Need help with Storage configuration

[adv287]

I am planning to setup up a proxmox server for home use and planning to repurpose an existing desktop computer. I will be using it for Unifi Controller, Pi-Hole, a Ubuntu Server for application development/home automation servers and/or a win 10 installation on one of the VM (for times when i need to use windows sometimes). I am also planning to run a NAS on the proxmox if its feasible after configuring the above. Currently, I have a Synology 2 bay NAS with 2 4 TB HDDs installed.

The current hardware configuration is below:

* Intel i7-6700 (4 Core) processor
* 64 GB RAM (DDR4 2133 MHz Non-ECC)
* 2 M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 and 6 SATA3 storage options available

I am new to Proxmox so wanted to know what storage configuration I should look for in order to purchase the drives. Also what are my options to setup a replacement for my Synology NAS on the proxmox server.

I am not planning to upgrade the CPU/Mother at this point unless its absolutely necessary. Trying to start with the existing hardware and gradually upgrade based on my learning.

 

[Dunuin]

I am planning to setup up a proxmox server for home use and planning to repurpose an existing desktop computer. I will be using it for Unifi Controller, Pi-Hole, a Ubuntu Server for application development/home automation servers and/or a win 10 installation on one of the VM (for times when i need to use windows sometimes). I am also planning to run a NAS on the proxmox if its feasible after configuring the above. Currently, I have a Synology 2 bay NAS with 2 4 TB HDDs installed.

The current hardware configuration is below:

* Intel i7-6700 (4 Core) processor
* 64 GB RAM (DDR4 2133 MHz Non-ECC)
* 2 M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 and 6 SATA3 storage options available

I am new to Proxmox so wanted to know what storage configuration I should look for in order to purchase the drives. Also what are my options to setup a replacement for my Synology NAS on the proxmox server.

I am not planning to upgrade the CPU/Mother at this point unless its absolutely necessary. Trying to start with the existing hardware and gradually upgrade based on my learning.

If you want your data to be save I would use a ZFS raid so you can't loose data to bit rot. ZFS will checksum all data and verify it regularily and can heal itself if it finds corrupted data. And you got compression on block level, dedullication and so on.
But for ZFS enterprise hardware is highly recommended. Especially ECC RAM, CMR HDDs and enterprise grade SSDs with alot of TBW and powerloss protection. Abd ut needs alot of RAM.
So that might not be the best solution if you want to use your old consumer drives.

 

[adv287]

If you want your data to be save I would use a ZFS raid so you can't loose data to bit rot. ZFS will checksum all data and verify it regularily and can heal itself if it finds corrupted data. And you got compression on block level, dedullication and so on.
But for ZFS enterprise hardware is highly recommended. Especially ECC RAM, CMR HDDs and enterprise grade SSDs with alot of TBW and powerloss protection. Abd ut needs alot of RAM.
So that might not be the best solution if you want to use your old consumer drives.

Thanks Denuin for the response. So, the ZFS raid is needed only if I decide to implement a NAS or it would be needed for general virtualization as well. In case of former I can continue using my Synology NAS for now and decide to migrate it to Proxmox once I am comfortable investing in enterprise grade hardware. In case of latter do you have any recommendation for proxmox alternative which would run on the hardware I currently have. Please keep in mind my questions are specific to a home use perspective where the maximum traffic this virtualization server would see will be on the home automation server.

 

[Dunuin]

Thanks Denuin for the response. So, the ZFS raid is needed only if I decide to implement a NAS or it would be needed for general virtualization as well. In case of former I can continue using my Synology NAS for now and decide to migrate it to Proxmox once I am comfortable investing in enterprise grade hardware. In case of latter do you have any recommendation for proxmox alternative which would run on the hardware I currently have. Please keep in mind my questions are specific to a home use perspective where the maximum traffic this virtualization server would see will be on the home automation server.

You dont need ZFS. Proxmox and a NAS VM will work fine without it. You could for example use LVM thin for both instead.
Your data (NAS and VMs) just wont be that safe. Data will corrupt over time but without a filesystem that scans for such corruptions you most of the time just didn't notice it. This is always happening on all your Mac, Windows, Android machines. Google for "bit rot" to better understand what I mean and decide if you want to care for such things or not.