Choose unRaid or Ubuntu server for your home media setup and configure RAID 5.
Choose unRaid or Ubuntu server for your home media setup and configure RAID 5.
I shared this in hardware by accident... Hello everyone, I’m setting up my home server again and choosing Raid 5. Before, I just mounted new drives with /etc/fstab. I’m quite experienced with Ubuntu Server, but this is the first time I’m configuring a RAID array. I’ve heard mixed opinions about UnRaid, but also saw Linus testing it in a couple episodes. My main concern is whether I’m getting an edge by using mdadm instead of UnRaid. I know they’re different solutions. Please share your experiences and thoughts on one versus the other. I have a 120GB SSD for the primary (or cache if using UnRaid) and three 2TB WD Blue drives. Also, I plan to add disks later—would UnRaid be simpler? Am I misunderstanding? I mainly use the server for Plex, a Usenet client, and some other programs that rely on Mono. I also use SMB and occasionally host games like CS:GO. Thanks in advance!
UnRaid would seem simpler, but Ubuntu Server offers greater adaptability since it includes the complete software repository for installation. I generally steer clear of RAID, finding it unnecessary unless you encounter issues—I think that’s subjective. It probably isn’t essential for your needs, especially since I’m using Fedora Desktop as well. Running desktops on it made things smoother because all required packages were pre-installed. I only consider RAID valuable for video work where rapid data transfer is critical. For Plex, the advantage doesn’t exist; I already use an SSD with its transcoding drive and rarely need to re-encode content.
Thanks for the response! The raid setup is being considered for automatic backup. Essentially, whenever data is written to the array, a duplicate goes to the parity drive. Raid 5 uses this method. Raid 0 stores everything on all drives without redundancy—losing one drive means total failure. I’m planning to use this server for personal files and old movie copies that don’t have physical backups, which adds redundancy. Most people either support or oppose unRaid, with most recommending Freenas or Ubuntu Server for the operating system.
This old phrase suggests RAID isn't a true backup solution. If a drive fails, rebuilding the array can be challenging, especially if it requires multiple drives and a CPU-heavy process, turning it into a potential point of failure. It's generally safer to rely on a separate backup method, like copying data from an external source, so the system remains operational while you arrange a replacement.
Linus chose unraid thanks to its super user-friendly interface—everything you need can be accomplished in Ubuntu Server, just learn how to set up the array. If you appreciate the simplicity and time savings unraid offers, it’s definitely worth considering. Nonetheless, I suggest opting for a more sophisticated file system such as ZFS instead of RAID. It provides several benefits over standard RAID and is straightforward to install with tools like FreeNAS, which runs on FreeBSD.