FriendlyELEC has introduced the CM3588 NAS Kit, which features the new Rockchip RK3588 board. The board comes with four M.2 Key-M sockets, each with a PCIe Gen 3 x1 interface, designed to accommodate 2280 NVMe SSDs or other M.2 PCIe modules. The CM3588 NAS Kit is equipped with the CM3588 Core system-on-module and offers a range of features. These include a 2.5GbE RJ45 connector, two HDMI 2.1 video outputs, one HDMI 2.0 video input, MIPI DSI and CSI connectors, several USB 3.0/3.1 ports, and a 40-pin GPIO header for expansion. he FriendlyELEC CM3588 NAS Kit:

System-on-Module – CM3588 Core board:

• SoC – Rockchip RK3588 with 4x Cortex-A76 cores @ up to 2.4 GHz, 4x Cortex-A55 cores @ 1.8 GHz, and an Arm Mali-G610 MP4 “Odin” GPU
• Video decoder – Supports 8Kp60 H.265, VP9, AVS2, 8Kp30 H.264 AVC/MVC, 4Kp60 AV1, 1080p60 MPEG-2/-1, VC-1, VP8
• Video encoder – Supports 8Kp30 H.265/H.264 video encoding
• AI accelerator – 6 TOPS NPU
• System Memory – 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB LPDDR4x @ 2133 MHz
• Storage – Optional 64GB eMMC flash
• Networking – Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5GbE controller
• 4x 100-pin high-density board-to-board connectors with USB 3.0/2.0, PCIe Gen 3 x4, 2.5GbE, HDMI Tx/Rx, GPIOs, etc.
• PMIC – Rockchip RK806-1 power management IC
• Dimensions – 65 x 55 mm (8-layer PCB)
• Weight – About 21 grams

Carrier board – CM3588 NAS SDK:

• Storage: Up to 4x M.2 2280 NVMe SSDs, microSD card slot, footprint for SPI flash
• Video Output: 2x HDMI 2.1 ports (up to 8Kp60 and 4Kp60), 1x DisplayPort via USB-C (up to 4Kp60), 4-lane MIPI DSI connector
• Video Input: 1x HDMI 2.0 input port (up to 4Kp60), 4-lane MIPI CSI connector
• Audio: 3.5mm audio output jack, 2-pin microphone connector, built-in PWM buzzer
• Networking: 2.5GbE RJ45 port
• USB: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 1x USB 3.0 USB-C DRP port with DisplayPort support (up to 4Kp60), 1x USB 2.0 host port
• Expansion: 4x M.2 2280 PCIe sockets (each with PCIe 3.0 x1), 40-pin GPIO header with various interfaces
• Misc: 2-pin RTC battery connector, IR receiver, fan connector, MASK button for eMMC flash update, reset button, power button, recovery mode button, user button, 4x LEDs for SSDs, 3-pin debug UART header
• Power Supply – 12V DC via power barrel jack or 2-pole terminal block
• Dimensions – 160 x 116 mm (4-layer PCB)
• Temperature Range – 0 to 70°C

The CM3588 Core module with heatsink starts at $95 and comes with 4GB RAM and no flash. The CM3588 NAS Kit, which includes the Core module with heatsink and the CM3588 NAS SDK carrier board, starts at $130. Additional accessories such as a 12V/2A power supply and a microSD card are required to boot the OS. There is also a kit option with an 8GB+64GB Core module, the carrier board, and a 12V/2A power supply for $154.89 plus shipping. The variant with 16GB RAM adds an extra $15.

Source: CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

TrueNAS has introduced the F60 and F100 models as the newest additions to their TrueNAS Enterprise portfolio. These models belong to the high-performance line of all-NVMe systems known as the TrueNAS F-Series. The F-Series is designed to offer maximum performance, reliability, and density for organizations with ultra-demanding workloads. It provides organizations with a new choice for their performance-centric workloads, complementing other models in the TrueNAS portfolio that are optimized for capacity.

The TrueNAS F-Series supports file, block, and object protocols, and offers the rich data management capabilities of OpenZFS. Like other TrueNAS Enterprise appliances, the F-Series can be equipped with iXsystems’ award-winning enterprise support.

The TrueNAS F-Series includes two models:

• F100: This model features up to 24 NVMe Gen4 SSDs per 2U system, providing a storage capacity of 720TB. It offers up to 30GB/s bandwidth per node with 6x 40/100 GbE optical NICs and has a typical power draw of 800W.
• F60: The F60 model also supports up to 24 NVMe Gen4 SSDs per 2U system, with a storage capacity of 720TB. It offers up to 20GB/s bandwidth per node with 4x 40/100 GbE optical NICs and has a typical power draw of 800W.

