Upgrading NAS #2 SAS drives to double capacity

[pete_c]

Upgraded Xigmanas to:
 
12.3.0.4 - Artisia (revision 9009)
Compiled: Thursday February 17 19:57:02 CST 2022
 
BSD UPS to USB Nut issues worse now:  (no issues with NUT running on Linux servers or other BSD PFSense box) or one Windows server connection.
 

Feb 21 09:28:34 ics-raid-00 root: AUTH: admin logged in from IP address 192.168.244.231
Feb 21 05:59:41 ics-raid-00 upsd: UPS [CPS1] data is no longer stale
Feb 21 05:59:41 ics-raid-00 upsd: Data for UPS [CPS1] is stale - check driver
Feb 21 05:00:55 ics-raid-00 upssched-cmd: Communications with the UPS CPS1@localhost are established
Feb 21 05:00:55 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Communications with UPS CPS1@localhost established
Feb 21 05:00:51 ics-raid-00 upsd: UPS [CPS1] data is no longer stale
Feb 21 05:00:50 ics-raid-00 upssched-cmd: Communications with the UPS CPS1@localhost are lost
Feb 21 05:00:50 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Communications with UPS CPS1@localhost lost
Feb 21 05:00:50 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Poll UPS [CPS1@localhost] failed - Data stale
Feb 21 05:00:49 ics-raid-00 upsd: Data for UPS [CPS1] is stale - check driver
Feb 21 04:36:54 ics-raid-00 upsd: UPS [CPS1] data is no longer stale
Feb 21 04:36:52 ics-raid-00 upsd: Data for UPS [CPS1] is stale - check driver

 

[pete_c]

Made the following changes per a TrueNAS forum relating to same issues with a Cyberpower UPS using BSD NUT.
 

 

ignorelb
override.battery.charge.low = 20
override.battery.charge.warning = 40
ondelay = 0
pollinterval = 15
DEADTIME 25

 

Lets see if this works.
 
Update 17:49 c time
 
No UPS Nut log entries as mentioned above so far.
 
Here is a picture of the status and settings.
 

[sharedmedia=gallery:images:1517]
 

 

 

[pete_c]

Status 2129 c time...
 


Feb 21 20:10:53 ics-raid-00 upssched-cmd: Communications with the UPS CPS1@localhost are established
Feb 21 20:10:53 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Communications with UPS CPS1@localhost established
Feb 21 20:10:51 ics-raid-00 upsd: UPS [CPS1] data is no longer stale
Feb 21 20:10:48 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Poll UPS [CPS1@localhost] failed - Data stale
Feb 21 20:10:43 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Poll UPS [CPS1@localhost] failed - Data stale
Feb 21 20:10:38 ics-raid-00 upssched-cmd: Communications with the UPS CPS1@localhost are lost
Feb 21 20:10:38 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Communications with UPS CPS1@localhost lost
Feb 21 20:10:38 ics-raid-00 upsmon: Poll UPS [CPS1@localhost] failed - Data stale
Feb 21 20:10:36 ics-raid-00 upsd: Data for UPS [CPS1] is stale - check driver

 

old 
 
pollinterval = 15
 
new
 
pollinterval = 1

 

[pete_c]

January , 2026

Upgrading 8 X 4TB SAS drives to 8 X 8TB SAS drives which are configured as ZFS.

NAS OS is XigmaNAS V 14.3.0.5 - Jalanto (revision 10566)
FreeBSD 14.3-RELEASE-p5 / XigmaNAS Kernel Build: Thu Oct 23 20:36:08 CEST 2025
x64-embedded on Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3245 CPU @ 3.40GHz
15.29 GiB managed, 7.18 GiB used, 8.11 GiB available
ZFS Total: 31.88 TB | Allocated: 25.34 TB | Free: 6.53 TB | State: Online with 8 4TB drives.

Going slow here.

 

[Waynedb]

I am upgrading one of my old NAS systems to new hardware, getting rid of the badly designed Silverstone 8 bay case and replacing it with a generic 8 bay case i found on EBAY, it is very similar in size but it pulls air though the drive bays. I got an 8 bay n150 based motherboard to go with the new case. I am running Unraid on this one. I hated that old Silverstone case. I put the side mounted fans outside the case and had to use deflectors to keep the drives from cooking.

 

[pete_c]

@Waynedb

Thank you for the info.

NAS #1 is in an 8 drive case that I got from China many many years ago. Much smaller footprint that the Silverstone case.
This U-NAS 8 drive case only has room for an mITX board.

NAS #1 has been off as I didn't really need it running. AMD mITX board with SATA/SAS 8 port controller. Very tight fit. It was a PITA to build and way too tight.



Do you have a link for the case you purchased and the motherboard you are using?

I am using 3D printed air deflectors and temps remain OK (30-34) with front door open.

Pausing the NAS #2 upgrade drive endeavor and shifting over to tinkering with my Generac generator...

Have a couple of spare microATX motherboards and may consider the U-NAS 810 8 drive case.

 

[Waynedb]

I remember when you built the Silverstone case NAS, I commented on it many years ago and if I remember correctly the 3D printed deflector was designed by the guy I bought the motherboard from. I had problems with temps on the drives until I did the deflectors and I moved the side 120mm fans to the outside of the case, I always hated that case. I have been updating all my old computers to more recent ones, Home Assistant is on a Dell Optiplex 5000, both my home built NAS boxes are on 12th gen intel cpus now. I wanted to update everything before ram prices got even more insane.

