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- Jan 26, 2015
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Roy-tmx86's OS X 10.10 Server mITX build:
GA-H97N-WIFI, i3 4330, HD4600 GFX, 8 GB RAM build
ComponentsGA-H97N-WIFI, i3 4330, HD4600 GFX, 8 GB RAM build
Case...................: Fractal Design Node 304
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ET0OFJY/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352033
PSU....................: Corsair VS350 80 plus ATX 350Watt
Not available on Amazon or Newegg, but any modern ATX =< 300Watt PSU will do
Mainboard...........: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI (rev1)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KB2HLWC/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128721
CPU....................: Intel i3-4330 3.5 Ghz[/b
Graphics.............: 4600 integrated
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EUUN76U/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA30R2C71281
RAM...................: 2x Crucial Ballistix Sport CL9 - 1600 Mhz - 4 GB (=8 GB)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006WAGGUK/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544
SSD....................: Kingston SSDNow v300 - 60 GB
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A35X6GM/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820721109
HDD...................: 2x WD Red WD20EFRX 2 TB (=4 TB)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JJLZ7G/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236343
Comments
I am new, but have been lurking for some time now.
I would like to share with you my 2nd build, which is meant to be my OS X Home Server for my/our iMac, MacBook and Apple TV.
This build is based on Stork's Guide: http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...i-using-hd4600-chimera-multibeast-method.html
Mine is almost exactly the same and I used Stork's guide to configure my build.
However, if you are interested in running this build as a server or at least if the Ethernet speed is important for you. And of course if you want to help me with the (minor)problems I still encounter regarding the Ethernet, please keep reading.
Specs/Requirements I had for this build:
- At least 4 TB space
- Has to run as iTunes server
- Has to provide storage for my other devices (because they are all low on space/SSD)
- I/O Speed (RAID 0), for converting for, and adding to/building my iTunes library and quick storage access for my other devices
Network method / structure:
Modem, Airport Extreme and this server all connected with 1 GigE links.
The clients are all connected with 802.11ac Wifi
Airport Extreme as DHCP & NAT
BIOS settings and installation of Yosemite:
Installation USB pendrive:
Created installation USB pendrive using the following steps:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...-x-yosemite-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html
BIOS settings:
(used http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...i-using-hd4600-chimera-multibeast-method.html from Stork as reference)
Enter BIOS with [DEL]
Load optimized defaults
Load Profile 1 in M.I.T. > Advanced Memory Settings > X.M.P.
Set BIOS Features > VT-d > Disable
Set Peripherals > Initial Display Output > IGFX
Set Peripherals > Intel Processor Graphics > Enable
(Stork disabled Wake on LAN, I do not know why, but I left it on as it is part of my build specs/reqs)
Save changes
Select to (overwrite) boot from your installation USB pendrive
Yosemite installation:
I simply followed the installation, no special boot options
I ignored the 2 HDDs, and only setup the SSD in Disk Utility to prepare for the Yosemite installation.
My boot after the initial installation failed, so I had to reboot and use boot option -x for safe mode.
Post Yosemite installation (multibeast):
Before running multibeast, I setup a software RAID 0 in Disk Utility for the 2 HDDs. After that I ran multibeast for Yosemite with the follow settings:
Quick Start >
...DSDT Free
Drivers >
...Audio.> Realtek ALCxxx > ALC892
...Disk ..> 3rd Part SATA
............> Intel Generic AHCI SATA
............> Trim Enabler
...Misc.> EvOreboot
..........> FakeSMC v6.11.1328
...!!* Network > Intel ......> * AppleIntelE1000e v3.1 (please refer to 27.Jan.2015 update)
...................> Atheros...> * Killer ALXEthernet v1.0.02
Bootloaders >
...Chimera v4.0.1
Customize >
...Boot Options .........> Basic Boot Options
...............................> Hibernate Mode - Desktop
...............................> Kext Dev Mode
...............................> Use KernelCache
...System Definitions .> Imac > Imac 14,1
...Themes ................> tonymacx86 Black
Problems encountered with ethernet:
The build is running great, the only problem I had is with the onboard Intel and Atheros ethernet controllers. During the post installation, originally I had used for the onboard network AppleIntelE1000e v3.1 and ALXEthernet v1.0.2. I thought everything was working nicely, even sleep and wake on LAN worked flawlessly, until I noticed two problems:
1. Using the Intel ethernet, the server's upload speed (so the reading of the clients) was extremely slow (5-10MB/s 802.11ac, 7-15MB/s 1 GigE).
2. Using the Atheros ethernet, everything was just unstable and crashing, so I avoided using it entirely
After testing different devices (iMac, MacBook) as server or client, I pinpointed the problem to be with the server's (so this build's) ethernet controllers.
Trying different kernel extensions for both controllers I found that for the Atheros controller only Killer ALXEthernet v1.0.02 was stable, full speed and Wake on LAN sort of worked, but only when there is a AppleTV/AirportExpress online in the network and it didn't always work after being woken once.
the only Intel kext which was stable and full/high speed to be AppleIntelE1000e v2.4.14. However, the Wake on LAN does not work with this one.
Update 27.Jan.2015: Actually the v3.1 AppleIntelE1000e kext now works perfectly, but it requires a fix.
Please refer to the 27.Jan.2015 update below.
With these kernel extensions I had the following results over 802.11ac (close range):
1.04 GB - 1 File to server : 11.5 Sec (90.4 MB/s)
1.04 GB - 1 File from server : 11.8 sec (88.1 MB/s)
1.04 GB - ~1800 files to server : over 4.29 min (4 MB/s)
1.04 GB - ~1800 files from server : 2.29 min (7.6 MB/s)
Current status:
Everything works nicely, apart from:
Atheros controller:
1. Wake on LAN appears to only work when there is an online Apple TV/AirPort Express.
2. After waking the server once, it doesn't want to go to sleep again.
Wifi/BT:
I haven actually bothered trying because I do not use these for this system.
But I know from my first build with a similar board that it didn't work very well.
I used replacements for the Wifi and BT, I will add these later to the post.
But I know from my first build with a similar board that it didn't work very well.
I used replacements for the Wifi and BT, I will add these later to the post.
Updates
27.Jan.2015
P1LGRIM pointed me to this thread: http://www.tonymacx86.com/multibeas...4-1-appleintele1000e-kext-v3-1-0-bug-fix.html
Doing exactly as MacVideoPro instructed fixed the problem with the Intel Ethernet Controller.
It is now as fast as the Atheros Ethernet controller and Wake on LAN works perfectly, so I am not using the Intel controller.
Fix in steps:
- I removed the v2.4.14 AppleintelE1000e.ketx in System\Library\Extensions.
- Installed the v3.1 AppleintelE1000e.ketx from multibeast
- Edited a copy of System\Library\Extensions\AppleIntelE1000e.kext\Contents\Info.plist
<key>NETIF_F_TSO</key>
<true/>
to:
<key>NETIF_F_TSO</key>
<false/>
- Replaced the original Info.plist with the copy just edited.
- Ran Ketx Wizzard to repair permissions.
- Reboot
Enjoy your H97N build.