User:CounterPillow/NAS-Board
This page is for detailing my ideal small NAS based on things the SoC could actually do.
Justification
Why Not Just Use An SBC?
The SBCs PINE64 offers currently don't have:
- PCIe 3.0 for full NVMe bandwidth
- 2× SATA
- standard form factor that fits in PC/NAS cases
- ATX power input
They do have USB 3 which is not needed on a NAS, can be freed up for a second SATA connector.
With the suggested specs, you can easily build a 2×HDD 1×NVMe SSD NAS that uses the SSD for cache.
Why Not Just Use An Off-The-Shelf NAS?
Either bad value (pre-built NAS barebones from e.g. QNAP or Synology) with closed software or way too big/expensive of a setup (x86 boards with Xeons or Ryzen for ECC).
Most people just need something that can do RAID1/10 with SATA, and don't need a lot of CPU power.
Suggested Specs
SoC
RK3568B2, because it has:
- PCIe 3.0
- Another serdes
- ECC support
RK3566 would NOT make for a good NAS board compared to just using an SBC and should not be used.
Memory
8 GB, ideally ECC, and only that as an option, splitting supply needlessly for cost savings to consumer isn't worth it in my opinion.
Form Factor
Mini-ITX form factor, with ATX power input.
PMIC reset line held until ATX power ready line indicates power is ready, to prevent boot failures.
I/O
- 1× PCIe 3.0 ×2 open-ended slot
- for M.2 adapter card or SATA controller card
- 1× PCIe 2.1 ×1 open-ended slot
- for network controller card
- on-board USB-to-serial converter
- USB Type B (the large one) connector, so it's clear it's a device role
- converter powered from USB power, not board power
- makes it easier for people to use serial
- 2× SATA 3.0
- 1× Gigabit Ethernet
- 2× Standard 4-pin 12V PWM fan, see Noctua pwm fan white paper
- 1× micro-SD card slot
- 1× eMMC module connector
- 1× HDMI
- 2× USB 2.0 Host
- for keyboard and mouse
- 1× header for power and reset button
Misc
- SPI flash on board
- Jumper to disable SPI flash
- CR2032 holder for RTC battery
Software
Hire someone (jmcneil?) to make an EDKII port that can reside on SPI flash and boot kernels from eMMC, SD or SATA.
Have a working Debian image and a working Ubuntu image on launch (should be easy enough with EDKII, if SoC support is in the kernels of those distros by then)