08-01-2019, 05:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-01-2019, 07:08 PM by stuartiannaylor.)
(08-01-2019, 08:32 AM)ZeblodS Wrote: @stuartiannaylor: Just to answer a few of your talking points.
I was thinking of using a regular ATX power supply for several reasons, the main one is that it's cheaper to get 12V and 5V at pretty high amperage.
For instance I can find an brand new EVGA 600W with a single 12V49A rail and a 5V20A rail for less than 50€. More than enough to power safely the ROCKPro64 and 10 to 12 hard-drives.
Plus it's rated 80+, meaning less electricity wasted. And usually brand names power supply don't destroy all your hardware when they fail (which all power supply end up doing eventually, even brand names one as I have already experienced it after 7 years 24/7 powered on).
It has 6 SATA power connector, that can be doubled using adapters like these.
Power supply, for machines running 24/7, is really not something you can really spare expenses on.
I looked over for a USB3.0 solution, using a PCI-E like the one you linked. UASP adapter with 12V input for 3.5" harddrives are not that cheap either, I have found models like this one for instance. Plus I'd need a few USB3.0 hub to connect 2 to 3 UASP adapters per USB ports on the controller, with maybe 5V external connection to not overpower the PCI-E controller with that much disks.
In the end it won't be cheaper than the IOCrest SI-PEX40097 SATA controller, and it's a less clean solution, but it's a fallback solution for sure.
For the casing, I'd still go the individual hot-swap from the front route as it's way more practical IRL, even if it cost more. The Orico one can be found for 8.75€ a pop when bought by 10 or more.
Software wise, I'd need to do some more research into it, and some testing before going toward a different solution than what I already use. But on first glance Snapraid seem to have many advantages indeed.
EDIT: the USB solution could be cheaper using something like these:
https://m.fr.aliexpress.com/item/32897789991.html
https://m.fr.aliexpress.com/item/32829472708.html
Ugreen are good but like most things they are often just enclosures and branding surrounding the same.
These are really common 12v barrel input JMS578 chipset
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UASP-USB-3-0-...4223704252
Loads of em about and if they have that distinctive enclosure they are the same.
If it is a relatively static large media store then with Snapraid the only drive powered up and pulling any sort of wattage will be the one in use.
Also set your drive power management via OMV as again with media stores the operating principle is a totally different fit to other forms.
A relatively clunky old drive might take up to 10watt so 600watt might be a tad overkill as if you are only pulling 10-20% of your PSU rating efficiency will plummet.
The unionFS should be set to write to most free space and your drives will multiplex in use by those only with transfers.
Cost wise
4 Port Dual Bus (PCIe) USB 3.0 £66.85
10x UASP USB 3.0 SATA Adapter (£3.89) £38.90
2x 1M Metre USB3.0 Extension (parity drives) (£2.64) £5.28
Hubs cheap as Sata adapter powered and prefer not to be switches you forget
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Port-USB-3-...2768651959
4x 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub (£3.18) £12.72
Its why I like those simple 5 bay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hard-drive-Ca...4116108483
As the top bay holds the hub as only have x4 drives but also if 5 the hub can just go on top, as that is the case for me slightly open air and a 12v fan on the back.
I just have the fan grill facing forward and did get one of these but like a numpty got a 3 pin fan rather than 4.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-12V-PWM-PC...1883875255
2x Hard drive Cage Tray Caddy (£14.77) £29.54
Still £153! total but still cheaper than you can get your card for, up to you obviously
Prob have to get clever with udev/automount so they don't all spin up on boot but prob much, much less than 600watt needed.
Might be power management and efficiency that swings it for you, but just a suggestion and what I use.
Mine is disassembled at the moment and for the life in me can not remember how the drives spin up whilst creating parity.