A first look at NZFS and replacing unRAID with NZFS’s Transparent RAID (tRAID) - Page 10

I do to, but I am willing to give it an hour to hit an auto scan. I don't like to watch MCM rip movies, but I have to spend some time in the beginning/end to setup and verify that everything completed.

Otherwise MCM does it's job in the background. We get a notification in XBMC once MCM has updated the metadata, and the library get's updated. It shows up in my "recent" movies collection and works fine. If it showed up with the wrong poster, I'd go fix it. Since it's always been correct, I just lock the info when I get around to it.

Basically, I'm saying that if you properly name your folders and titles, MCM can run in the background without being micromanaged. If you let it run in the background, your library won't "bring it to it's knees" past the initial scan. Just walk away from the screen the first time it scans, because after that any new auto-scan is quick. (Similar to not watching flexraid build it's parity). I micro-manage programs that can't be properly configured or trusted. With the condition that you lock "perfect" titles and properly name new titles (don't have MCM rename them) MCM can be fully trusted in the background.

There's no problem with you enjoying the micro-management of your metadata, but it shouldn't be considered evolved or necessary for large collections. We have fairly similar setups, it wouldn't work for me and not for you

Heh heh heh... you call that skeptic... LOL...

The last time I checked, that was called reality...

FlexRAID currently isn't the most stable software RAID on the market... it is still struggling with a few of it's premature components... see my last (2 or 3) posts in this thread...

The inexistent tRAID or NZFS or whatever you call it will compete with ZFS...

No crime in dreaming... don't get me wrong...

I could link it to him. He might have a comment.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1438027/planning-to-rebuild-my-20tb-whs-flexraid-server-information-requested/600_100#post_23010045

Sorry about that, if you think I meant that FlexRAID sucks...

That is far from it...

In fact I just completed a home NAS setup for a friend last weekend and it is running FlexRAID + Plex server on a Windows 8 box... no issue reported so far...

I also stated (check my posts in this thread) that the performance was quite impressive.

To correct some other impressions as well, I was able to get FlexRAID running within the first 15 minutes of me ever touching the product, which was last weekend.
But of course, I have 14yrs experience working as a Network and Systems engineer in corporate environments.

The claim that NZFS is going to outperform ZFS is what some of us here don't quite agree with...
If you have any idea what it takes in a corporate environment to adopt a new technology as a replacement for an old one that has a proven reputation, you can be sure that in 5 years from now, you're probably still offering NZFS as a free product for corporates to test with and probably still bug fixing...

For the average home user, it will probably be a no brainer... as many of them just like to have it because it is new...
But there are also many above average home users who will only change because NZFS brings to the table something they need and their current setup doesn't have...

You just need to work a bit more on your marketting approach IMO...

I found this response very interesting.

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=25927.45

Lol nice.

...
Edited by PobjoySpecial - 5/16/13 at 2:32pm

Just gives me one more reason to stick with unRAID.

That still remains to be seen. People with actual class tend not to boast but rather lead by example.
UnRAID already does everything I need in a server utility. Innovation is a good thing, but only if I have a need to keep changing the way I use my server. I haven't lost a thing, although your posts are whittling away at any potential customer base you may have had before you started this thread so the jury's still out on who's losing more. As it's been said before, you really need to work on your marketing skills.

...was needed to be said by nobody whose class was apparent, ever.

Glad to hear it. At least that's an actual product people can try and decide if they like it. I have nothing against FlexRAID and it appears to be a fine product.
If by going against the grain you mean you like rubbing people the wrong way, then I'd have to say you're off to a great start.

spectrumbx with all the replies to this thread who is developing this vaporware you boast about in the first post.

All kidding aside, becasue as you say you're a kidder there is nothing comparable between what you currently offer and unRAID. I tried Flexraid for 14 days on a Ubuntu 12.04 install. The realtime RAID wasn't trustworthy and Snapshot RAID is of no interest to me. With unRAID as others have mentioned I can pull a drive and still access the files on the drive as parity rebuilds it on the fly. I understand this is a "feature" of your future product that doesn't exist until it's in the wild.

unRAID is appealing because it is a true NAS product. Once booted from flash it remains unchanged like firmware in a NAS appliance thus eliminating the need to chase down errors and crashes.

