NAS/Virtualization Server

Showcasing my projects in helpdesk and networking fields.

Specs

This project started many years ago as a FreeNAS storage server with a Plex Plugin on an old computer that was obsolete at the time. The 2310 could only take 16GB of RAM on my motherboard, and at the time, 24TB was too much, creating bottlenecks in the operation. This led to the need to upgrade to the current platform after about 2 years of running off the old system. The 2310 became my first router, and I received a Supermicro board, 2 CPUs, and 36 GB of ECC-REG for only $110 before tax and delivery.

To realize the potential of this new system, I installed Proxmox as the base operating system. I passed through the LSI 9211-8i card from the previous server with all the connected drives, and the Truenas upgrade of the original FreeNAS system simply booted as though it were running on bare metal. Because of the HBA, this was to be expected due to the nature of the BSD subsystem that runs TrueNas Core.

Proxmox, as the main operating allows for the creation of containers and other VMs. Using VMs to accomplish a physical-to-virtual conversion of some machines that I don't need to use as often was useful for limiting footprint in my apartment. Virtualizing WIn-Sever I was able to make an Active Directory, and manage users. These VMs and some new ones could conveniently be used as clients in the Network, not just for Windows Sys Admin practice, but also for clients in my Cisco Labs. Windows Active Directory can also be used in conjunction with Microsoft Entra for use with Azure.

Containers are much more lightweight. I've used LXC containers to virtualize Pi-hole on its own Proxmox node. Another notable container was used for a Twingate connector for allowing VPN access to the network from a remote location. Containers can be just created and deleted, generally making them very friendly to lab environments.

Story and Implementation

• CPU: 2x Intel Xeon E5-2620 (6 core, 12 thread, 2.00 GHz)

• Motherboard: SuperMicro X9DRL-iF rev 2

• Ram: 256GB Samsung DDR3 ECC-REG (8x 32GB)

• PSU: EVGA 700 GQ

• Case: Pantheks Entoo Pro

• Cooler: 2x Cooler Master EV0 220 Black

• Card 1: Intel Dual 2.5 GbE NIC (i225-V)

• Card 2: LSI 9211-8i

• Card 3: Dual M2 SSD (m Key) or SATA (b Key)

• Hard Drive: 6x 10TB Seagate Iron Wolf, 2x 120GB Dogfish, USB-mSATA (120 GB Dogfish), 500 GB Team Group, Various other SSDs for P>V virtualization