FYI I've read thhat the SS4200's support the Intel Core 2 Duo E4xxx CPUs as well, such as E4300 - E4600. I personally bought an E4400 but have not popped it in to test it yet. Mine is still running on the stock Celeron single-core 1.6GHz but upgraded to 2GB of RAM. I'm running Windows Home Server on mine with mismatched (different brands) 1.5TB drives.
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DIY Drobo alternative
- Thread starter pastrychef
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My pleasure. Feel free to ask any questions when you are ready to start setting it up and I will help where I can.
I have an Asus O!Play connected to my unRAID setup to play movies on my TV. It all works beautifully.
It may have originally been an ODM product for another company (that wanted a Win Home Server box), and the deal fell through (i.e. company bailed or failed). But as the design was complete, they found another use for it in order to turn a profit (smart IMO).
At any rate, the cost is great, and you've a decent little storage server (though I'm usually a little nervous of proprietary software RAID systems given what I've experienced unless I get the opportunity to test it thoroughly - failure testing - or know someone who has).
One of the things I like about unRAID is that the data drives are not striped. They use ReiserFS formatting and in the event of multiple drive failures. The data on the drives that have not failed can be recovered using a Linux distro can can read ReiserFS formatted drives.
I have upgraded the drives in my personal unRAID setup several times and can confirm that replacing a small drive with a larger one resulted in no lost data proving that its parity system works.
Yes. You are correct. I totally forgot about the E4300-E4700 CPUs. Thanks for reminding me!
Sounds like JBOD with parity.
What did you do to test failure conditions, and particularly in cases of large writes, what were the results (i.e. power failure - pull the cord out of the UPS)?
This is the type of information I've not had the ability to test out with unRAID. I have with ZFS, and know what to expect. It's all in the details, and without knowing first hand or from a trusted source, I'm too hesitant to to trust it.
Yes, that's exactly what it is JBOD with parity.
My experience with it being able to rebuild is limited to when I upgraded drives. This involves pulling the drive you wish to upgrade which will result in a degraded array until it is rebuilt.
If/when time permits, you can try unRAID for free. It will be limited to three drives (1 parity + 2 data) but can be upgraded with the purchase of a license. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.
* From left field: Reading these forums from my iPad is a bit easier than replying.
I don't have the extra drives and a system lying around to test with. Otherwise, I'd give a try.Yes, that's exactly what it is JBOD with parity.
My experience with it being able to rebuild is limited to when I upgraded drives. This involves pulling the drive you wish to upgrade which will result in a degraded array until it is rebuilt.
If/when time permits, you can try unRAID for free. It will be limited to three drives (1 parity + 2 data) but can be upgraded with the purchase of a license. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.
* From left field: Reading these forums from my iPad is a bit easier than replying.
What I'd recommend, is trying to test out additional failure conditions. For example, begin a large write, and pull the power (both with and without the UPS), and see how it behaves. That's were it can get tricky, and cause a nasty surprise with filesystem based software RAID. Even block level software RAID has limitations that can bite you (i.e multiple failures under ZFS, get the set to indicate online by replacing the pulled disks and replace them, then pull another drive -parity is set to say 2x disks-, and it's gone). The rebuild process /= to what occurs with a hardware solution (RAID-Z2 vs. RAID 6 is the example listed).
eSATA on SS4200
My apologies for bumping such an old thread. However, it seems pastrychef might have some very valuable info I could use and I didn't see another way to get it. Hope you notice this pastrychef...
I have run Unraid on the Scaleo variant of the SS4200 since that fire sale back in late 2009. I now need to add a fifth drive and picked up a basic eSATA enclosure to do it. However, neither Scaleo nor Unraid see the drive (and the drive does work). Do you recall if you see the eSATA drive(s) appear in BIOS setup? Or if you see evidence of an option ROM executing for the eSATA controller? Or if you had to change anything to make the drives show up in Unraid?
If I can get any evidence that the problem is not internal to the Scaleo I'll just order the same enclosure you know to work. Would it be this 4-bay SansDigital unit from NewEgg by chance?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...la-_-NA-_-NA&gclid=CMKHnaiL0LQCFQq0nQodGhMARQ
Again, sorry to bump this thread but if there is no activity I won't bump it again.
My apologies for bumping such an old thread. However, it seems pastrychef might have some very valuable info I could use and I didn't see another way to get it. Hope you notice this pastrychef...
I have run Unraid on the Scaleo variant of the SS4200 since that fire sale back in late 2009. I now need to add a fifth drive and picked up a basic eSATA enclosure to do it. However, neither Scaleo nor Unraid see the drive (and the drive does work). Do you recall if you see the eSATA drive(s) appear in BIOS setup? Or if you see evidence of an option ROM executing for the eSATA controller? Or if you had to change anything to make the drives show up in Unraid?
If I can get any evidence that the problem is not internal to the Scaleo I'll just order the same enclosure you know to work. Would it be this 4-bay SansDigital unit from NewEgg by chance?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...la-_-NA-_-NA&gclid=CMKHnaiL0LQCFQq0nQodGhMARQ
Again, sorry to bump this thread but if there is no activity I won't bump it again.
Sorry I took so long to reply. I haven't been on the forums in quite some time.
Yes, that is the enclosure I use withe the eSATA port on the SS4200. I never looked at the BIOS since I run it headless.
Awesome this thread is still going because it has been such a long time! as for myself... well i have to say my scaleo home server is still brand new, never been used in the box!! i just have not found the time over the past few years to hook it up with the neccesary ingredients such as unraid, and memory as well as cpu upgrades... hopefullyit will still be usable this next summer when i finally get my middle atlantic cabinet set into the wall along with the server and numerous other items within it!!