TrueNAS CORE server build

Hardware

Chose an affordable HP ProLiant ML310e Gen8 v2 microserver

up to 32 GB ECC RAM 120GB SSD to boot 6 x 1 TB SSD for storage

Redundant disks

TrueNAS uses ZFS. Recommended type: RAID-Z2 (Double parity with variable stripe width) ZFS / RAIDZ Capacity Calculator You can’t add drives to a volume once its setup, however you can replace drives with larger drives. 6 drives in RAIDZ2 (more than 50% of additive capacity) 4 drives in RAIDZ2 (less than 50% of additive capacity)

Drive connectors:

1 can boot from USB (SSD with a USB to SATA adapter)
2 x onboard SATA
4 x onboard SATA controller -> hotplug cage
+ optional SAS card / HBA (2x4 SATA connector=8)

max 6 without SATA card (+ USB) max 14 (+ USB)

Physical drives

4 or 8 in hotplug cage
6*2 2.5” or (2*2 2.5”+ 2*1 3.5”) in 5.25 Optical Bay Drive Slot Case Adapter

max 20 2.5” or 12 2.5” + 2 3.5”

Actual:

4 onboard SATA -> 4 2.5” adapter in LFF hotplug cage
2 onboard SATA
2 from SATA card -> 4 2.5”
2 from SATA card -> 2 3.5”

10 disks

Mirrored boot drives:

Could benefit from a RAID card: https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/to-boot-with-usb-or-ssd-or-nvme.83594/post-620199

RAID 1 configurations can tolerate one drive failure. If one physical drive in a RAID 1 configuration fails, the RAID volume is still intact as a degraded RAID 1.

Harware notes

B120i is just software RAID B120i User guide

Use the onboard SAS adapter (4 SATA connections) or choose a reputable HBA: https://www.servethehome.com/buyers-guides/top-hardware-components-freenas-nas-servers/top-picks-freenas-hbas/

In BIOS setup System Options, SATA Controller Options, Embedded SATA Configuration, Enable SATA AHCI support

The embedded storage controller supports SATA drive installation only. For SAS drive installation, install a Smart Array card and a Mini-SAS cable option kit. Optional Smart Array controllers support both SATA and SAS drives.

Beware! The two system fans are custom, and cannot be replaced with standard ones. A dead fan will prevent your system from even booting! So as you get it, better take a couple spares on the ebay/aliexpress ecc

TEST:

does the onboard SATA controller work together with the B120i?
can the B120i be used to boot?

Hardware debug

POST debug flowchart from https://serverfault.com/questions/465883/hp-proliant-dl360-g7-hangs-at-power-and-thermal-calibration-screen

HP ProLiant Servers Troubleshooting Guide

Redundant power

UPS

APC UPS config

Dual power supply

Can be connected to 2 UPS-es, the second backed by a large battery or generator

Redundant network

E.g broadband + 4G * router level (1 NIC) * dual router (2 NICs) The router + modem needs to be connected to the UPS as well.

Setting up TrueNAS

Encryption Keys for data-at-rest are managed on the local TrueNAS system.

DebianVM: set VNC to 800x600: https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/debian-vm-display-is-not-clear-with-vnc.88501/post-613065

fix boot: https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/howto-how-to-boot-linux-vms-using-uefi.54039/

Fix GUI desktop: https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/debian-vm-with-gui.90808/post-629025