Hello, I managed to get my hands on a second hand Proliant HPE server that I want to turn into a media server for myself (possibly family too).

I also have a bunch of drivers lying around in all different sizes. I want a good balance of security, backup and flexibility for the future. So hear my plan out:

  • Running Ubuntu server LTS on SAS 600gb disks (now it’s in raid5 array with 3 identical disks but I probably want to change that and take out some disks from it for my data)
  • hardware raid 0 on the various single disks (with HPE smart array)
  • mergerfs and snapraid for a “raid” and backup (I read some information about it and I think for my use is the best option)
  • Headscale VPN (basically Foss tailscale implementation) for remote connection and mesh network
  • Docker with all apps

I’m no expert on servers or RAIDs or HPE. What do you think? I’m mostly worried about the hardware raid 0 + Snapraid, is it doable?

  • Eggymatrix@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    35·
    3 days ago

    I used to have a boss that said that there are two types of IT admins, those that used hardware raid once and will never again, and those that haven’t lost any data to it yet.

    • HeyJoe@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      3 days ago

      Thankfully, we never lost data, but we have had the controller die a few times through the years on a few servers before. Thankfully we had great support and the part was same day delivered to us to replace and the 2nd time was a Dell server which we also get the part same day and a tech to come replace it for us.

      We avoided buying servers with this going forward. At this point, we really only have VM’s and only a handful of physical servers anymore, so it’s not even a concern.

      • TechyTochy@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
        4·
        3 days ago

        I read online that the controller failure is a thing and not that uncommon. I really don’t want to rely on HP hardware tbh.

        • bluGill@fedia.io
          12·
          3 days ago

          Parts fail all the time. The problem with hardware raid is you need a compatible controller or none of the data can be read even though it is still on the physical disks. Computer hardware is often only made for a few months before there is a new model and so you are risking that the manufacture really made the new model work with what you have. That is assuming the manufacture doesn’t go out of business which could happen without warning. \

          Also, if hardware breaks that is often a good excuse to replace it - odds are better hardware is available for the same price and sometimes a lot less $ - with hardware raid you are stuck paying whatever price they charge.

          • TechyTochy@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
            3·
            3 days ago

            Got it, thanks! Yes for my personal use I rather not rely on HP hardware at all and disable the whole raid thing entirely.

      • nitrolife@rekabu.ruEnglish
        6·
        3 days ago

        It all depends on the greed of the campaign. I worked in a campaign where it was considered normal to keep a degraded raid without repair. Of course, data loss is a normal story in such companies. The raid guarantees data security only when one disk is being pulled (except for some raids), so it also needs to be monitored and replaced. On the other hand, with proper operation, you probably won’t lose any data.

        P.S. RAID0 - raid that can’t be restored when degraded any disk in RAID. This is exactly worse choice for data save. STRIPE also writes blocks one at a time to the first disk and to the second, so that you would definitely lose exactly 50% of data blocks. Best choice raid10 for performance and raid5 if you need save money.