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Using Up² as a micro file server
Hadmut Danisch
New Member Posts: 16
One thing I was planning to use an Up² for is a micro file server, i.e. put it in a case together with an SSD and three 2.5 inch hard disks with 4TB each, to get a cached 8TB redundant ZFS file system.
Originally I thought I'd have two problems, but both are gone:
- I've bought a mini pcie board with two SATA ports , which just fits into the slot, but i was afraid that this could be too unfirm, since the Up² has only one mounting hole on the right side, while the board has the SATA ports on the left side, but I was happy to see that the hole has moved to the left on the board I got. I nevertheless would favour for two holes if at all possible.
- I was disappointed about the mSATA port beeing too short for an SSD (needed as a cache). But I just found a half size mSATA SSD, which should fit.
So both problems are gone, all I still need to find is a suitable power supply and some case design (maybe for 3D-Printer) for one UP² and three fat 2.5 inch hard disks.
Originally I thought I'd have two problems, but both are gone:
- I've bought a mini pcie board with two SATA ports , which just fits into the slot, but i was afraid that this could be too unfirm, since the Up² has only one mounting hole on the right side, while the board has the SATA ports on the left side, but I was happy to see that the hole has moved to the left on the board I got. I nevertheless would favour for two holes if at all possible.
- I was disappointed about the mSATA port beeing too short for an SSD (needed as a cache). But I just found a half size mSATA SSD, which should fit.
So both problems are gone, all I still need to find is a suitable power supply and some case design (maybe for 3D-Printer) for one UP² and three fat 2.5 inch hard disks.
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can you please post which mini pcie board with two SATA ports did you use?
Thx
https://www.conrad.de/de/02-port-sata-iii-controllerkarte-mini-pcie-986896.html
but didn't test it yet. It's some china-made board that is sold under lots of different brand names and different prices, usually between 20 and 45 €. Google should help finding a dealer in your country. (be aware, it comes in two versions, one with standing and one with flat SATA plugs,
https://www.conrad.de/de/02-port-sata-iii-controllerkarte-mini-pcie-1195021.html
the flat ones probably not fitting the Up² since not enough space for the cables, maybe except with angled cables).
Someone mentioned a board with four sata ports, but I did not find that yet.
Someone mentioned somewhere here in the forum, that the M.2 port is not a full but an E-key port (whatever that means precisely) which would not take M.2 SSDs, so it would not work exactly as I had intended. But I'm not sure about this, since I thought an E-key would also include the PCIe, as described under
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/02/understanding-m-2-the-interface-that-will-speed-up-your-next-ssd/
and PCIe is to my knowledge, what SSDs require. Toshiba announced an M.2-2230 sized SSD, but I am really not sure whether this will work in an Up².
The flat 2 port sata adapter could work with the 90° angled cables.
Another solution would be a mPCIe to PCIe x1 Adapter + PCIe x1 riser cable. This would allow to use 4+ SATA / SAS ports via a PCIe x1 controller (starting at 20+ Euro). You just need a customized case to fit this.
Sadly they don't have a case ready. One could develop and print one with 2x 2.5" HDD slots.
http://www.iocrest.com/en/product_details564.html
I am also planning to use UP as file server. But plan to use usb3 to sata bridge like this one. They are cheaper than mpcie to 2 sata (and much more than 4 sata). Speed should be the same as through Up Squared mpcie (it is rev 2 mpcie - 5Gbit/s)
I am also considering more expensive sollution: sata multiplier but not sure if it will work with UP Squared. It only require easy to get sata to esata cable. With this I should get full 6Gbit/s sata spead and free mpcie slot.
after investigating other options I decided to use integrated SATA port and two USB3 to SATA bridges.
Now I have three connected 2.5" SATA drives. I will test their performance tomorrow.
a user said: "For mPCI-e, you can choose any full size mSATA in the market"
Can someone confirm if an msata SSD like Samsung EVO 850 mSATA can fit to and work with the up squared?
My mistake. I meant M.2, not mSATA.
The M.2 slot is a 2230, too short for common M.2 and not equipped with all connectors, since an E-Key slot.
Toshiba has recently announced an M.2 2230 SSD: https://www.golem.de/news/m-2-2230-toshiba-zeigt-weltweit-kleinste-nvme-ssd-1508-115730.html
(but I wouldn't bet it makes it's way to the market, Toshiba was recently said to have sold it's ssd branch.)
When writing the article (probably too tired) I have confused mSATA and M.2.
Sorry for that.
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20170410083927&SearchText=IO-mPCE9215-4I
I never bought on aliexepress. Do people recommend it? I understand it depend a lot on the seller..
has anybody tried this or something similiar?
looks great and would be great to have this work for a small fileserver
ergo just thinking about maybe even expand with an external raid controller. hmmm need to look closer at this. does anybody already tought about that?
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Mini-PCI-E-PCI-Express-to-2-Port-SATA-3-0-III-6Gbps-Adapter-RAID-Controller/1495338_32708403249.html
The one you have mentioned: " 0+2 Port SATA III-Controllerkarte Mini-PCIe " - it's based on ASM1061 - without RAID support. Apart from RAID the difference I have found is that it supports Serial ATA Revision 3.0 whereas ASM1061R supports Serial ATA Revision 3.2 - whatever that means, but I can assume that it is better: )
https://www.amazon.de/BlueBeach®-Mini-PCI-E-Ports-Adapter-RAID-Controllerkarte/dp/B014MTCW9G/ref=pd_sbs_147_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3ZHKWM2PP7ER0S96FP7V
i could not get it to work yet. a blue led lights up on start if a sata drive is connected but the drive(s) don´t show up in bios or under debian. i´ll do more tests on the weekend.
had anybody else more luck with the above mentioned mini pcie to sata controllers?
combinded read: 122MB/s
combinded write: 97MB/s
Regards
Bartek