Well, setting up a 24-bay fileserver is certainly one obvious approach, but it costs some money. I put together a new 24-bay hotswap server recently. Assembly was required. You can buy ready-to-go solutions, but you will generally pay much more. I could pull up the parts list if that's of interest to you.

You can sometimes buy used servers for less than the cost of a new setup, but a lot of the used ones floating around have backplanes that won't recognize drives greater than 2TB.

Edit: as requested, parts list + setup notes below.

PARTS

CASE:

NORCO RPC-4224

https://www.amazon.com/NORCO-Mount-Hot-Swappable-Server-RPC-4224/dp/B00BQY3916/

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA00Y5105458

OS SSD:

https://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Digital-256GB-SKC400S37-256G/dp/B019SDOHMQ/

128GB

** connected to one of the onboard SATA slots on the motherboard and installed internally ... duct tape against one of the sides of the case works fine as a mounting solution.

CPU:

Xeon E3-1225 v5 SkyLake 3.0 GHz 8MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1UH3ZC0476

RAM:

DDR4, 16GB, ECC

https://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Technology-ValueRAM-KVR21E15D8-16/dp/B01DKBPY2E/

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820242215

MOTHERBOARD:

SUPERMICRO MBD-X11SAT-O ATX Server Motherboard LGA 1151 Intel C236

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813183022

"3x PCI-E 3.0 x16 (run at 16/NA/16 or 16/8/8), 1x PCI-E 3.0 x1 (in x4), and 1x 5V PCI 32-bit slots"

POWER SUPPLY:

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Supernova-Supply-Certified-110-B2-0850-V1/dp/B00KYK1CC6

SAS CABLES:

http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-30AWG-Internal-36-Pin-SFF-8087/dp/B008VLHOR2

Quantity: 6

HBAs:

SUPERMICRO AOC-SAS2LP-MV8 PCI-Express 2.0 x8 SATA / SAS 8-Port Controller Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101792

http://www.supermicro.com/products/accessories/addon/AOC-SAS2LP-MV8.cfm

It says "Windows 2003, 2008 and Vista" but I downloaded the driver and it explicitly states in the readme that it is WHQL certified: "Certified for Microsoft Windows 10 Client family, x64". I'm personally using this HBA driver with a Windows 10 system and a Server 2016 system with no issues.

Also - this comes with a full height bracket as well as low profile. Mine have come with the low profile bracket installed by default, so you probably need to swap them.

You could use LSI/etc cards, but these actually come as HBAs - that's all they do, so there's no need to go through an annoying flash process to get IT mode. Also, they're cheap, and they work well for me. I can't vouch for their unix driver status, however - so do some research if you will be using linux/bsd/etc.

Quantity: 3

FAN CONTROLLER (Optional ... see below)

Sentry AC SEN-MIX2-M1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DN3IT7M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

Total ATM : $1661

SETUP NOTES:

You will need extra molex connectors beyond what the EVGA PS above supplies. You can either order another 3-Molex lead (it's a modular power supply) and install that into one of the free modular "Accessory" power ports, or you can use splitters to convert 3 SATA power -> Molex.

As with other Norco models, you kind of need to take the fan wall out, unscrew the fans, remove the metal "finger guards", install the guards on the other side, then mount the fans on the other side. So that the fans are on the opposite side of the cage as when you first started, but the air flow is still moving in the same direction. If you don't do this, you won't have enough room to comfortably fit non-right-angle SAS + Molex connectors into the backplane. The downside is that the chassis includes a little metal shelf that hangs off the other side of the fan wall on which you can mount 2 SSDs. You can't use that if you flip the fans. If you can find right-angle connectors for both SAS + Molex, then you could do that instead of having to bother with this.

Including the CPU fan, you will need 6 x 3-pin fan power headers to drive all the fans. I ended up being 1 short. I used a fan controller instead (the above), but I had a heck of a time fitting it into the chassis. I managed to sorta-kinda screw it in against the back of the chassis along the top, but it was a pain. I would probably just try to find and use some Molex -> Fan adapter cables instead.

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY IN HINDSIGHT:

• Find some right-angle SAS and right-angle molex connectors or adapters so I didn't have to swap the fan arrangement on the fan wall.
  
• Buy shorter SAS cables. I just automatically ordered long ones, but they were way way too long, and it was messy trying to tuck all the excess behind the fan wall.
  
• Avoid using the fan controller (though it helps to be able to spin loud, high-RPM fans down)
  
• Possibly buy an M.2 SSD for the OS SSD instead... though M.2 SSDs can get awfully hot. Still probably the better option.
  
  

I use the LSI LSI00244 for FreeNAS. FreeNAS prefers HSB (Host Bus Adapters) over actual Raid Cards.

This card uses a SFF-8087. This is a major confusing point for most people. If you have a SFF-8087 Back-plain that hard drives slide into. For example in this NORCOR 4224 Case (that I'm using and love by the way) you will need a SFF-8087 REVERSE BREAKOUT CABLE if you are planning to go from the back-plain directly to sata ports like on a motherboard.

If you are looking to plug four drives into the LSI card listed above for example you would need a SFF-8087 BREAKOUT CABLE(notice this is not a reverse cable)these cables are different and can't be interchanged I can't stress that enough I see many reviews complaining about these cables not working because they are being misused.

And the easy cable is if your going from a back-plain (SFF-8087) to a raid or HBA card (SFF-8087) there you would just need a plain double sided cable like this

If you already have the SATA ports handy, just use a reverse breakout cable to connect to them. If you don't, or need more, I'd recommend the controller card I posted plus 2 SAS cables and you'll be good without have to spend $300+.

I am about to do the same (upgrading from a 2950 to a R710) and was curious if the 8087 cables needed to have a 90 degree connector on one end or if straight connectors on both end would work?

I am about to get these, but wanted to be sure.
http://amzn.com/B008VLHOR2

So the Perc H200 does connect to the backplane but requires some interesting connectors. I couldn't find the part numbers for the actual dell equiv.

I picked up these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VLHOR2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-685183-001-Proliant-DL360E-Gen-8-90-Degree-Mini-SAS-SFF-8087-Cable-672240-001-/332276019068?hash=item4d5d31af7c

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Now for the flash guide... I had no issues using this guide:

​

https://techmattr.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/updated-sas-hba-crossflashing-or-flashing-to-it-mode-dell-perc-h200-and-h310/

​

But the issue I was having was; I could not flash the card in the T410, I had to use another computer I had around.

​

Hopefully thats not the case for you!

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Good Luck!

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Sure - Just measure your cables and check if your want straight or 90 connectors. This is one that I bought for the A to A side, but mine is a tower, not a rack mount.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VLHOR2

yea you will need new cables. I've used both of these and they work great:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VLHOR2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Left-Angled-90D-Ultra-Slim-Flat-Mini-SAS-36pin-SFF-8087-to-8087-Data-Cable-80cm/253161959010?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Before I pull the trigger on this I have one more question to bother you with, if you wouldn't mind?

To connect the SAS9211-8I to the RES2SV240 I just need a SFF-8087 cable like this? Is there a specific port I need to plug it into on the RES2SV240? Or will it just be able to auto connect in any port or is there sofatre to set up the input?

Thanks again!