An Old Computer Turns Into A FreeNAS Device Part 2

This was the Keykeeper's old computer. It had been sitting since 2005 when he got a newer one (a Deskpro EN, not that you were wondering or surprised to hear that). I held onto it, waiting for the perfect project. And finally it came--this computer has now become a FreeNAS device providing "Time Capsule" services to Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.5.

This part talks about the software configuration and demonstrates how it works as a "Time Capsule" workalike.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• computer
• FreeNAS
• 07.RC2
• HP
• Vectra
• VA
• Series
• 6/200
• reuse
• useful
• diy

[pr3ban]

Nice. I've got an old HP Kayak XU that I'd like to repurpose as a FreeNAS for vm storage. The only thing that bothers me is that the slots for the SATARAID are all PCI, not PCI-e. Have you tried running any vm's in your config?

[uxwbill]

@pr3ban While I do have virtual machines (longtime VMware Workstation user here, though several versions behind current), they are stored on a second local hard drive in the computer where I use VMware. The NAS holds backups and other "idle" data, so its speed is not a big issue.

[OakBluff55]

Very cool! Have you looked at any power saving options? For example, can you spin down the hard disk when not in use for a long period of time?

[uxwbill]

@OakBluff55 Yes. The disks spin down after some period of inactivity. I do not recall where the timeout is set, only that there is one.

[bernatk]

Srsly very cool project. I have never seen SATA cards on this part of the world.

I have an old P166 and windows me on it. Only 6.5G hdd. I've been thinking about a long time how I can reuse it lol. This NAS project looks very promising.

[uxwbill]

@bernatk Odd...I'd have thought that the SATA expansion cards were common just about everywhere computers are sold. You have more than enough disk in that system to start and run FreeNAS. However, you may need more RAM. The latest builds are said to require a minimum of 256MB installed RAM.

[padix900]

that's nice! you should try to make a computer that cleans up the mess in your kitchen

[OmegaM41]

I see you're calling it "The Dump of Time." Very nice!

[geo58impala]

Wow thats a lot of optical drives! you could play a ton of cd-rom computer games at one time with that thing!. LOL

[drewyah100]

why so many cd drives?

[ralfytm]

About the flash card, have you think using a 4 gb memory stick and a cable from IDE to USB. I think it will work, i also have hobby with pc.

PS: keep up the videos, i like them :)

[PompousPreacher]

Your old computer has to at LEAST have an i7 core processor and 192 GBs of RAM. As we all know, at least humans who actually matter, those computers have long been obsolete and if you're a filthy peasant liberal who's still using one of those computers and your old PC doesn't have AT LEAST those specifications, you can't use it as a FreeNAS.

[HoneycombAgent]

What's with all those CD-ROM drives?

[boomndrum]

Awsome setup!!