HP Mini homelab cluster - storage recommendations

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jab

New Member
Nov 11, 2020
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HI all,

I purchased 3 x HP EliteDesk 705 Mini's on a pretty deal. Not the best configuration out there for TMM nodes, but it's what I've got to work with. I've added RAM, ordered USB 3.1 nics, and now I'm trying to decide how best to fill the available storage slots.
Each unit has 1 x m.2 and 1 x 2.5in expansion for storage. I plan to use mirrored USB boot drives, so I've got both slots open.
Use case is basic homelab virtualization (likely proxmox) for pet projects, learning, media and home network loads, etc.


Options I've considered:
  1. keep existing NVMe drive for fast(er) storage (256GB WD SN520) and fill the 2.5in bay with the largest used enterprise SSD I can afford.
  2. replace existing m.2 with 1TB sata/nvme and add matching 1TB sata in 2.5in bay, then mirror them.
  3. another option I haven't thought of??
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!
JAB
 
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