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Build my onw modern NAS & VM-Hypervisor in one - Enquiries - 11-09-2024
I want to setup a NAS which needs to run minimum 4 VM's on it. Graphics is not so important. Maybe a bit of 4k playing of videos might be setup on it as well for some video playback
Disks will be 3,5 Inch SATA III - minimal 4
I want to verify and have some advice on Case, the Motherboard (micro-ATX), CPU and Memory.
I look for DDR5-ECC 128GB (4x 32GB)
1 or 2 M.2 drives is nice for caching read and write or maybe putting them in mirror mode and run 2 VM's from them
Nas fileshares will be SMB and NFS, no iSCSI as it sucks when a connection fails. NFS will just continue when connections restore
Case: silverstone-cs382
Motherboard: asrock-b650m-pro-rs
CPU: amd-ryzen-7-9700x-boxed
Memory: Kingston KSM52E42BD8KM-32HA
Ant tips?
Thanks,
Frans
RE: Build my onw modern NAS & VM-Hypervisor in one - ed - 11-15-2024
Case: SilverStone CS382
Great choice! It’s compact, supports hot-swappable 3.5-inch drives (up to 8 bays), and offers excellent airflow. It’s ideal for both NAS and virtualization needs.
Motherboard: ASRock B650M Pro RS
The ASRock B650M Pro RS is a good option for its modern features like PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support. However, double-check for ECC memory support, as some AMD motherboards support only non-ECC or "unbuffered ECC" functionality (which doesn’t correct errors). If true ECC memory support is a must, consider:
Alternative: Supermicro H12SSL-i or ASUS Pro WS B650M-A for better ECC support and server-grade reliability.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
This CPU offers excellent performance for your VM and light 4K playback needs, but it lacks native ECC support (depending on the motherboard). If ECC memory is a must, consider switching to an AMD Ryzen PRO or an EPYC processor:
Alternative: AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 or AMD EPYC 7313 for full ECC compatibility and more cores for virtualization.
Memory: Kingston KSM52E42BD8KM-32HA (128GB DDR5 ECC)
This is a fantastic choice if your motherboard fully supports DDR5 ECC. Ensure the board supports 4x 32GB configurations at your desired speeds (4800 MHz or higher).
Storage: SATA and M.2
For NAS Storage: Your 4 x 3.5-inch SATA drives will work well in a RAID (preferably RAID 5 or 6 for redundancy).
For VM Storage/Caching: Use two M.2 NVMe SSDs in a RAID 1 (mirrored) setup for running VMs and as cache for frequently accessed data. Suggested drives:
Samsung 970 EVO Plus or WD Black SN770 NVMe.
If reliability is paramount, consider Seagate FireCuda 530 for higher endurance.
Network:
Since you’re using SMB and NFS, consider upgrading to a multi-gigabit network card:
Recommendation: Intel X550-T2 or ASUS XG-C100C for 10GbE. This will future-proof your setup and ensure fast file sharing.
Additional Considerations:
Cooling:
Ensure you have adequate cooling for the CPU and drives, especially if your VMs will run intensively. The SilverStone CS382 has good airflow, but pair it with a reliable CPU cooler like the Noctua NH-U12S redux.
Power Supply:
Use a high-quality 80+ Gold PSU with at least 650W capacity to handle your drives and CPU. The Corsair RM650x is a great option.
Virtualization Platform:
Consider running Proxmox VE or TrueNAS Scale. Both support VMs, SMB, and NFS out of the box and are user-friendly for your use case.
Future Expansion:
The SilverStone CS382 has 8 bays, giving you room for future drive upgrades. Ensure the motherboard supports the additional storage (e.g., via a SATA expansion card).
Conclusion:
Your build is well-thought-out and can handle your needs with some minor tweaks for ECC memory and motherboard compatibility. If ECC is non-negotiable, consider switching to a server-grade motherboard and processor like AMD EPYC. For general performance and flexibility, your current configuration is solid with excellent potential for future upgrades.