Hi all,
Sorry if this post is a bit long, but I feel a little information is needed for proper response.
as new user of OS I have some questions regarding new install and configuration as well as best practices.
the story:
I am new to Linux in general and OS in particular. I played with ubuntu and mint before.
but was swayed into trying OS by more experienced users noting that it might be better distro for what I am trying to do.
I am trying to put together a good file server/VM server for a home lab.
mostly for home use and some learning and testing.
I currently run UnRaid system for file server for my HTPC media needs.
this project started when I desided to virtualize the unRaid and have a good VM server instead of just file server.
my hardware is not 100% VM compatible (it's an AMD based system with limited support for IOMMU) but still capable as my efforts with Ubuntu + Xen showed.
after some time paling with a notion of virtualizing UnRaid , and doing related research I came to a realization that I could probobly build out a good system without using UnRaid and still have most if not all benefits UnRaid provided.
system is : SuperMicro H8DME-2 MB with 2 AMD six core Opteron 2.4gHz CPUs
56GB DDR2 ECC RAM 3x8SATA SAS cards for total of 24 HDD + 6 onboard SATA ports
2 on board Gig NICs + 1 dual port intel pro NIC for total of 4 NIC interfaces.
supermicro case with 24 hot-swap bays
Available to start :
1-laptop HDD 120GB
1 - hitachi HDD 2TB
1 - WD HDD 1TB
Available after build is done and data is moved from current server :
3 - Seagate HDD 2TB
wants and needs :
build a reliable file server with dependable HDD configuration for data storage.
that also have other sue as VM server for several VMs as needed.
Ideally I want to:
1. install the system onto small laptop HDD (120gb) connected to MB SATA port first
2. setup Xen on the new system
3. Setup a btrfs + Raid5/6 + LVM +SAMBA/NFS on data disks (that would be all disks connected to SAS card(s) and in the hot-swap bays) to replace my unRaid setup.
4. have VM running pfSence to replace my router
5. have VM for FOG or Clonezilla server for imaging/clonning of PC for back up and replacement needs. maybe even use some as VDI in the future.
6. have VM for Windows 7/8 to use as DVR/PVR when I get a network tuner
7. have VM with Ubuntu or other distro running Transmission/SickBeard/subsnzb/coahPotato
maybe a trans-coding software to process convert my media library.
8. have a VM runing Media server not sure what yet, options are Plex, MediaServer, servio,Amahi? anyone recommendations are welcome and apreciated.
Issues/Questions so far:
1. I had some problems installing the latest release of OS
no matter how I booted the server Virtual DVD via IPMI to local drive .Virtual DVD via IPMI to ISO / local DVD as soon as I started the install it would drop to black text mode and run some crazy text screens hanging at some point and stop the install.
I tried F3 with no KMS and all nothing helped.
finally I installed it by booting with Live CD and doing install from with in the desktop GUI.
it seams a little sluggish to respond but it worked except I can not get to the internet to do updates and other installs.
2. when on install I tried to use btrfs as default FS it would error out and drop the install.
using suggested EXT4 for /root and /home worked fine
QUESTION: it is all on one HDD now.
A. is it possible to setup the system on a pair of HDD in RAID1 config for redundancy?
B. is it possible to move the setup to RAID1 array without resintall?
as in, if I buy second HDD can I do a soft raid1 on a working system. for a system disk?
3. Any help on troubleshooting/fixing network config (at this point this is at most importance)
and suggestions, recommendation, pitfalls of the proposed build?
Sorry if this post is a bit long, but I feel a little information is needed for proper response.
as new user of OS I have some questions regarding new install and configuration as well as best practices.
the story:
I am new to Linux in general and OS in particular. I played with ubuntu and mint before.
but was swayed into trying OS by more experienced users noting that it might be better distro for what I am trying to do.
I am trying to put together a good file server/VM server for a home lab.
mostly for home use and some learning and testing.
I currently run UnRaid system for file server for my HTPC media needs.
this project started when I desided to virtualize the unRaid and have a good VM server instead of just file server.
my hardware is not 100% VM compatible (it's an AMD based system with limited support for IOMMU) but still capable as my efforts with Ubuntu + Xen showed.
after some time paling with a notion of virtualizing UnRaid , and doing related research I came to a realization that I could probobly build out a good system without using UnRaid and still have most if not all benefits UnRaid provided.
system is : SuperMicro H8DME-2 MB with 2 AMD six core Opteron 2.4gHz CPUs
56GB DDR2 ECC RAM 3x8SATA SAS cards for total of 24 HDD + 6 onboard SATA ports
2 on board Gig NICs + 1 dual port intel pro NIC for total of 4 NIC interfaces.
supermicro case with 24 hot-swap bays
Available to start :
1-laptop HDD 120GB
1 - hitachi HDD 2TB
1 - WD HDD 1TB
Available after build is done and data is moved from current server :
3 - Seagate HDD 2TB
wants and needs :
build a reliable file server with dependable HDD configuration for data storage.
that also have other sue as VM server for several VMs as needed.
Ideally I want to:
1. install the system onto small laptop HDD (120gb) connected to MB SATA port first
2. setup Xen on the new system
3. Setup a btrfs + Raid5/6 + LVM +SAMBA/NFS on data disks (that would be all disks connected to SAS card(s) and in the hot-swap bays) to replace my unRaid setup.
4. have VM running pfSence to replace my router
5. have VM for FOG or Clonezilla server for imaging/clonning of PC for back up and replacement needs. maybe even use some as VDI in the future.
6. have VM for Windows 7/8 to use as DVR/PVR when I get a network tuner
7. have VM with Ubuntu or other distro running Transmission/SickBeard/subsnzb/coahPotato
maybe a trans-coding software to process convert my media library.
8. have a VM runing Media server not sure what yet, options are Plex, MediaServer, servio,Amahi? anyone recommendations are welcome and apreciated.
Issues/Questions so far:
1. I had some problems installing the latest release of OS
no matter how I booted the server Virtual DVD via IPMI to local drive .Virtual DVD via IPMI to ISO / local DVD as soon as I started the install it would drop to black text mode and run some crazy text screens hanging at some point and stop the install.
I tried F3 with no KMS and all nothing helped.
finally I installed it by booting with Live CD and doing install from with in the desktop GUI.
it seams a little sluggish to respond but it worked except I can not get to the internet to do updates and other installs.
2. when on install I tried to use btrfs as default FS it would error out and drop the install.
using suggested EXT4 for /root and /home worked fine
QUESTION: it is all on one HDD now.
A. is it possible to setup the system on a pair of HDD in RAID1 config for redundancy?
B. is it possible to move the setup to RAID1 array without resintall?
as in, if I buy second HDD can I do a soft raid1 on a working system. for a system disk?
3. Any help on troubleshooting/fixing network config (at this point this is at most importance)
and suggestions, recommendation, pitfalls of the proposed build?