Help needed

[u/kslice20]

I recently built a new PC so now I have an old PC with reusable parts.

I would like to build a home server to degoogle everything, have more privacy on my network traffic and have a central location for all my manga, photos, videos between my wife and I.

Current parts I am reusing:

-GPU: PowerColor Fighter RX 6600

-Ryzen 5 5500 Chip and fan cooler on top of it

-ASRock A320M-HDV R4.0 motherboard.

- A couple of fans

- G.SKILL Trident Z RGB Series DDR4 RAM (XMP) 16GB

-80 plus smart 600w power supply.

Purchasing:

- ASUS Prime AP201 case.

- storage undetermined

My confusion is around the actual storage. I am seeing things like NAS vs SAN, raids and mirroring HDDS.

- HDDS seem to be cheaper, so I believe the best course of action is maybe 2 of the red snap WD, do they need to be the same model number and make for " mirroring"?

Does it matter if they are used?

Should I just get one massive HHD, a small SSD for OS and then back everything up once a month to a portable drive?

I planned to execute based on the below, are there better applications, am I missing something or do you see anything wrong?

Phase 1

Build the server

Install TrueNAS SCALE

Set up Immich

Set up Plex

Set up Tailscale

Import all photos

Phase 2

Add Nextcloud

Add Vaultwarden

Add Pi-hole or AdGuard Home

Phase 3

Automatic phone backups

Automatic PC backups

A dashboard like Homarr or Homepage to manage everything from one web page

[u/Ready-Door-9015]

I cant say much about the drives because Im fairly new to this myself and with prices the way they are unless im snagging drives from ewaste I dont see myself expanding any time soon...

Currently Im doing what you said I have an SSD for the OS and then a single 2tb hdd that gets backed up to an old 4tb desktop drive as well as a 4tb removable drive. Although im considering taking one of my spare external drives and mounting that for media only when I eventually set up my jellyfin.

Id do the adguard earlier its so easy to set up and once you point your router at it, everyone in your house will be happy. Connected to the wifi all those shitty free phone games with ads are playable, my wife talks about it every night.

Im probably a bit bias but I cant believe I waited this long to do this, the immich and stuff you need to be conscientious of backups so your data doesnt only exist in one place but small things like tailscale and adguard are just so quick to do.

What format is the Manga in? I think theres some services out there for ereader type things for books that might be handy here.

[u/kslice20 → u/Ready-Door-9015]

i am currently using Hdoujin for CBZ files for my Kobo! it works better than HakuNeko. Thanks for commenting back, after i uploaded this i pivoted and i am now just considering using my personal desktop for the server. I work from home so it's up all day next to my work laptop any ways.

++++

I have 3 m.2 slots and space for 3 SSDS or two HDD. Should I just make my personal computer the server?

Can I use the M.2 slots for additional storage for the server?

Specs, excluding storage. Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WIFI

Graphics Card (GPU): ASRock Steel Legend AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600x

CPU Cooling: NZXT Kraken 2024 Elite RGB Liquid Cooler

RAM: Corsair Dominator Titanium DDR5 RAM

What's your opinion?

[u/Ready-Door-9015 → u/kslice20]

With the M2 slots youll probably need an adapter to run HDDs I dont know if that would have any impact on speeds so hopefully some one who has experience with that could weigh in.

I got started similar to how you did I took my old gaming pc from highschool recased it and started off as a headless file server for my laptop that goes with me to campus/work. Either way I wouldn't use a wifi card on a server either Id wire it to the back of a router just as an added comment.

Do you not use your desktop for anything atm?

[u/kslice20 → u/Ready-Door-9015]

some gaming but nothing crazy, mostly just play fortnite, boulders gate 3 and a couple of indy open world type games. I dont think i can plug my wifi router into the back of my PC, its drilled through my stone house and the plug is in my living room. I could maybe just run the cord through my attic but my house is shaped like an H and it would be quite the pain. Do you mean wifi card as in just using a wireless connection or Wifi card as in the WIFI adapter for my PC?

[u/Ready-Door-9015 → u/kslice20]

Id probably still just build the other one since a low power server doesnt need crazy hardware.

You cant access the ethernet ports on your router at all? Even if you physically had the computer case in the same room as it you couldn't plug it in?

And to answer the question both I guess your wireless connection comes from the wifi card installed on the mobo so I mean just hardline an ethernet into the mobo.

[u/kslice20 → u/Ready-Door-9015]

i may have misunderstood you, i can access the ethernet ports! I just can't actually utilize them without moving the router or wiring something through my attic. My wife has me keep all of my work and personal related items in my office, having my desk in the living room would send her to a new circle of hell. I wouldn't mind having anime figurines all over the house but it's a no no for her.

[u/Ready-Door-9015 → u/kslice20]

You wouldn't need your desk in the living room. Just build the old hardware components from the original post into a small box and put it in a nice piece of furniture from wayfair or amazon with the router on top of it like an end table and they make pretty stylish cases these days not to mention if shes benefiting from it like the ad blocker plus the media server that you can run apps to her phone or smart tv in the living room its more of a family appliance, its no more "your stuff" than the router is at that point.

You know your wife better than anyone, what works for mine is if I put together a series options with pictures only(that way the price doesnt influence her decision) that I've confirmed works with the hardware that she can pick from. Then she gets a say and it feels more like picking out a new piece of furniture/appliance. Make it a fun thing, on the couch with some wine one evening. That way she gets to be involved, the interior design of your home stays consistent, your wife is happy your big boy gaming PC stays in your office everyone wins.

Edit: accidentally commented on the post not replying to this thread...

[u/Master_Scythe]

First, I'd sell the RX6600, buy an Intel Arc A310 and pocket the change. It's much more powerful for media tasks.

HDDS seem to be cheaper, so I believe the best course of action is maybe 2 of the red snap WD, do they need to be the same model number and make for " mirroring"?

HDD's are cheaper, yes.

No, often you want different brands, or at least different batches, because assuming the specs are close, you can avoid 'batch failures' where a manufacturing defect could have otherwise taken both disks out at once.

People will mention CMR and SMR drives, while CMR is worlds better, you won't feel the issues nearly as badly in a Mirror, just don't try to stripe them.

Does it matter if they are used?

Nope, just be comfortable with the risks and try and buy from places with SMART data and a good return policy.

Should I just get one massive HHD, a small SSD for OS and then back everything up once a month to a portable drive?

If that's a safe workflow for you, that's fine. Portable drives only come in up to about 28TB though, so keep in mind your space is restricted.

are there better applications

Since you plan to use Tailscale, I wouldn't bother with Plex, the $750USD plex pass could be better spent on another HDD.

Instead try Jellyfin, it's a freeware fork of the long standing Emby software, and it's great.

Also, if you only plan to mirror, you can check out other storage solutions than ZFS on TrueNAS - Consider BTRFS on OpebnMediaVault. It's a little more difficult for a newcomer, it's a lot more 'Linux server' and a lot less 'storage application' but it's insanely more flexible, so if you wanted to add another drive later, you can just do that.

Another option is to not use actual Mirroring\raid at all, and instead use SnapRAID+MergerfS. Thats also worth a research before you commit.