William Osman, I Built You a Computer!

Two portable network-attached storage (NAS) servers, nicknamed 'ASS' (Anywhere Storage Server), were custom-built for William Osman's Open Sauce event, featuring high-capacity SSDs, a server motherboard, and a robust design for on-site video capture and off-site backup.

• Two custom 'Anywhere Storage Server' (ASS) units were built for William Osman’s Open Sauce event, designed for extreme portability and ruggedness.

• Each server features 45TB of fast SSD storage, a high-performance Ryzen 9 CPU, and a 10-gigabit network switch, housed within a Pelican case.

• An additional 300TB JBOD backup unit was created, offering robust data redundancy with a RAID Z2 configuration for critical event footage.

Linus Tech Tips undertakes the challenge of building two highly portable and rugged network-attached storage (NAS) servers for William Osman's Open Sauce event. These custom 'Anywhere Storage Servers' (ASS) are designed for rapid on-site video capture and efficient off-site data backup, featuring high-performance components like Kyoksia 15.36TB SSDs and AMD Ryzen 9 CPUs. The project highlights both innovative engineering solutions and humorous struggles during the build process, emphasizing the need for durability and high capacity in a compact, portable format.

Designing the Portable NAS

• 00:00:38 The project involves building two 'Anywhere Storage Servers' (ASS) within a tight one-month deadline, which is more challenging than a typical NAS build due to portability requirements. These servers utilize four Kyoksia CD6 data center SSDs, each providing 15.36 terabytes, resulting in 45 usable terabytes of data with lightning-fast performance. A custom design using cables instead of expensive backplanes was chosen for cost-effectiveness and to house these high-capacity drives.

Hardware Components and Setup

• 00:03:37 The core of the server is an AM5 server motherboard, allowing the use of a consumer Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU (the fastest consumer CPU with 16 cores and 3D vCache), likely to run in eco mode due to limited ventilation. A UniFi Pro XG8 PoE network switch provides eight 10-gigabit PoE++ ports and two SFP+ 10-gigabit ports for multiple computer connections. A compact HDPLEX gallium nitride 500W power supply is integrated into the system, emphasizing space efficiency.

The External Backup Solution

• 00:14:08 In addition to the portable 'ASS,' a NetApp DS4243 enclosure serves as a giant box for hard drives, functioning as an external backup solution (JBOD). This setup includes a Minisforum MSA2 computer, a modified card, and 16 18-terabyte WD SAS hard drives, totaling approximately 300 terabytes. A RAID Z2 configuration is employed, splitting drives into two groups of eight, with two parity drives per group, allowing for the loss of up to two drives per group without data loss.

Challenges and Final Touches

• 00:19:37 Numerous challenges arose during the build, including a lack of proper cooling for the SSDs, which idled at 70 degrees Celsius and required a custom 3D-printed fan bracket. Other issues included missing a power button, coil whine from components, and difficulties with fitment and alignment of parts, often requiring improvisation with tools like an X-Acto knife or Dremel. Despite these hurdles, the completed system, running TrueNAS Scale, offers a robust, high-capacity solution for Open Sauce, supporting up to eight editors and off-site backup.