections don't reveal any issues, consider powering on the server. Listen for any unusual sounds and observe any irregular LED patterns.

   - **BIOS/UEFI Check**: Access the BIOS/UEFI and check for any hardware errors or warnings. Some systems run a self-test during startup and might report issues.

   - **PCIe Slot Test**: Since the impact dislodged a card from the PCIe slot, test that specific slot with a known working card to ensure it's still functional. Also, test the previously dislodged card in another slot or system to ensure the card itself isn't damaged.

   - **Stress Testing**: Use software tools to stress-test the system. Tools like Prime95, Memtest86, and FurMark can help identify issues with the CPU, memory, and GPU, respectively.

4. **Check Peripheral Components**:

   - **RAM**: Ensure that all RAM modules are seated correctly. Consider running a memory test to ensure they're functioning correctly.

   - **Storage**: Check that all storage devices (HDDs, SSDs) are securely connected and are recognized by the system.

   - **Cooling**: Ensure that all fans are operational and that heatsinks are securely attached.

5. **External Inspection**:

   - **Case and Chassis**: Check the server case and chassis for any signs of deformation or damage. Ensure that the motherboard is securely and correctly mounted within the case.

6. **Seek Expert Assistance**:

   - If you're unsure about any findings or if the server behaves erratically, consider seeking assistance from a professional or a specialized repair service. They might have specialized equipment, like multimeters or oscilloscopes, to diagnose issues more accurately.

7. **Document Everything**:

   - Take photos of any visible damage or irregularities. This can be useful for insurance claims, future reference, or if you decide to seek professional assistance.

Remember, even if the server appears to function normally after the impact, there could be latent issues that might manifest later. It's essential to be thorough in your inspection and testing to ensure the server's reliability and longevity.