Tag Archives: Homelab

Building Your Own Storage System from Scratch and Why You Shouldn’t Do it.

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There are some incredibly well-built storage platforms, like TrueNAS SCALE, that allow you to take your own hardware and turn it into a complete, turn-key storage solution. These platforms remove the complexity of building a storage server manually. I use TrueNAS SCALE for all things storage in my homelab, and it’s great. But this got me thinking—could I build my own complete storage system myself? What would that even look like? Let’s find out!

Defining the Features of a DIY Storage Server

If I want to build a storage system that competes with solutions like TrueNAS SCALE, Unraid, or OpenMediaVault, it needs to have a solid feature set. Here’s what my storage server must include:

  • File Serving: Support for both SMB (Windows) and NFS (Linux/Unix).
  • Virtualization: Ability to run virtual machines (KVM/QEMU).
  • Containerization: Support for running containers (Podman/Docker alternative).
  • ZFS Support: Protection, snapshotting, and performance benefits.
  • Hardware Monitoring: Ability to view system temps and sensor data.
  • Web GUI: A graphical user interface for management.

Choosing the Operating System

For my project, I need a Linux-based operating system. I have always been a heavy Debian/Ubuntu user, so naturally, I chose Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS for its long-term support and security updates. While there are many Linux distributions available, Ubuntu has the right balance of stability and flexibility.

Installing Key Software Packages

Once the OS was installed, the next step was to install all the necessary software packages:

  • Samba (SMB support): apt install samba -y
  • NFS Server (NFS support): apt install nfs-kernel-server -y
  • Virtualization tools (KVM/QEMU): apt install qemu-kvm virt-manager libvirt-clients bridge-utils libvirt-daemon-system virtinst -y
  • Containerization (Podman): apt install podman -y
  • ZFS Utilities: apt install zfsutils-linux -y
  • Hardware Monitoring: apt install lm-sensors -y

To enable hardware monitoring, I ran sensors-detect and confirmed the configuration. Say ‘YES’ to every option until it completes.

Selecting a Web GUI for Management

A storage platform must be easy to manage. Instead of using CLI for everything, I explored two main web-based management tools:

  1. Cockpit: A lightweight, modular server management tool with a modern interface.
  2. Webmin: A powerful but older tool with support for more services but lacking ZFS integration.

Since my project relies on ZFS, I opted for Cockpit. I installed it with:
apt install cockpit -y
systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket

Installing Additional Cockpit Modules

To extend Cockpit’s functionality, I installed additional modules:

  • Cockpit Virtual Machines: apt install cockpit-machines -y
  • Cockpit Podman Containers: apt install cockpit-podman -y
  • Cockpit Diagnostic Reports: apt install cockpit-sosreport -y
  • 45Drives ZFS Manager:
    git clone https://github.com/45drives/cockpit-zfs-manager.git
    sudo cp -r cockpit-zfs-manager/zfs /usr/share/cockpit
  • 45Drives File Sharing:
    curl -sSL https://repo.45drives.com/setup | sudo bash
    apt update
    apt install cockpit-file-sharing -y
  • 45Drives Identities: apt install cockpit-identities -y
  • 45Drives Navigator: apt install cockpit-navigator -y
  • Cockpit Podman Module: apt install cockpit-podman -y
  • Cockpit LM-Sensors:
    wget https://github.com/ocristopfer/cockpit-sensors/releases/latest/download/cockpit-sensors.tar.xz && \
    tar -xf cockpit-sensors.tar.xz cockpit-sensors/dist && \
    mv cockpit-sensors/dist /usr/share/cockpit/sensors && \
    rm -r cockpit-sensors && \
    rm cockpit-sensors.tar.xz

Troubleshooting & Challenges

  • RAID1 for Boot Drive: Creating a software RAID1 for Ubuntu’s boot disk turned out to be far more difficult than expected.
  • Cockpit Software Updates Bug: The updates module failed with a Cannot refresh cache whilst offline error. The fix involved modifying the netplan configuration.
  • Container Issues: Updating Podman caused conflicts, requiring manual intervention.

Final Thoughts: Is a DIY Storage Server Worth It?

Building this system from scratch was a great learning experience, but it reinforced my appreciation for turn-key solutions like TrueNAS SCALE and Unraid. Here’s what I learned:

  1. Turn-key solutions exist for a reason. They save time and effort.
  2. GUI management is still fragmented. Even with Cockpit, a truly unified experience isn’t possible.
  3. Troubleshooting issues is time-consuming. Maintaining a DIY storage server requires constant attention.

Would I recommend doing this yourself? If you enjoy tinkering and learning, absolutely. But if you just want a reliable storage solution without the headaches, stick to a purpose-built storage OS.

Watch the Full Build Video!