Give us a link to a nice shiny YouTube video of a running production system. This way you won't have to devulge any trade secrets.

Kryspy
Edited by Kryspy - 2/27/13 at 7:27pm

What was wrong with Snapshot Raid for your application? Do you have a lot of constantly changing data?

Not alot of data that changes often; I know the difference and know that snapshot RAID would most likely be sufficient but since I already had a license for unRAID which provides realtime protection why would I give it up?

Kryspy

I was just curious. I have an unraid box, but the free edition and I'm almost full. Trying to figure out where to go from here.

Spectrumbx, when are you going to vanish again for a few months, leaving everyone in a lurch? You are about due for it, yes?

BIIDo,

Why not go ahead and purchase a Plus license of unRAID ? Flexraid will require you to setup a server with a full os of some sort.

Kryspy

For me it's a question of cost and expandibility

Unraid $70 for up to 6 drives, or $120 for up to 21.

Ubuntu Server $0 Flexraid Combo $60 no issues with adding extra drives up to the capicity of my server

So long as the performance is where I need, Flexraid is looking like the winner.
Edited by BllDo - 2/28/13 at 8:23am

BIIDo,

You currently have 3 data disks that are nearing full and are concerned about the fact unRAID gives you only 6 or 21 disks maximum? You are either trying to convince yourself you need more to justify your Flexraid purchase or you are ignoring the advantages a NAS like appliance bring to the table.

Both have their pros and cons but Flexraid in its iteration today is not superior to unRAID IMHO.

Kryspy

You should lay down the advantages of unRAID for his sake

I am currently testing different solutions to try and figure out what is going to be the best long term solution. I have three disks full right now, but that is just testing a few BR, DVD and CD rips. I have a lot of my media collection yet to rip. Yes six drives will get my by for a while longer, and 21 would suffice even beyond that. I don't have a particular problem with Unraid. It seems to be a fine solution, however I'm just not sure it's the solution to my problem.

If you would care to explain what the advantages to a NAS like appliance are, I would be happy to learn. Thanks.

I believe that unRAID Pro, version 5.0-rc11, supports up to 24 drives + parity + cache, but I'd have to check to be sure. I've currently got 20 drives in my array, including parity. I do recall that there are still some slots left unassigned on the main screen so I suspect it does handle 24 drives in the latest release. I expect the release candidate will become an official release before too long, but when is anybody's guess. The rc version is extremely stable so it's pretty much just a formailty at this point. In any case, find someone else that's interested in unRAID and split the cost of a 2-pack for $149. That drops the cost to only $74.50 apiece and only $15 more than a FlexRAID combo license without the OS and extra hard drive. Add those to the cost and FlexRAID ends up costing you more.

Silly arguments going on here. Did you ever thing that someone may already be running an OS on a server?

I already had WHS2011 running for other reasons than RAID. So adding unRAID would actually cost me more money since I now need another "server" to run it. Adding FlexRAID to my current server was cheaper in both hardware cost as well as energy savings.

I was just thinking of posting this argument

Thank you for adding another silly argument to the mix.

+1

I don't want to get too involved into this unraid vs flexraid mess but I'll chime in on this and say that I have emailed him directly and received adequate responses and support on several occasions during his "vanish" period from AVS.

Just because he does not visit a third party website daily doesn't mean you won't get support.

There is after all an entire flexraid forum that is monitored, and he has PM and personal email for matters of support. I'm not sure his presence on AVS or lack thereof is any indication of the support you'd receive unless your demanding support through AVS in which case you possibly could be left wanting.

I've been a member for a decade, but I can't say I have visiting regularly during the entire period either. I think it's cool he is here at all. It doesn't make AVS any worse anyways.