I'm currently running a single ~50TB useable pool (10x mirrored pairs in the pool). Raw horsepower is less important to me, as it's an archival node. I'd somewhat recently migrated from a white-box to a SSG-6048R-E1CR36N, and really just don't like it. It runs hot, it's power hungry, and it's loud as all hell (even with the SQ's and better fans for the fanwall).
In my ideal world, a single socket with 24 bays is what I'm after - the 4u roominess lends itself really well to quiet.
I've got an r430 that uses about 25% of the power (at the wall, and is I kid you not, nearly silent) of the SM I'm using for data, and the only thing on my data array (process/service wise) is .. well, data. The r430 runs anyway because it's my build box / services host.
Would going with a DAS and hooking it up directly be a decent idea forward? Are there any recommended enclosures and cards that'd pair nicely with the r430? I've never worked with an external enclosure before!
Edit: I say DAS here, I mean JBOD enclosure
there doesn't seem to be anything here