Exploring the evolution of a TrueNAS server setup with practical insights on hardware and upgrades
If you’re into home servers or small business storage, you know how satisfying (and sometimes frustrating) it can be to get your TrueNAS server build just right. After tinkering with my server setup through four major versions over the last 12 years, I’ve picked up some worthwhile tips and insight that I want to share. So grab a cup of coffee, and let me take you through this evolving journey of a TrueNAS server build.
Starting Small: The Early Days
The original setup was pretty modest — a dual Xeon Dell desktop equipped with just four 2TB drives. It felt like a solid start, but soon I faced the classic challenge: balancing storage capacity, performance, and noise. If you want a similar starting point, Dell workstations often provide good reliability for DIY NAS projects, and they’re quite popular in the TrueNAS community Dell Workstation Power.
Leveling Up: More Drive Bays, More Power
The next iteration involves a Dell R620 with two disk shelves housing a total of thirty-two 2TB drives. That’s a big step up! Running so many drives brought about some serious noise and power consumption concerns, as well as maintaining that system in a dual AMD Opteron version with the same disk shelves.
While powerful, these disk shelves tend to be loud and heavy on electricity, so here’s a pro tip: If you want to keep these kinds of shelves, consider running them only occasionally (like monthly backups) to save on power and noise.
The Current Build: A Quieter, More Efficient Server
Fast forward to today — the fourth major build and it’s my favorite so far. I finally settled on an X79-based system with a Rosewill 4U chassis, capable of holding up to 15 3.5-inch drives. My configuration currently has twelve 4TB spinning drives and two disk shelves packed with 32x 4TB drives that I keep mainly for backup only.
Key components include:
– Asus X79-Deluxe motherboard
– Intel Xeon E5-2650L V2 1.70GHz 10-Core CPU
– 64GB DDR3 RAM
– Intel dual 10Gb SFP+ networking for fast data transfer
– LSI 9201-16i 6Gbps 16-lane SAS HBA in IT mode
– Intel SSD DC P3600 Series 1.6TB NVMe PCIe card for caching
– Samsung Evo 850 500GB boot drive
– A quiet 700-watt ATX power supply
Not the newest hardware by any means, but it’s quieter and more energy-efficient than my previous dual disk shelf setups. Plus, I only spent about $250 on this whole system, which is a steal in my book.
Why Bother Rebuilding?
Each rebuild taught me something new — about balancing noise, power consumption, heat output, and performance. If you’re thinking about your own TrueNAS server build, here are some takeaways:
- Size matters: More drives mean more noise and power, so think about how often you really need them running.
- Old isn’t always bad: Selecting quality older hardware can save money without compromising too much performance.
- Invest in networking: Faster network cards like 10Gb SFP+ can make a world of difference in data access speed.
- Reliable backups are a must: Keeping backup disk shelves off most of the time can save energy and extend their lifespan.
For extra peace of mind, I scored an APC SMT3000RM2U UPS with new batteries to protect the setup from power issues — found it for free, which was a great bonus. Plus, using a UPS with battery backups is recommended for any serious server to prevent data loss during power outages APC UPS Info.
Wrapping It Up
Building and upgrading a TrueNAS server isn’t just about flashy specs. It’s about finding a setup that fits your needs, budget, and space while staying practical. Whether you’re starting small or scaling up, there’s always something to learn — and if you’re patient enough, you can get a reliable, quiet, and efficient NAS solution that serves you well for years.
If you’re considering your own TrueNAS server project, check out the official TrueNAS documentation for best practices and hardware recommendations TrueNAS Official Docs.
And remember, there’s no one right way — just the way that works best for you and your setup.