The original post: /r/datahoarder by /u/DrTallFuck on 2024-10-02 04:30:53.
I am currently looking to expand my storage and was hoping for some advice on the best option for my current situation.
My current setup is a Minisforum UN1245 mini PC running Windows 11 with a MediaSonic 4 bay ProBox DAS with 4 x 12TB HDD. I have been using Snapraid for parity and the 3 data disks are getting full. My end goal is to get a small rack server once I move into a house in about 6 months, but until then I am sticking with the mini PC.
I am still relatively new to the whole data header/self hosting space and I am learning as I go. This mini PC has been great but unfortunately does not have a spare PCI port so I'll be limited long term to only USB attached storage (or a NAS, but I won't be messing with that until I can set up my home network on a house). I am planning to switch to Proxmox soon and running a Windows VM and then containers for other services. When I get the rack running I will likely get a disk shelf to directly attach to the server but for now I need more room in my current setup.
My question is would it be better to get an 8 bay DAS enclosure so I can add more disks, or would tit be just as good (or better) to run a 2nd 4 bay DAS alongside the ProBox I already have? I will likely start with adding 2 more disks when I expand (1 more data and 1 for parity to get to dual parity) and then have the option for 2 more data disks as needed. I am leaning towards just adding another 4 bay since I already have one that has been good to me for the past few months but I don't have enough experience to know if having 2 enclosures would be detrimental compared to having all disks in a single enclosure.
I also figure that once I eventually move to a rack server, I can use the mini PC and the DAS enclosure(s) as either a NAS with trueNAS or as a Proxmox backup server. That is a bridge that I will cross when the time comes.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!