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July 25th, 2022 09:00
Dell PowerVault NAS Solution
My goal is to create a NAS server for my home that I can back up everything to and then back up to the cloud. I know there are pre made NAS solutions but I want to build my own. Right now I'm looking at the PowerVaults, but Im new to the mass storage servers. The Red drives from WD also look like a nice option to fill it with once I get a chassis. Are there any better options out there, want to keep it sub $500 USD.
Just realized that the PowerVault was DAS, Im looking for more of a iSCSI type of server.
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DELL-Joey C
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July 25th, 2022 22:00
Hi @zekgrafic,
From Dell social support perspective, WD Red drives aren't certified drives for Dell PowerVaults. I won't say it may not work, but it's not verified by engineering, hence, you may get known errors and issues due to compatibility.
If you're looking at NAS, probably you can do research on PowerVault MD series. Here's the MD series support protocols: https://dell.to/3PZgupD. The guide also has a page on disk compatibility.
DennisatDell
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August 10th, 2022 13:00
As a note: iSCSI is not NAS. NAS allows multiple people/computers to simultaneously access the same files (on a share (which is why it's called a share)).
iSCSI is a block level storage protocol and you present a disk to a single computer that connects with the iSCSI protocol (usually software driven, but there are hardware iSCSI adapters). iSCSI disks can be shared in specific types of setups like clustered servers (e.g. Microsoft Clustering) or cluster aware file systems. The big take-away from this is that you should never share an iSCSI disk between multiple computers unless you understand the impact of this.
Then for using WD Red drives on a PowerVault SAN (like the MD or ME series); it is pretty much guaranteed not to work. Only Dell branded Enterprise grade drives (Dell firmware on them, and therefor typically also a big label specifically saying it is a Dell Certified Enterprise drive) from the MD or ME compatibility matrix will work.
If you want to build a NAS with older Dell equipment, you could consider an older Dell PowerEdge server. I'd suggest something with an H-series raid or SAS controller and not a PERC6 or PERC5, as these last two don't support drives over 2TB.