The TrueNAS F-Series appliances come with the latest version of TrueNAS software, TrueNAS Enterprise 23.10. These all-NVMe models are designed to deliver maximum performance, reliability, and density for the most demanding workloads. Compared to previous models, the F-Series offers significant reductions in all-flash power, space, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

The TrueNAS portfolio also includes the TrueNAS M-Series, which caters to hybrid flash and HDD requirements, and the TrueNAS Mini series. Both the M-Series and F-Series systems run on the same TrueNAS Enterprise 23.10 software, offering compatible features and a common WebUI. All TrueNAS systems can be monitored and managed as a fleet using TrueCommand.

In The MagPi 134, Alasdair Allan, Head of Documentation, expressed excitement about the possibility of low-power NAS boxes utilizing the M.2 HAT on the Raspberry Pi 5. Here are the basic steps for setting up a file server.

01. Software setup

Begin by installing Samba onto Raspberry Pi OS with the following command:

sudo apt install samba samba-common-bin

To ensure compatibility with other operating systems, install NTFS for the shared drive:

sudo apt install ntfs-3g

02. Storage setup

While an external hard drive is typically used, using an SSD drive is similar. Plug in the SSD drive, format it if necessary, and mount it to Raspberry Pi OS. To automount the drive on boot, edit the fstab file with the command sudo nano /etc/fstab and add a line similar to the following:

/dev/sdb1 /mnt/location ntfs nls-utf8,umask-0222,uid-1000,gid-1000,rw 0 0

03. Configuration

The Samba configuration file is where the magic happens, allowing you to open up shared storage to the network. Here is an example configuration:

[share]
Comment = Network share
Path = /mnt/location
Browseable = yes
Writeable = yes
only guest = no
create mask = 0777
directory mask = 0777
Public = yes
Guest ok = yes

By following these steps, you can build a file server using the Raspberry Pi 5 and take advantage of its new features for a more efficient NAS setup.

Source: News - Raspberry Pi.

The maker of the ZimaBoard and ZimaBlade single-board computers, Icewhale Technology, is set to launch a new product called the ZimaCube. The ZimaCube is a “personal cloud” computer that functions as a network-attached storage (NAS) device, offering users a choice between two processor options: N100 or Core i5-1235U.

The ZimaCube boasts several special features that make it more than just a NAS device. It supports up to six hard drives, up to four 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, and up to 64GB of RAM. The retail prices for the ZimaCube are expected to start at $699, but Icewhale Technology will be launching a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign on November 3, with Early Bird rewards starting at $499 for an entry-level model.

The starting price of $499 is for a model equipped with an energy-efficient 6-watt N100 chip based on Alder Lake N architecture. Customers who want a higher-performance version, the ZimaCube Pro, with a 15-watt Core i5 chip will have to pay $899 or more during the crowdfunding campaign, or $1,199 at retail.

The ZimaCube Pro not only features a more powerful processor but also supports up to twice as much RAM, has twice as many Ethernet ports, supports PCIe Gen 4, and includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, among other things.

The ZimaCube is more expensive than entry-level QNAP or Synology NAS devices, but it offers a high level of flexibility in terms of storage, expansion options, and software support.

Here are the specifications for the ZimaCube and ZimaCube Pro:

ZimaCube:

• Processor: N100 (4-cores / 4-threads, up to 3.4 GHz, 6W TDP)
• RAM: 8GB DDR4 (included), 32GB max (16GB x 2)
• Storage: 256GB SSD (included), 6 x SATA III bays (2.5" or 3.5" drives), 2 x M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe slots
• PCIe: 1 x PCIe Gen 3 x4
• USB: 1 x USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-C, 4 x USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-A, 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A
• Ethernet: 2 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet
• Video out: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4
• Power: 220W (100V - 240V)
• OS: TrueNAS, ZimaOS
• Cooling: Active cooling, 2 x 80 x 80mm fans
• Dimensions: 240 x 221 x 220mm, 9.45" x 8.7" x 8.7"
• Weight: 5.4 kg, 11.9 pounds

ZimaCube Pro:

