The funny thing is that exact MikroTik switch amd playing with Winbox is what got me into networking. It has been a few years of me not really knowing what I was doing at all. I didn't even know there was such thing as managed switch. I ordered it to get 10GbE between my TrueNAS machine and some desktops. It has been a journey and I am going to pick up my first real enterprise gear tomorrow. I go pick up my first r720 tomorrow! I saved and waited for a deal and it is going to be a nice upgrade from the old AMD FX 8350 I was running as my server! I haven't been this excited since I was a kid at Xmas. I have been binging this channel to decide on how I set up my hypervisor and storage! Thank you for the content man!
What could've been a better design for that Phanteks hub would be for it to have two PWM inputs and have it default to the first one when both systems are on. When there's no signal on the first input, it would look for PWM on the second input then run the fans at max speed if it can't find anything. That would cover the bases for both single and dual system installations.
Great information; I am thinking about doing something similar. I have a desktop installed in a Phanteks Eclipse 600s and an Unraid server in an old tower case. Both systems are running 10Gb Ethernet via the same model Mikrotik switch that you used for your project. My laptop also connects to the 10Gb network via a Thunderbolt adapter. I think the only thing I would do differently from your example is that I would connect the two network cards directly, without a switch, unless I had a need to have additional systems get access to the server. The two network cards should automatically provide the needed crossover function to work without a switch.
Glad this was helpful. Yes, completely possible to not use the switch and just cross over between the 2 10GbE NICs. I just wanted to showcase how one could build a small 10GbE network as part of their NAS build as many people who have reached out to me have told me they don't have a lot of room for a rack or anything like that. This would allow them to build out a 10GbE network, a NAS, and keep it all in their PC.
No need to put a 10Gb switch inside. You can directly connect the two computers by fibre sfp+. You need a switch outside though if you want to share the nas with others
The fan was added for the HDDs in the power supply chamber underneath. That area gets no airflow since the PSU draws air in from the bottom so I think adding the fan there is a good idea. I don't think it will affect the temps of the system though, but I do think it will help with HDD temps for those 2 drives. Thanks for watching!
Managing PWM inputs and outputs would be a good use case for a microcontroller (Raspberry Pi Pico or Arduino). Fairly easy project, medium learning curve.
Very nice build, but I am not sure exactly what was the objective when putting both a desktop and a server in the same case, unless it was for the challenge !
Thanks! The main purpose is the compact size. I had this idea when some of my customers told me they don't have a lot of space, especially not for rack mount setup and they prefer desktop PC style servers. Anyway, it is just an idea that might be useful to some people. :-) Thanks for watching!
How do you power all these SAS hard drivers with normal PSU? Does the SATA power connector work with SAS hard drive straight away? Do I need any adaptors?
Thanks! You know, I didn't fully keep track as some of the parts I had laying around in the lab like the 4TB SAS HDDs and the Supermicro X10SDV-TLN4F board and of course the LSI HBA. The "desktop PC" side was about USD $2200, but we re-used the RX 6700XT GPU from my son's previous computer. Thanks for watching!
How are the LSI HBA/Mellanox temperatures given the limited airflow? (vs. directed of a server chassis) I love the switch trick and it's the perfect layout for inside that case. I had a similar build (minus mATX) in a Corsiar 900D (ESXi/passthrough GPU,sound,etc) and the nice thing was they used hot sway bays although the trays were cheap plastic, but worked. Did need those SFF-8087 to 4 x SATA male cables to get it to work with HBA.
The HBA is fine as it is a SAS2008 which doesn't get too hot. I haven't looked at the Mellanox temps, but there's a decent amount of airflow through this chassis with the 3 front fans pushing air through the case front to back. I have not had any problems so far. When I open the case, all the components feel cool to the touch mostly except the VRM heatsink of the mini-ITX board is a bit warm. I'm wondering if there's not enough airflow for the mini-ITX board since it is upside down and not ventilated in that section? Yeah, one of the drawbacks of this setup is lack of hotswap drive bays. Being a rack server guy, I miss that the most. If I were to redo this project with a different case that has 5.25" bays, I could use the IcyDock enclosures to make them hot swap bays. Thanks for watching!
@ArtofServer I'm building a home lab/server. It's a dedicated server and my plan is to have Proxmox a hypervisor, to use all possibilities of it, and TrueNas as a VM. Question: Is it a MUST to have HBA or not, to passtrue all drives to TrueNAS (I can pass passtrue them even now, without card)? I have 8 sata ports on MB (3x8TB Red @ Raid-z) plenty for my demands...
@@ArtofServer Thanks for the reply! That's unfortunate, this case would have been perfect otherwise for me. That's is true though, I wish phanteks provided more information based on what components are used in the case, instead it is left rather vague.
Such a cool build. Some time I hope I can consolidate my homelab into something like this.
Thank you! I hope it gives you some interesting ideas! :-) thank you for watching!
The funny thing is that exact MikroTik switch amd playing with Winbox is what got me into networking. It has been a few years of me not really knowing what I was doing at all. I didn't even know there was such thing as managed switch. I ordered it to get 10GbE between my TrueNAS machine and some desktops.
It has been a journey and I am going to pick up my first real enterprise gear tomorrow. I go pick up my first r720 tomorrow! I saved and waited for a deal and it is going to be a nice upgrade from the old AMD FX 8350 I was running as my server! I haven't been this excited since I was a kid at Xmas.
I have been binging this channel to decide on how I set up my hypervisor and storage! Thank you for the content man!
