Acer AC100 mini server upgrade/mods. Should be interesting

[kojack]

On 12/1/2023 at 3:12 PM, Custom90gt said:

 

Won't see one of the HDDs in Bios? do you have the latest bios installed?

It sees the HDDs no issue. I want to install an ssd I have as a 5th drive in either the PCI-E card, or the esata port in the back of the system to run the OS off and have the 4 HDD just for storage with no OS on them. 

[kojack]

So, after messing around to get this system working the way I want, it seems that the OS installer will see the drive and install the OS on it, but it will not boot from this drive. I do have the latest bios installed. I am not sure if there are any other settings in the bios I am missing. 

[kojack]

Anyone got any ideas for this before I scrap this project and move to a different solution and use this system for something else?

[Custom90gt]

On 4/23/2024 at 4:21 AM, kojack said:

Anyone got any ideas for this before I scrap this project and move to a different solution and use this system for something else?

 

Sorry I never saw this.  Can you explain exactly what is happening? You are installing TrueNas onto the SSD that's connected via PCIe?  It sees the drive and installs the OS but then the machine itself will not boot onto it? Maybe the bios doesn't support booting on nvme?

[kojack]

On 5/14/2024 at 10:11 AM, Custom90gt said:

 

Sorry I never saw this.  Can you explain exactly what is happening? You are installing TrueNas onto the SSD that's connected via PCIe?  It sees the drive and installs the OS but then the machine itself will not boot onto it? Maybe the bios doesn't support booting on nvme?

Thanks for the response.  I am thinking you are correct in stating the bios does not support boot from PCIe.  should I just install the os on the raid array?   Now I have to figure out how large a drive will be supported.  I am pushing forward with this one to remove cloud photo storage after the shenanigans with apples "privacy first" approach to data storage. bah ha ha. 

[Custom90gt]

On 5/23/2024 at 3:55 AM, kojack said:

Thanks for the response.  I am thinking you are correct in stating the bios does not support boot from PCIe.  should I just install the os on the raid array?   Now I have to figure out how large a drive will be supported.  I am pushing forward with this one to remove cloud photo storage after the shenanigans with apples "privacy first" approach to data storage. bah ha ha. 

 

What about using a SATA ssd that is plugged in to the esata port on the unit? It will boot off that and you can leave the internal drive bays for the spinners with lots of space for your photos.

[kojack]

On 5/24/2024 at 11:48 PM, Custom90gt said:

 

What about using a SATA ssd that is plugged in to the esata port on the unit? It will boot off that and you can leave the internal drive bays for the spinners with lots of space for your photos.

I will try that....Stay tuned!  ha ha.

[kojack]

So, I am going to go a new route with this system now.  I am going to buy 2 of these dual raid SSD enclosures.

 

Startech.Com 2X M.2 SSDs to 2.5-Inch SATA (6Gbps) Raid Adapter Converter with Trim Support 25S22M2NGFFR : Amazon.ca: Electronics

 

and load 4 drives into them to see if the OS will see the first enclosure in raid 0 for OS.  Then if the second one will be views as two separate drives.  I will put 6 drives in 3 drive bays, and one with two smaller ones with OS loaded and remove the PCI-e drive.

[Custom90gt]

19 hours ago, kojack said:

So, I am going to go a new route with this system now.  I am going to buy 2 of these dual raid SSD enclosures.

 

Startech.Com 2X M.2 SSDs to 2.5-Inch SATA (6Gbps) Raid Adapter Converter with Trim Support 25S22M2NGFFR : Amazon.ca: Electronics

 

and load 4 drives into them to see if the OS will see the first enclosure in raid 0 for OS.  Then if the second one will be views as two separate drives.  I will put 6 drives in 3 drive bays, and one with two smaller ones with OS loaded and remove the PCI-e drive.

 

Interesting idea, I haven't seen those adapters before.  Out of curiosity, are you just going for those so you can divide your drives up?  You can always go with a 2.5" SSD and partition the drive, it would probably be quite a bit cheaper than ordering m.2 SATA SSDs.  I thought you were looking for some bigger mechanical HDDs for storage? I think the biggest m.2 sata SSD I've seen are 4TB, but would be cheaper to buy a 8TB 2.5". 

[kojack]

4 hours ago, Custom90gt said:

 

Interesting idea, I haven't seen those adapters before.  Out of curiosity, are you just going for those so you can divide your drives up?  You can always go with a 2.5" SSD and partition the drive, it would probably be quite a bit cheaper than ordering m.2 SATA SSDs.  I thought you were looking for some bigger mechanical HDDs for storage? I think the biggest m.2 sata SSD I've seen are 4TB, but would be cheaper to buy a 8TB 2.5". 

I am going with those to create extra space but still have fast data access becuase of the ssd instead of the hdd setup. 

So one drive bay would essentially house two ssd in raid 0 to have faster os speeds, then the other 3 bays will have other storage options.  I have since found 32tb hdds and may toss 3 of those in instead of the small dual drive enclosures 

[kojack]

I have some parts ordered.  The two bay NVME enclosure a 512gb for OS, a 4tb nvme for project use and 3x32tb exos hdd from segate. Where the path is only so fast using the dual nvme enclosure raid is not needed for any speed increase. I will get better performance working from the server with a 4tb ssd for project use.  We will see how TrueNAS handles the drives in this fashion.  I can't see it being an issue now since all drives will be going through the sata ports in the hot swaps. 

 

Buckle up, this is about get bumpy ha ha ha!.  Then on to getting it access to our wifi network in the house.  Since we are using bell, that might be a whole other ball of wax to fix. 

[ryan]

@kojack did you end up getting r done

[kojack]

Not yet. Everything is on hold, even my basement renovation.  I have sheds backed up I need to get built so any free time I have I am driving nails.  Every day until dark after I get off work from the store.  BEAT!  I would say my little server will be worked on in the fall when my time is less stretched.  hang in there, I will be posting when I order all the crap for it.  I haven't had time to poop, let alone work on my own stuff. 

[kojack]

Update time. I have given up trying to the the PCI-E drive to work in the server, I am going to try another route now.  I 2.5 inch raid enclosure with 2 256gb m.2s set to raid 1 in drive bay 1. See if I can load TrueNas on that. If that works I will move forward with the rest of the project.  I have the enclosure, drives, 16gb of ram, a Noctua 120mm fan and a few other odds and ends ordered for it.  Once all that gets in and installed, it will be time to give the ssd enclosure a whirl!  see if I can get it to work that way.  Can't see why it wouldn't.