💾СОБРАЛ NAS НА TrueNAS💽 НЕ ПОНИМАЮ, КАК ЖИЛ БЕЗ НЕГО САМОДЕЛЬНОЕ ХРАНИЛИЩЕ ЭТО ПРОСТО

Summary

In this video, the creator explores the process of transforming a budget mini-PC into a functional file storage system. After discovering limitations with the computer's USB-C port and external GPU connectivity, the creator pivots to building a robust storage solution using SATA adapters and step-down converters. Despite setbacks, including a disk failure that delayed progress, the creator perseveres and optimizes the setup with a Truenas-based system, achieving fast data transfer speeds and reliable storage. The video showcases DIY hardware hacks, troubleshooting, and the eventual success of the project.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video introduces an affordable mini-computer purchased from AliExpress and demonstrates its disassembly to examine the Intel 100 processor.
• 😀 The goal of the project was to connect the mini-PC to an external GPU docking station via USB-C and test gaming performance, but the USB-C port turned out to be only for power, not data transfer.
• 😀 The mini-PC was repurposed as a file storage system after discovering the USB ports couldn’t support even four SATA drives without an external power source.
• 😀 The presenter faced setbacks, including the failure of a hard drive containing important source files, but this was used as motivation to complete the file storage project.
• 😀 A critical part of the project was ensuring proper power supply, which required installing step-down converters to reduce voltage from 28V to 12V (for the computer) and 5V (for the drives).
• 😀 The power setup was designed to be safe and efficient, utilizing a single cable for both power and data transfer to ensure the storage system could operate 24/7.
• 😀 The video explains the use of inexpensive 5Gbps network adapters to provide adequate speed for the file storage system, which can transfer data up to 625MB per second.
• 😀 The final file storage system was tested with real-world scenarios, including copying an 11GB file, achieving impressive speeds of up to 425MB/s.
• 😀 The storage system runs on TruNAS, an operating system designed for servers and network storage devices, offering a user-friendly web interface for disk management and network access.
• 😀 The video also demonstrates how the TruNAS interface allows for data protection, storage management, and the ability to create mirrored or striped arrays to increase redundancy or speed.
• 😀 The narrator encourages viewers to explore sales events like 'Profit Hour' on AliExpress for discounts on various tech gadgets and items featured in the video.

Q & A

What was the goal of the initial video involving the mini-PC?

The goal was to connect the mini-PC to an external GPU docking station via USB-C and test it in gaming scenarios. However, it was later revealed that the USB-C port was not capable of data transfer, only power.

Why couldn't the mini-PC connect to the monitor via USB-C?

The USB-C port on the mini-PC was not a data port but merely a power connector. This was a marketing ploy to make the device look modern, but it lacked the necessary data transfer functionality.

How did the creator decide to repurpose the mini-PC after the USB-C limitation was discovered?

The creator decided to repurpose the mini-PC as a file storage system by using a SATA adapter that connects via M2, giving access to PCIe ports and enabling multiple SATA ports for storage.

What issue did the creator encounter with the USB ports on the mini-PC?

The built-in USB ports on the mini-PC were not capable of delivering enough power to operate even four SATA drives, which led to the need for an external power source.

How did the creator solve the power supply problem for the file storage system?

The creator solved the power supply problem by using a USB-C connector with a 28V trigger, followed by two step-down converters—one to power the mini-PC at 12V and another to power the drives at 5V with 10A current.

Why did the creator abandon the idea of using two separate power supplies inside the case?

The creator abandoned this idea due to safety concerns. Bringing 220V power inside the small case along with laboratory electronics could risk electrical breakdowns, which would result in losing both the data and the hardware.

What temporary solution did the creator use for the power supply while waiting for the step-down converters?

The creator used a powerful handheld device as a temporary power source for the file storage system, while waiting for the step-down converters to arrive.

How did the mini-PC perform in terms of network and storage speed?

The mini-PC, with its USB 3.2 first-generation ports, was capable of a network speed of up to 3.4 Gbps, resulting in a file transfer rate of about 425 MB/s, which was sufficient given the budget and the storage drives’ maximum speed.

What operating system is used for the file storage system?

The file storage system runs on TrueNAS, an operating system designed for servers and network storage devices, which provides a user-friendly web interface for managing disks and network access.

What is the significance of using a mirrored array for storage in the file system?

A mirrored array (similar to RAID 1) writes data to two disks simultaneously for redundancy. This ensures that if one disk fails, the system can continue operating normally by using the other disk, and the failed disk can be replaced without data loss.