Hey everyone! I'm looking for some guidance on how to repurpose my Nimble CS3000 for use with TrueNAS. I've got two of these devices, each equipped with two controllers, 21 x 4TB HDDs, and 3 x 1.9TB SSDs. Is it feasible to set this up? Let me know if I should share some pictures for reference. Thanks a lot!
3 Answers
It’s basically a Super Micro Twin-pro, so you can install an OS on it. I was impressed when I saw it boot up and even noticed a VGA connector on it! It's a pleasant surprise for such hardware.
You can create a volume and connect it to another server via iSCSI or FC. However, you can't directly install TrueNAS on the Nimble itself since the controllers have their own software. If you're determined to use TrueNAS, it might be better to build a dedicated server and use the drives from the Nimble.
Alternatively, you could set up a VMware host, connect the Nimble for data storage, and run TrueNAS as a VM if that’s what you're aiming for.
I can’t say for sure about this specific model, but many Nimble systems are just Supermicro chassis, and in the past, installing a different OS on the internal SSDs was possible.
Yes, it should be possible! A lot of people have found ways to repurpose similar hardware. You might want to check out any guides related to the Nimble CS3000 in community forums.
That's really interesting! I came from an Equallogic background too, and it’s great to see such compatibility.