Hello all,
I figured since I've gotten quite a list of sites I've used for my projects (pfSense, home network, and future planned VM/NAS server).
Serve The Home - Contrary to what you might think the name means, it actually means the /home directory of a linux server. This website is primarily about Enterprise grade server hardware. However while I was building a pfSense firewall there was a particularly useful thread about intel NIC models/Serial numbers and being able to find genuine NICs on eBay.
Thread for NICs
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https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/list-of-nics-and-their-equivalent-oem-parts.20974/
STH article about best NICs for pfSense boxes
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https://www.servethehome.com/buyers-guides/top-hardware-components-pfsense-appliances/top-picks-pfsense-network-cards-nics/
- This is a site primarily operated by a user call JDM_WATT who takes old(er) hardware and repurposes them primarily for home use. It was where I gained inspiration for my
1U pfSense Build. There are several build linked on the main page. SNAFU (Server Needs A Friggin' Upgrade) v2.0 and NAS Killer v4.0 (based on intel Socket LGA1155). The forums have more up to date stuff as there's a new NAS Killer v5.0 thread that's almost complete based on Socket LGA1150.
Shuck Stop - If you ever build a NAS and you've looked at the price of spinning rust chances are you've realized how much your wallet is going to hurt. It's actually cheaper to buy external hard drives and "shuck" them. That is take the hard drive out of the external enclosure than it is to buy the equivalent HDD outright. This was particularly true circa 2019. There was some drama about WD and SMR/CMR hard drives. If you're not sure what that means google "CMR vs HMR".
Lab Gopher - If you're looking to buy older Enterprise server check this. This site curates listings off eBay. Great for finding old Dell R720s and the like. Only does listings for US, UK, Canada and Australia, unfortunately.