What could've been a better design for that Phanteks hub would be for it to have two PWM inputs and have it default to the first one when both systems are on. When there's no signal on the first input, it would look for PWM on the second input then run the fans at max speed if it can't find anything. That would cover the bases for both single and dual system installations.
Great information; I am thinking about doing something similar. I have a desktop installed in a Phanteks Eclipse 600s and an Unraid server in an old tower case. Both systems are running 10Gb Ethernet via the same model Mikrotik switch that you used for your project. My laptop also connects to the 10Gb network via a Thunderbolt adapter. I think the only thing I would do differently from your example is that I would connect the two network cards directly, without a switch, unless I had a need to have additional systems get access to the server. The two network cards should automatically provide the needed crossover function to work without a switch.
Glad this was helpful. Yes, completely possible to not use the switch and just cross over between the 2 10GbE NICs. I just wanted to showcase how one could build a small 10GbE network as part of their NAS build as many people who have reached out to me have told me they don't have a lot of room for a rack or anything like that. This would allow them to build out a 10GbE network, a NAS, and keep it all in their PC.
Part 3! Nice!!!
Thanks for watching!
No need to put a 10Gb switch inside. You can directly connect the two computers by fibre sfp+. You need a switch outside though if you want to share the nas with others
yes, the intent was to extend it out to the network.
You should have tested temps before and after the new fan. Though I doubt there would be much of a difference. But, probably good for the HBA.
The fan was added for the HDDs in the power supply chamber underneath. That area gets no airflow since the PSU draws air in from the bottom so I think adding the fan there is a good idea. I don't think it will affect the temps of the system though, but I do think it will help with HDD temps for those 2 drives.
Thanks for watching!
Idk what to say ive never seen something like this
excellent tutorial........EXCELLENT......
Thank you for watching!
Managing PWM inputs and outputs would be a good use case for a microcontroller (Raspberry Pi Pico or Arduino).
Fairly easy project, medium learning curve.
I don't know about Arduinos, but RPi stuff has become very expensive lately. :-( But yes, I agree that one can build such a tool.
@@ArtofServer vanilla Pi Pico is $4. It is not an SBC as the rest of Pis. Arduino CN clones are fine and cheap too.
Very nice build, but I am not sure exactly what was the objective when putting both a desktop and a server in the same case, unless it was for the challenge !
Thanks! The main purpose is the compact size. I had this idea when some of my customers told me they don't have a lot of space, especially not for rack mount setup and they prefer desktop PC style servers. Anyway, it is just an idea that might be useful to some people. :-) Thanks for watching!
Turns out pretty well! Maybe you sould consider a picoPSU for the microITX Board. And also splitting the case fans between two Controller?
Thanks! I kind of like the idea of a single PSU for both systems... but thanks for the suggestion!
How do you power all these SAS hard drivers with normal PSU? Does the SATA power connector work with SAS hard drive straight away? Do I need any adaptors?
The cables I used have SFF8482 SAS connectors, and the backside has a SATA power connector so that's how I power the SAS drives.
Interesting build, and nicely done.👍
What was the total cost, as configured?
Thanks! You know, I didn't fully keep track as some of the parts I had laying around in the lab like the 4TB SAS HDDs and the Supermicro X10SDV-TLN4F board and of course the LSI HBA. The "desktop PC" side was about USD $2200, but we re-used the RX 6700XT GPU from my son's previous computer.
Thanks for watching!
How are the LSI HBA/Mellanox temperatures given the limited airflow? (vs. directed of a server chassis) I love the switch trick and it's the perfect layout for inside that case. I had a similar build (minus mATX) in a Corsiar 900D (ESXi/passthrough GPU,sound,etc) and the nice thing was they used hot sway bays although the trays were cheap plastic, but worked. Did need those SFF-8087 to 4 x SATA male cables to get it to work with HBA.
The HBA is fine as it is a SAS2008 which doesn't get too hot. I haven't looked at the Mellanox temps, but there's a decent amount of airflow through this chassis with the 3 front fans pushing air through the case front to back. I have not had any problems so far. When I open the case, all the components feel cool to the touch mostly except the VRM heatsink of the mini-ITX board is a bit warm. I'm wondering if there's not enough airflow for the mini-ITX board since it is upside down and not ventilated in that section?
Yeah, one of the drawbacks of this setup is lack of hotswap drive bays. Being a rack server guy, I miss that the most. If I were to redo this project with a different case that has 5.25" bays, I could use the IcyDock enclosures to make them hot swap bays.
Thanks for watching!
@ArtofServer I'm building a home lab/server. It's a dedicated server and my plan is to have Proxmox a hypervisor, to use all possibilities of it, and TrueNas as a VM.
Question: Is it a MUST to have HBA or not, to passtrue all drives to TrueNAS (I can pass passtrue them even now, without card)? I have 8 sata ports on MB (3x8TB Red @ Raid-z) plenty for my demands...
seems that this build it's over serverised ;-)
what does "over serverised" mean? there's no such thing in my world.. LOL
Is there room for an EATX motherboard with the drive cages installed in the main compartment? My motherboard is 12x10.7 inches.
No, with the drive cages, there's not enough room for E-ATX. the specs on this case are bit deceiving, or at least, require more clarification.
@@ArtofServer Thanks for the reply! That's unfortunate, this case would have been perfect otherwise for me. That's is true though, I wish phanteks provided more information based on what components are used in the case, instead it is left rather vague.
Im Second :)
Thanks for watching! :-)
First !! :P
Thanks for watching! :-)