If you want to see the entire journey, check out my YouTube channel 2GuysTek where I document the full setup and troubleshooting process!
What do you think? Have you built your own storage server? Let me know in the comments!

The Ultimate Storage Server Upgrade for 2025

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The Ultimate Storage Server Upgrade for 2025

If you’ve been following 2GuysTek for any length of time, you know how much I enjoy unique and interesting servers in my homelab. From my first dual-node Supermicro server to the quad-node setup, I’ve always sought out hardware that brings something special to the table. This year is no different, as I’ve kicked off 2025 with a significant upgrade to my storage server, SuperSAN. Enter the Supermicro SSG-6029P-E1CR24L—a beast of a machine with some serious hidden tricks up its sleeve.

First Impressions and Specs

At first glance, the server may not seem all that special. It’s a dual-socket Intel Xeon Gold 6130 system with 192GB of DDR4 ECC memory. But take a closer look, and you’ll find it has a secret weapon: 12 additional internal drive bays, bringing the total to 24 3.5″ bays in a 2U chassis. Add to that two 2.5″ SSD bays in the rear for OS storage, and you’ve got a truly unique setup.

I picked up this server on eBay for $1,100 shipped. For that price, you get a chassis loaded with features, two CPUs, and a generous amount of ECC memory. If you’re looking for a similar deal, you can find the listing here.

Why This Server?

There were a few key factors that made this server a must-have for my homelab:

  1. Massive Storage Capacity: 24 3.5″ drive bays in a 2U form factor.
  2. Modern Platform: Built on Intel’s Gen1 and Gen2 Scalable architecture.
  3. High-Speed Connectivity: Equipped with a Supermicro SIOM card featuring dual 25Gb SFP28 and dual 10Gb Base-T ports.
  4. Upgrade Potential: The Xeon Gold 6130 CPUs are great for storage duties, but there’s room for future CPU and RAM upgrades.

With my older SuperSAN running on 9-year-old Intel Xeon E5-2680v4 CPUs, this was the perfect time for an upgrade. The new server offers more storage capacity, improved performance, and modern connectivity options.

Design and Build

The Supermicro SSG-6029P-E1CR24L is deeper than your average 2U server, measuring 34 inches in length. It’s designed for standard 19” racks, but be sure your cabinet can accommodate its depth. Here’s a quick rundown of the hardware:

  • Front: 12 visible 3.5” drive bays.
  • Hidden: 12 internal 3.5” bays.
  • Rear: 2 hot-swap 2.5” SATA bays for OS drives.
  • Networking: Supermicro SIOM with dual 25Gb SFP28 and dual 10Gb Base-T.
  • Power: Dual Titanium 1600W PSUs (1000W at 120V).
  • Mainboard: Supermicro X11DSC+, based on the Intel C621 chipset.
  • CPUs: Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6130 (16 cores/32 threads each).
  • RAM: 192GB of DDR4-2666 ECC, expandable to 6TB.

The Challenge of Maintenance

Accessing the internals of this server is not for the faint of heart. The power distribution sits atop the mainboard, CPUs, and RAM, requiring the removal of PSUs, shrouds, airflow guides, and numerous power cables to reach the components. It took me about eight minutes—and several attempts—to fully expose the mainboard.

While this design ensures efficient power distribution and cooling, it’s not ideal for those who need frequent access to internal components. Consider this if you’re thinking about purchasing one of these systems.

Deployment Plans

This server will eventually replace SuperSAN as my primary storage system. Here’s the configuration plan:

  • Storage: 24 x 7.68TB SAS3 SSDs, yielding roughly 169TB of usable space.
  • OS Drives: 2 x 480GB Intel Datacenter SATA SSDs in a mirrored pair.

For those considering similar builds, note that the Supermicro caddies do not support 2.5″ drives out of the box. I used 3D-printed brackets to adapt my SSDs, saving significant costs. You can find the STL files here.

What’s Next?

Before deploying this server in production, I plan to test it extensively. While TrueNAS SCALE is the leading contender for the OS, I’m also considering building a custom solution using Debian or Ubuntu with Cockpit. If you have suggestions, drop them in the comments below!

And one last thing—this server needs a name! SuperSAN served me well, but it’s time for a new moniker. Got any ideas? Let me know!

Final Thoughts

The Supermicro SSG-6029P-E1CR24L is a fascinating piece of hardware. Its unique design, modern platform, and incredible storage capacity make it a standout choice for homelabbers and IT pros. While maintenance isn’t straightforward, the benefits far outweigh the challenges for those who love tinkering with enterprise-grade equipment.

If you’re interested in building your own version of this server, check out the links in the description. And don’t forget to subscribe to 2GuysTek for more homelab content!

Thanks for reading, and happy homelabbing!