Hello
In the next couple of months I want to replace my ageing second hand HP dc5800 desktop (with 4GB RAM) I use to run my FreeBSD 9.1 i386 server. It runs an encrypted ZFS root and has an unencrypted /boot. Both live on an mirrored 2.5" 320GB drives and I have a 3rd single drive I use for backups which is 500GB. I have 3 ZFS pools: bootdir, zroot and backups.
So why do I want a new server? For the following reasons:
So the requirements for this new build are as follows:
I have been considering the following hardware:
I guess my first question is, will this motherboard work with FreeBSD 9.1 STABLE? Please don't point me to the Supermicro website...they don't list 9.1 in their list. I was hoping someone who has used Supermicro boards would know if this particular board works with 9.1 :stud From googling it looks like it does work but I wanted to be sure.
I was planning on using the two SSDs in a mirror (with encrypted ZFS using GELI), putting /boot on a separate USB key and storing my backups on the Samsung drive (also encrypted ZFS GELI). Is this a good setup? I only have about 20GB of data on my server so the 120GB SSD drives is plenty. I just wanted to make sure I am configuring this setup with maximum performance? Do I need to even bother with ZIL, L2ARC etc etc?
I assume I'll be able to enable ZFS prefetch with 16GB RAM? On my current system it is disabled.
I'll use the USB drive to hold /boot and the encryption keys. This USB will be used to boot the system. Once booted...it will be removed.
The backup drive will hold daily [cmd=""]zfs send[/cmd] and [cmd=""]tar[/cmd] backups. I will probably keep 30 to 60 days worth of backups as well as 12 monthlys.
Am I on the right track here? I just want to make sure the hardware I have chosen will work with FreeBSD 9.1 STABLE amd64 and that the setup I want to configure will have great performance and be secure. This server must also last me 4-5 years.
Thank you for all your input!! :e
PS: The server runs SSH, Postfix, IMAP, Apache, MySQL, Spamassasin, ClamAV, Roundcube and various monitoring tools (like Munin and MRTG). It is connected to an APC UPS.
In the next couple of months I want to replace my ageing second hand HP dc5800 desktop (with 4GB RAM) I use to run my FreeBSD 9.1 i386 server. It runs an encrypted ZFS root and has an unencrypted /boot. Both live on an mirrored 2.5" 320GB drives and I have a 3rd single drive I use for backups which is 500GB. I have 3 ZFS pools: bootdir, zroot and backups.
So why do I want a new server? For the following reasons:
- GELI is slooooow on this machine. Maybe 20MB/sec tops.
- I don't have enough RAM to take full advantage of ZFS
- Upgrading from source and recompiling all my ports takes up to two days
- I have outgrown i386
- Theres not much room in the case to add more drives (its limited)
So the requirements for this new build are as follows:
- CPU must support AESNI
- Will have 16GB of ECC RAM
- I will have use SSD drives for root
- FreeBSD 9.1 STABLE amd64 will be used
- Must be energy effecient and quiet as the server lives in my lounge!
I have been considering the following hardware:
- CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 Ivy Bridge Retail
- Motherboard: Supermicro MBD-X9SCM-F-O Retail Motherboard
- RAM: Kingston KVR1333D3E9SK2/16G 16GB 1333MHz CL9 DDR3 ValueRAM ECC Memory Kit
- SSD (for root partition): Samsung 128GB 840 Pro Series Basic SSD 7mm UltraSlim (two of these as they will be mirrored)
- HDD: (for backups and storage): I'll be using an existing Samsung 2TB 5400RPM 3.5" drive
- PSU: Seasonic FANLESS 460W 80+ Platinum SS-460FL2 Power Supply SILENT
- Case: Silverstone GD06B Gradia Micro-ATX Case w/o PSU
I guess my first question is, will this motherboard work with FreeBSD 9.1 STABLE? Please don't point me to the Supermicro website...they don't list 9.1 in their list. I was hoping someone who has used Supermicro boards would know if this particular board works with 9.1 :stud From googling it looks like it does work but I wanted to be sure.
I was planning on using the two SSDs in a mirror (with encrypted ZFS using GELI), putting /boot on a separate USB key and storing my backups on the Samsung drive (also encrypted ZFS GELI). Is this a good setup? I only have about 20GB of data on my server so the 120GB SSD drives is plenty. I just wanted to make sure I am configuring this setup with maximum performance? Do I need to even bother with ZIL, L2ARC etc etc?
I assume I'll be able to enable ZFS prefetch with 16GB RAM? On my current system it is disabled.
I'll use the USB drive to hold /boot and the encryption keys. This USB will be used to boot the system. Once booted...it will be removed.
The backup drive will hold daily [cmd=""]zfs send[/cmd] and [cmd=""]tar[/cmd] backups. I will probably keep 30 to 60 days worth of backups as well as 12 monthlys.
Am I on the right track here? I just want to make sure the hardware I have chosen will work with FreeBSD 9.1 STABLE amd64 and that the setup I want to configure will have great performance and be secure. This server must also last me 4-5 years.
Thank you for all your input!! :e
PS: The server runs SSH, Postfix, IMAP, Apache, MySQL, Spamassasin, ClamAV, Roundcube and various monitoring tools (like Munin and MRTG). It is connected to an APC UPS.