Re: [gentoo-user] Rasp-Pi-4 Gentoo servers

[Michael]

On Friday, 28 February 2020 05:07:07 GMT james wrote:
> On 2/27/20 9:53 PM, Dale wrote:
> > james wrote:
> >> 5G + gentoo + embedded toys, is going to be FUN FUN FUN.
> >>
> >>
> >> Then I'll be off to other states, via a hacked out Redneck
> >> camper...... and too many microProcessors....
> >>
> >>
> >> Thanks Rich, your insights and comments are always most welcome.
> >>
> >>
> >> James
> >
> > Off topic a bit but a question.� Would one of these Rasp-Pi-4 thingys
> > make a NAS hard drive server?
>
> Sure, but, there may be a better solution, something all ready out there
> and it really depends on refining your needs, current and in the future.
> So lets refine your specifications (centric to your needs + growth) and
> figure out what and how much you need. Then we can survey the
> embedded-thingies, that meet your specs, with a bit of room for growth, OK?
>
> >I have a Cooler Master HAF-932 case
>
> Wow, that's big. What the number and capacity (TB) of
> your existing hard-drives?
>
> How much more storage do you want?  Replacing drives with larger
> capacity, might be all you need to do?
>
> > but
> > even it is running out of hard drive space.� I'm thinking about building
> > a NAS box, taking sheet metal and bending it until it looks like a box.
>
> OK, so we first spec out options, then let you decide. Then you  can
> 'bargain shop' for appropriate housing/rack/open chassis, etc.
>
> > Thing is, it needs a small puter to take data from the drives to the
> > network and vice-versa.
>
> embedded are not only small, they can have extended temperature ranges
> of tolerance, use drastically less power and many other features. If
> it's purposed hardware, that is only a few things todo, then yes
> embedded uP (abbrev for microProcessor) are the way to go. Running off
> of 12VDC, means an old car battery and a connection to your solar panels
> (assuming you have those) and it's zero on your electric bill. There is
> usually a vast array of tax and other incentives, particularly with
> solar in Ag businesses.
>
> > I've never even seen one of those things, except on my monitor, so I
> > have no idea what all they are capable of.
>
> Dale, you are pretty strong with Gentoo Linux, so putting a stripped,
> purposed, minimized gentoo derivative stack, with far less ebuilds, to
> work for your operations, is going to be quite fun. On a farm or ranch,
> there are a myriad of things you can do with embedded boards and
> gentoo-stripped. You can replace many of those expensive (vendor)
> systems with embedded boards +sensors +controls codes and lots of wires
> to do most anything. Let's focus on your NAS for now.
>
> > I figure a lot of SATA connectors and a ethernet connection
> > plus enough CPU power and memory to  get the job done.
>
> SATA, was great years ago. Still it makes sense to use, if you already
> have them. Storage going forward is the process of faster and cheaper
> and leaving SATA behind, like ide. Still useful, but a power hog. So
> we'll start out with interfacing your existing SATA drives to the
> embedded board, and look/decide on options for newer Solid State Data
> storage options.
>
>
>  � https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
>
> You might not even need many sata ports. usb3 and the upcoming usb4 have
> tons of bandwidth (date/time). Mechanical Hard drives are on the way
> out. Too expensive and failure prone. SSd and other types of storage,
> might be right for you, or a mixture. USB stick memory
> can be huge, very low power draw and very inexpensive.
>
> A hybrid of several types of memory storage may be useful to experiment
> with. You may want to categorize your long term storage: some accessed
> often, others maybe once a year?
>
>
> For data storage, long term important stuff, you should employ RAID
> (1-10). We can get into that later, duplication of important data, via
> backups or extra storage is a good idea too. Backups are an old
> technology, but may help, but backups do can get old too and fragmented.
> For now, lets not worry so much about long term bit integrity, but focus
> on your next FUN gentoo rig. I'm hoping other join in to so you have
> more than my prospective on your solution.
>
> > If those things are capable of doing that fairly
> > easily.� After all, I'm me.� :/
>
> OK, so let's survey some system, you can just purchase
> with gentoo preinstalled, or a very easy pathway to embedded gentoo.
> Let's look at a few, have some of the other guys jump in, and find you a
> solution, to start with. Most will be expandable, and you can figure out
> the casing, mounting, power and such.
>
> At this stage, it mostly a research effort and then deciding your
> features/price.  If you do not have massive bandwitdh requirements, I'm
> sure we can find you
> a very cost effective, DC powered  solution.
>
> Just so you know, I use that fancy $300 OPtima 12vdc charger, and Optima
> batteries. the charger reconditions most batteries, if they are not
> beyond saving, even cheap lead-acid batteries. Every Farmer should have
> one, imho. The Digital 1200 is just awesome.
>
> https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/battery-charger
>
> If you like, you can read up on blue, red and yellow top versions and
> their intended duty-cycle.
>
> Take some time and look at these gentoo embedded boards, before we
> diverge to other offerings:
>
> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Embedded_systems/ARM_hardware_list
>
>
> https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/
>
> > Just curious.
> > Dale
> >
> > :-)� :-)
>
> Dale, embedded gentoo is about the most fun thing you'll ever do. A
> hardware guy like yourself, that is already an accomplish part of the
> great gentoo community, dude,
> your going to have a lot of fun, and save money on that farm. So let's
> get started!
>
> Post back and I, or others, will try to answer your questions. Be
> specific about what you do currently and where you want to end up.
>
> Just so you know, imho, (2) of the finest humans and accomplished Gentoo
> devs are listed in gentoo-embedded.
> Actually, all the members are just totally awesome humans, so you, my
> friend, are in for the ride of a lifetime!
>
>
> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:Embedded
>
>
> https://developer.arm.com/tools-and-software/open-source-software/developer-> tools/gnu-toolchain/gnu-rm
>
> More boards to look at (the features).
>
> https://www.embeddedarm.com/products/category/single-board-computers
>
> https://freaklabs.org/chibiarduino/
>
> https://www.reddit.com/r/Gentoo/comments/7oxoln/question_about_gentoo_on_ras
> pberry_pi/

Since we're talking about a home NAS and since Dale's always running his PC 
24-7, the incremental cost of hanging a few more controllers/drives off it and 
using it as a NAS on top of its daily duties, may be the quickest/easiest/most 
cost effective approach.