Flashing LSI 2208 with IT firmware to use as an HBA

Danger Will Robinson!! This page has information which is not substantiated, and certainly not supported by any vendors mentioned on this page.  Any damage sustained to yourself, your equipment, or your data is entirely your own responsibility, and if you break things, whilst I am sympathetic and feel your pain, I am not responsible as…

FreeNAS 9.2.1.5 with Xen PVHVM support

So after a couple of comments from readers (what? you mean I’m not just screaming into the void?), I decided to investigate building the latest version of FreeNAS with Xen support. Since my original post about building FreeNAS 9.2 for Xen, the FreeNAS developers released 9.2.1 which added some cool stuff like Samba 4, newer…

freeNAS 9.2 ISO with Xen PVHVM support

Update 2/10/2014:  A new build updating the files to FreeNAS 9.2.1.8 which includes a bunch of samba updates, and importantly, the fixes for the bash shellshock vulnerability. Update 17/5/2014:  I’ve replaced the links on this page to a newer version, FreeNAS 9.2.1.5, and added the Upgrade file.  Note for the upgrade through the FreeNAS UI,…

Encrypted backup to the cloud

My current off-site backup is a couple of hard drives in external (usb2) enclosures, which are rotated to a family member’s house.  I’m now pondering adding a cloud-based backup to my environment. The problem with cloud backups is security – I want to encrypt the data locally, and then be able to rsync it to…

Review – Vantec EZ Swap F4 drive cage

I specifically chose the case for my new home server for its internal bays (7x 3.5″) and its external dimensions, as it has to fit on the same closet shelf as my old Microserver N36L.  I ended up choosing the Lian-Li PC-V354b Case which is working out great for me. More on that in another…