Any reason why I shouldn't do this?

[genegeney]

Hi folks,

I've just purchased a PowerEdge R730XD for a home lab and intend to run Proxmox on it. Just wanting to sanity check this approach please.

I intend to install Proxmox on a USB SSD which will also be used as storage for a TrueNAS VM. This TrueNAS VM will have my HBA adapter passed through to it so that it can access the 24 X 1.2TB SAS drives directly. I then intend to use either iSCSI or NFS (most likely NFS v4) for Proxmox VM/Container storage.

Will that work without issue? I'll provide a separate bridge for the Proxmox host and TrueNAS to communicate over - avoiding this NFS traffic going over my physical network.

Thanks in advance!

 

[alexskysilk]

I intend to install Proxmox on a USB SSD which will also be used as storage for a TrueNAS VM.

No.

Just no.

Do NOT use USB for any permanent storage UNLESS its backup. Given your stated usecase (use the whole box for Trunas, why do you intend to use proxmox at all?

 

[genegeney]

Hey - thanks for the reply. It'll only be the TrueNAS VM running on the USB SSD - no data will be on there. Worst case scenario, of a disk failure, I just reinstall Proxmox and TrueNAS and job done.

I tried TrueNAS scale, instead of Proxmox, but experienced bugs and couldn't get on with the Kubernetes implementation. I prefer to have a proper hypervisor on which I can run my own Docker VM.

 

[sb-jw]

The R730xd usually has two rear cages, why don't you just use them for the OS?

Are you aware that you are creating a nice chicken and egg problem for yourself? I would never create a VM that provides the storage for the VMs for the same hypervisor - that can only end in failure.

Basically, you are of course free to do what you want, but have you thought about what currency you will use to pay if the USB disk fails? Either you pay with money and do it properly once or you pay later with time to fix it again. Personally, I have now stopped trying to save 100 EUR because it is simply not worth the wasted time and nerves. Even if it's just a test system, you still have to straighten it out.
I would rather invest the time I have gained in my daughter and spend time with her, so I have a happy child, give her a wonderful childhood and enjoy her joy. I don't know your circumstances, but have you thought about the money/time ratio and what your hour could possibly be worth? Maybe your hour is significantly more valuable to others than it is to you. And the problem here can be solved with a few euros. If in doubt, do without 2 disks for your TrueNAS VM.

 

[TimRyan]

From what I can see the R730XD has the same sort of PERC BBU SAS controller as my stack of R710's have and they run very well so lung as the PERC Batteries are functional and that server probably has an iDRAC 6 remote admin station as well that will allow external monitoring of all the critical functionality. This will allow you to do anything you want with the VM's after the PVE 8.1.4 build

 

[genegeney]

The R730xd usually has two rear cages, why don't you just use them for the OS?

Are you aware that you are creating a nice chicken and egg problem for yourself? I would never create a VM that provides the storage for the VMs for the same hypervisor - that can only end in failure.

Basically, you are of course free to do what you want, but have you thought about what currency you will use to pay if the USB disk fails? Either you pay with money and do it properly once or you pay later with time to fix it again. Personally, I have now stopped trying to save 100 EUR because it is simply not worth the wasted time and nerves. Even if it's just a test system, you still have to straighten it out.
I would rather invest the time I have gained in my daughter and spend time with her, so I have a happy child, give her a wonderful childhood and enjoy her joy. I don't know your circumstances, but have you thought about the money/time ratio and what your hour could possibly be worth? Maybe your hour is significantly more valuable to others than it is to you. And the problem here can be solved with a few euros. If in doubt, do without 2 disks for your TrueNAS VM.

Thank you. Yup, I'm aware - hence coming here to seek counsel and guidance. For TrueNAS, I'm told that I need to passthrough the whole HBA controller which means all disks will be passed through - none available for running the OS.

 

[alexskysilk]

From what I can see the R730XD has the same sort of PERC BBU SAS controller as my stack of R710's

R730 has H730s or H330s. unlike the h700 in your R710s, these can work in passthrough mode and dont require a battery.