nicFreeNAS offering 10Gb direct connection capability
nicFreeNAS offering 10Gb direct connection capability
Hello Community, I converted my old PC into a NAS using FreeNAS, and everything seems to be functioning well so far. About two weeks ago I created a local game cache on a VM with Docker, and it also works. However, I noticed a performance issue in my configuration. After some testing, I identified the problem as being caused by cable management in my room. Now I have my current setup and my goals: I purchased two NICs (Asus XG-c100c), drivers for both, and installed them on my Gaming PC (Windows 10) and FreeNAS (version 11.2). Both PC and FreeNAS are connected via Cat6. My aim is to have direct access from my PC to the NAS through the NIC, and also to the internet using the built-in interface. Currently, the connections are: PC → Switch (for Internet) → PC → NAS (via NIC) → NAS → PC (via NIC). I want to download games with a 10 Gb connection from my cache, so that if a game isn’t in cache it fetches directly from the LAN. I’ve looked into various methods but none seem to fit my arrangement. I’ve read about VLANs and bridges, though I haven’t tried them yet. I’m seeking guidance on how to configure both the NAS and possibly the PC for this setup. Best regards, Manu
My Configuration:
- PC: Mainboard Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5, Intel Core i7-4790K @4.00GHz, 32GB RAM, Ethernet Killer 2200 (onboard)
- NIC: ASUS XG-c100c 10G PCI-E adapter
- NAS: AMD Crosshair IV Formula Processor, 6 cores, 2x4GB + 2x8GB RAM
- Network: Ethernet via onboard interface (for internet)
- PC → Switch (broadband) → NAS (via NIC) → PC (via NIC)
I have another concept in mind but I’m not sure what setup is required. My PC is now linked to the switch, and the NAS’s NIC is connected via the NAS. Could I just connect only through the 10G NIC on the PC to the 10G NIC on the NAS using the VM with the local cache, then use the NAS’s built-in interface to reach the switch/Internet? Would the VM need both connections bridged, and from my PC I’d enter the VM and exit to the switch? I’ll ask my PC to connect to the VM’s IP address. Best, Manu
Thanks for your response. It seems unclear what a proxy is at the moment, but I plan to review it later. I've attached a PDF where I attempted to demonstrate how it might function, though I'm unsure if it will work. Updated: I discovered a method to set the network interface priority in Windows 10 so downloads favor the 10 gig NIC. If the server is unavailable, the PC should automatically switch to the standard direct connection. Cheers, Manu NAS 10gig NIC Setup.pdf Edited November 23, 2020 by Ollem A found an initial viable approach.
I’ve completed more research and reviewed the tutorial again. I believe I made a mistake. I configured my network interface on the PC to connect to the VM using Docker, but if files aren’t present, it automatically downloads them from the internet via the router’s alternative IP. What needs adjusting now? My PC first checks the 10GbE NIC on the Docker container running in the VM—no direct NIC passthrough is possible (no IOMMU support). If a file exists, it uses that connection; if not, it switches to the internet. If the VM can’t reach the internet or the VM/NAS is down, it falls back to the onboard interface with priority 2. To fix this, I should update the VM’s interface on FreeNAS to use the 10GbE port. I’m trying to connect the VM to the switch or another PC in my LAN without relying on the 10GbE port (using an onboard interface instead). There are many configuration checks involved, but this is my first attempt. Best of luck!