Category Archives: Storage

Recording FM radio with RetroPie

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Note: This works on just about any Linux install. I just wanted the excuse to set up a RetroPie.

Installing and Configuring RetroPie

RetroPie recommends at least a Pi 3. I went with a Pi 4 8GB in order to future proof my setup. Since I plan on leaving it constantly on and hooked up to my home theater I wanted a passively cooled case. The Flirc Pi 4 case fit my needs and looks good as well. Installing the Pi in the case was easy and straightforward. Attach the thermal pad, place the Pi in the case and screw it together. That’s it.

Installing RetroPie is just as easy. Download the RetroPie image, extract it and install it onto a MicroSD card. By default the pi runs samba which allows you to copy your roms over the network to the pi. This is great for ease of use but I don’t want to have to worry about losing my roms if the MicroSD card fails. Instead we’ll be serving the roms over the network.

I originally configured my rom share on my TrueNAS (formerly FreeNAS) server for NFS. That way I could set it to read only with mapall permissions for easy connection. However, NFS doesn’t use a set port and I have my home theater firewalled off because it’s connected via Powerline. NFS can be configured to run on a specific port but that has to happen per client and it’s much easier to just switch to SMB.

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Installing Plex on FreeNAS 9.3

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If you are not familiar with Plex then you should take a look at their website.

Plex organizes your video, music, and photo collections and streams them to all of your screens.

What this explanation leaves out is that Plex will handle all of the details for you fairly seamlessly. Whatever format your collection is in, Plex will automatically ensure that it is compatible with whatever device you are using to view the collection. First I will explain how to install it on FreeNAS and then I will talk more about the software itself.

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FreeNAS Xeon D Build Journal

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While my existing FreeNAS server works well and has not had a single problem, there are some things I wish I had done differently. Thus I present to you version two of my FreeNAS server.

* Do not use this case. Get the SuperChassis 743TQ-865B-SQ instead.

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My FreeNAS Build

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UPDATE: I have replaced this server with a newer build.

I have had quite a few people ask me about my FreeNAS build, so here it is in all of it’s glory.

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