My 2x 4TB drives are in. I’m just moving forward. I wanted to have validate what OS to use and what virtualization. But screw it, going for Ubuntu server, I need to be comfortable with linux on the command line and I don’t want anything getting in the way.
Now I need to figure out how to physically install them (since the chassis does not support more than one). Zip Ties!! Had plenty of sata ports, so I stole some cables form my old PC. And then zip tied the 2nd drive.
I downloaded the latest version of Ubuntu Server, 20.04 LTS and burned it to the disc. Since I want to utilize a software Raid, I looked on-line (it’s only been 15years since I configured a Raid myself) this link gave a pretty good overview of how to proceed. I also found this link useful.
Without going through the details of my pain I kept getting stuck on the manual configuration of the storage system. It is allowing me to create a Raid, but not select a boot device…. I should have foreseen this, the OS needs a “raw” device to boot from, yet I only have the two drives which I intend to be my storage. I’m guessing I need an additional drive, but more importantly I need to sleep.