Beginners questions about terramaster f4-424

[Hausmeier]

Hey @all,

I hope my question is right in this section. If not, feeling free to put it where it belongs to:

So, I wanted to buy a Terramaster f4-424 but I have some beginner's questions before I do it:

1.) Is it possible to install open mediavault (or another system) on it?
2.) Which Harddisks are the best for it and what's the maximal size a Harddisk can have?
3.) Do I need anything Else to get startet?
4.) In which ways is the f4-424 better than for example the d4-320? Both seem to be 4 bay nas-systems...

Thanks in advance for your Kind help.

Best wishes to All of you

[Valnjes]

1. Yes viewtopic.php?t=6937
2. The one you can buy. M.2 SSDs 4TB+ work without any issue, HDDs with 18TB are tested too
3. Internet with RJ45 connection
4. D4 is not a NAS, its just an Hard Drive Enclosure (DAS) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-attached_storage

[Hausmeier]

Thanks a lot for your quick reply.

So I just need to get some 3.5 hdd drives and I don't need an extra m.2 for the operating System?

Just to be sure...

Thanks again for your help

[Herewerare2024]

The system uses a super small usb connected to the motherboard by default. You can use a NVME drive for the OS if you want or configure it as a cache from the settings menus after you complete the initial setup.

I use 22 tb HHD's in the f6-424 max so I would assume that your f4-424 would also support 22/24tb drives. Depending on budget you could do well with 3 8tb HDD.

If you want to run the OS on an NVME you don't require a large drive for that. 256 or 500GB drive would work fine with more than enough space for the OS and APPS. Beyond that the storage of app data being on the NVME side or the HDD side really depends on the intent of the app.

[Herewerare2024]

When selecting drives for the NAS... drives like seagate ironwolf or ironwolf pro, western digital red work well for our purpose. When is comes to NVME drives western digital red sn700 are the "best" for various reason related to NAS, but you can still use the cheap dramless options as well. Depends on the usage of the device.

You can save on cost at the expense of reliability. If you leave the system on a lot or frequently turn it on and off... the "best" drives to use will change. If you use it for photobackups and personal video storage then redundancy will become likely more important than speed or cost.

[Valnjes]

So I just need to get some 3.5 hdd drives and I don't need an extra m.2 for the operating System?

Depends what OS you want to run.
TOS -> runs from an USB
Unraid -> runs from an USB
DSM -> ARC Loader runs from an USB, DSM must be installed on a HDD, or an M.2 SSD (can be enabled with add-ons from ARC)
TrueNAS -> HDD or SSD
OMV -> HDD or SSD
Windows Server -> HDD or SSD
Linux (almost any flavor) -> HDD or SSD, some can run from USB, like Puppy, or Live version
ChromeOS -> Can be run from USB, and can be installed to an HDD or SSD

So its up to your needs.

Be sure if you want to switch your OS, that you remove and store your TOS USB somewhere safe. You can make a new one, if you format it.
But i recommend a Sandisk Slim Fit for alternative OS like DSM with ARC Loader.

[Gremlin]

The system uses a super small usb connected to the motherboard by default.

No. TOS/Tnas does not use the usb to hold the operating system - ever! It simple runs the boot/init if nothing is found on hdd/ssd. This then lets TNAS-PC/Mobile 'find' the NAS regardless of network settings (which is why they specify only one lan port should be connected for initial setup).

hth.

[Gremlin]

Generally speaking the performance capabilities for the F4-424 are "vastly" different to those of the Fn-424 MAX. Don't be misled - read the specifications carefully.

[Valnjes]

The F4-424 comes in 3 flavors:

F4-424 / 8GB + M95 4 Core CPU
F4-424 Pro / 16GB + M305 8 Core CPU
F4-424 Max / 8GB but two SO-DIMM slots + 1235U 10 Core 12 Threads CPU

The M95 and the M305 PCB are almost the same - one difference is the extra fan header, that is not soldered on M95, but can be soldered easily, if you get this connector type.

The 1235U PCB is a lot different, with two DIMM slots.

But even the M95 can run a lot of different OS types - i run ProxMox and TrueNAS without any issues.
And the DSM is optimized to run on any potato PC.

[Hausmeier]

First of All, thanks for the great Support.

First of All, I'd take the f4-424 and not the f4-424 Max.

As you have posted a lot of different Information, I took All into conclusion and I think I'll buy the following drives.

A 500 GB m.2 Stick for true nas (any ideal which m.2 is most suitable). Think, this is better than installiert the OS on a hdd which is used for data.

And two data-hdd from Seagate for a raid1-system.

Do you think this is ok?