Case

Pardon Our Interruption...

Motherboard

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[pete_c]

@Waynedb

Thank you.

I am starting to slow down here and moving slower these days.

Yes here updated the fans. Louder and drives are cooler now. The NAS boxes are in the basement.

Great specs on the motherboard.

The U-Nas case worked except had to replace the PS a couple of times. I did put the build over on the Serve the Home forum and Homeseer forum many years ago.

Home Assistant is on a Lenova Tiny PC running with Homeseer and CumulusMX and Ollama local AI server.

 

[Waynedb]

I run CumulusMX on a Pi getting data from a Vantage Vue, I have my Davis Vantage Pro 2 weather station directly connected to Home Assistant. My Home Assistant PC is a micro form factor i5-12500t Dell Optiplex 5000. I want to run a local AI with Home Assistant but haven't done it yet, I have been playing with the Home Assistant Voice PE devices and my Unfolded Circle remote controls can send voice to Home Assistant also, it is way more reliable than the Home Assistant Voice devices if there is anyone talking or a TV is on.

As for slowing down, I am in my mid 60's closer to 70 than 60, memory seems too be rather spotty these days also. I never used to forget anything, never had to write anything down, now I have terrible short term memory.

 

[pete_c]

Yes here have CumulusMX directly connected to the Davis console for the Vantage Vue. I also utilize the meteohub/meteostick to Home Assistant.

Trying the Ecowitt WittBoy. Works OK so far.

Here connected the Voice PE device to a tiny amp / bluetooth device / speakers. I have shut down all of the Alexa devices except for 3 now....

Very nice remote!!!

Just using the Sony bluetooth remote with voice. Works OK. We just have two devices connected to the AVR. Wife's direct tv dvr box and my Kodi box.

Here just past 70 and get tired watching the endless energy of the grandkids...2+4...

 

[Waynedb]

The last time I bought Hard Drives for a NAS I bought Western Digital 16TB Gold drives for $300 each, now they are $400 direct from Western Digital. I saw a post somewhere today about Western Digital saying they sold their entire 2026 production already. AI Data Centers are making a mess of parts availability.

 

[pete_c]

Thank you @Waynedb

Been using SAS Enterprise drives for the two 8 drive NAS boxes. Probably should update case / motherboards in these.

Reading some it really doesn't matter these days whether I use SAS or SATA drives.

The Silverstone case, original drives, controller with motherboard was originally gifted to me. Just put new drives in it and fixed cooling. The back plane was shot so replaced it.

I built the U-NAS case / NAS from scratch and had ordered the case from China. Cooler but really a tight fit.

I have two other 4 drive NAS boxes that have been off now for about 10 years. These are propietary NAS boxes. These are using SATA drives.

Reviewing my storage needs see that most of the storage is related to movies (lately just 4k stuff). Backup, files, pictures, music use up a fraction of the total NAS space.

I do not back up computers (Linux or Windows) these days. I use Windows only because wife is using Windows. Laptops (dual boot) run Ubuntu and Windows 11. I prefer Ubuntu over Windows.

Originally based my DIY NAS first build on what was being done on the Serve the home forum and posted the build there.

So AI googling see:

"best nas motherboard serve the home forum"
Based on ServeTheHome (STH) forums and related enthusiast discussions, the best DIY NAS motherboards focus on low power, ample SATA ports, and efficient networking. Top picks include the ASRock N100M/ITX for ultra-low power, Topton/CWWK Jasper Lake/Alder Lake boards for high-density 6-bay+ setups, and Supermicro X12/X13 series for professional-grade ECC memory support.
Top Recommended NAS Motherboards (STH & Community Focus)

• Best Budget/Low Power (DIY): ASRock N100M
  • Features: Intel N100 CPU (6W TDP), 2 or 4 SATA ports, M.2 slot, passive/silent cooling potential.
  • Best for: Power-efficient, 24/7 file storage and light Plex/Docker use.
• Best High-Density Compact (DIY): Topton/CWWK Alder Lake-N (N100/N305)
  • Features: Multiple 2.5GbE ports, 6x+ SATA ports, compact ITX, often 6-bay or higher support.
  • Best for: Small-form-factor builds with high drive counts.
• Best Prosumer/Workstation (ECC): Supermicro X12STH-F
  • Features: Intel Xeon E-2300 support, ECC RAM, IPMI remote management, 6+ SATA ports.
  • Best for: TrueNAS Scale, ZFS, and critical data storage.
• Best Versatile/Upgradable: ASUS Prime B660I-AX or B760I Aorus Pro
  • Features: High-speed NVMe, PCIe 4.0/5.0, 2.5GbE, support for 12th/13th/14th Gen Intel CPUs.
  • Best for: Combined NAS and heavy Home Assistant/Media transcoding server.

• CPU: For power efficiency, the Intel N100 is highly regarded. For transcoding (Plex), modern Intel CPUs with QuickSync are preferred.
• Networking: 2.5GbE is now the standard recommendation over 1GbE.
• Drive Connectivity: Look for at least 4-6 SATA ports natively, or ensure PCIe slots are available for SAS HBAs.
• OS Choice: The community strongly favors TrueNAS Scale or Unraid.

Are you using ZFS? On your NAS boxes what is the most space consuming?