- System76 Meerkat is my workstation with pop-os, I have 2. a Beelink s13 that I have installed and configured fedora server headless with podman for a development lab, and for 3. My vision was a NAS Samba plus Jellyfin and Homeassistant device. NAS supports 2 ssd plugged directly into usb which host backup for Meerkat and s13.
For 3., I have tried unsuccessfully with a raspberry pi 5, not saying I have any skill whatsoever but I spent a significant amount of time and got so fucking close but it was not a sustainable system that I created in the end I moved on next to a GMK G3 plus which, out of the box, and immediately could not sustain connection to the ssd via usb, I methodically tested all the usb ports with both ssd devices and concluded that there was no fucking way this unit will sustain a connection to these usb ssd for any amount of time. So I am not using that device.
I have ordered and waiting to receive Beelink s12 and going to try that next for my 3. vision.
All that said, I am in the struggle and if anyone had kind words or advice, yes please.
Also, please shoot me straight: am I removed? Is this a recipe for failure? Is it unreasonable to run those services on s12? Is it foolish to think I can sustain two ssd via usb and backup via Samba with s12?
S13 and s12 are ethernet connected to router, Meerkat is wireless connected.
I genuinely appreciate any attention here, thank you for your time.
*Also wanted to add, earlier I got one of the refurbished servers, Lenovo I believe, off Amazon. It was advertised with 1 TB ssd. When it arrived, there was no ssd and the ribbon cable appeared damaged. Just adding that for the record here as well.
UPDATE 2: Beelink s12 still holding strong.
Got the following from Beelink customer service:
"Regarding the question you asked about the output power of the machine’s USB interface, the answer is 7.5W.
If you want to use external hard drives on the USB interface, it is suggested that do the following solution：
please uncheck the save energy in the device manager-- universal serial bus controller–USB hub-- properties–power management—uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power”
As for the g3 usb/ssd issue, it’s case closed for now with root cause 5 W max per usb port.
As for this useage case: s12 > pi 5 >>> g3plus.
My opinion is that the Beelink gear is better than GMK based on my experience with s12 and s13 versus g3plus. The Beelink stuff has way better aesthetics and build quality in my opinion.
Hope this was enlightening, I learned a lot. Thank you. Peace.