• Processor: Core i5-1235U (10-cores / 12-threads, up to 4.4 GHz, 15W TDP)
• RAM: 16GB DDR5 (included), 64GB max (32GB x 2)
• Storage: 256GB SSD (included), 6 x SATA III bays (2.5" or 3.5" drives), 2 x PCIe NVMe SSD slots, 4 x additional NVMe slots
• PCIe: 1 x PCIe Gen 4 x16, 1 x PCIe Gen 4 x4
• USB: 2 x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, 6 x USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-A
• Ethernet: 4 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet
• Video out: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4
• Power: 220W (100V - 240V)
• OS: TrueNAS, ZimaOS
• Cooling: Active cooling, 2 x 80 x 80mm fans
• Dimensions: 240 x 221 x 220mm, 9.45" x 8.7" x 8.7"
• Weight: 5.4 kg, 11.9 pounds

The ZimaCube offers a compelling option for users interested in servers, Linux, DevOps, and home labs. With its range of features and storage options, it provides a versatile solution for personal cloud computing and networking needs.

Source: Liliputing.

TrueNAS has announced the release of TrueNAS SCALE 23.10 “Cobia,” the third major release of TrueNAS SCALE. This release brings improvements in quality, functionality, security, and performance.

One of the key highlights of the TrueNAS SCALE 23.10 release is the improvement in Server Message Block (SMB) features. SMB is the most common file sharing protocol and is widely supported on various platforms. The new features in this release include SMB and NFSv4 compatibility, SMB share import from other systems, SMB file sync with 3rd party servers, and fast file copy with ZFS block cloning.

In addition to the SMB features, TrueNAS SCALE 23.10 brings several other enhancements. The infrastructure has been improved with Linux Kernel 6.1 and better hardware support, NVIDIA driver updates, and Netdata backend stats collection. The web interface has also been enhanced with improved Apps and Storage Pool UI, as well as simplified feedback and bug reporting.

TrueNAS SCALE 23.10 also includes updates to ZFS and performance improvements. It features OpenZFS 2.2 with contributions from iXsystems, ZFS block cloning for faster file copies, ZFS dRAID pool layouts, and improved ZFS scrub controls. The release also brings updates to protocols and services such as Samba security and speed improvements, simplified SMB cluster expansion via TrueCommand 3.0 (coming soon), and iSCSI improvements.

TrueNAS 13.1, which is planned for release in early 2024, will inherit some of the improvements from TrueNAS SCALE Cobia. This update will include the SMB and ZFS enhancements implemented and tested in Cobia. Nightly versions of TrueNAS 13.1 are available for testing and contribution to the development process.

TrueNAS SCALE 22.12.4.2 is the final version of Bluefin, and going forward, TrueNAS SCALE 23.10 Cobia will gradually become the recommended version. No further versions of Bluefin are planned. TrueNAS provides options for migrating storage services and VMs from CORE to SCALE, and plugins and jails can be manually replaced with Apps.

The TrueNAS installer can be downloaded from the TrueNAS website or the system update feature within an existing TrueNAS installation.

The AOOSTAR R1 is a small and affordable computer with a 6-watt N100 quad-core processor. It stands out from other mini PCs with its support for up to two 3.5 inch hard drives and two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, making it an ideal choice for building a network-attached-storage (NAS) device or media server. The AOOSTAR R1 is available for purchase from the AOOSTAR website for $319, and it will soon be available on Amazon as well.

The base model of the AOOSTAR R1 comes with 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory and a 512GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD. However, users have the option to add their own memory and storage as well. The system has two M.2 2280 slots for solid state storage and two SODIMM slots for memory. The top cover of the computer can be removed to access the two 3.5 inch drive bays, allowing for easy installation of high-capacity hard drives or SSDs.

In terms of other features, the AOOSTAR R1 includes dual fans for cooling, support for up to three 4K displays through HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB 3.x ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a microSD card reader. The system also features dual 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports with I226-V controllers and supports WiFi 6.

The AOOSTAR R1 is powered by an Alder Lake-N processor, which offers improved performance compared to previous-generation Celeron and Pentium chips based on Atom architecture. However, considering the price difference between the AOOSTAR R1 with an N100 processor and the AOOSTAR R7 with a Ryzen 7 5700U processor, some users may find the AMD Ryzen model to offer better value for their money.

While the design of the AOOSTAR R1 is not entirely new, as similar systems have been released in the past, this model stands out for its use of an Alder Lake-N processor. Overall, the AOOSTAR R1 offers a compact and energy-efficient solution for those looking to build a DIY NAS or media server.

Source: Liliputing.