Project Prison Break
Project Prison Break – Phase 1 (Core System, No New Storage)
Objective:
Implement a scalable, AI-ready infrastructure using the Synology DS1821+ while leveraging existing Synology storage over the network. This allows immediate deployment of AI models without requiring new storage upfront.
🖥️ Core Hardware & Costs
| Component | Description | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Synology DS1821+ | 8-bay NAS (Compute Hub) | $1,206.99 |
| 16GB ECC RAM (Synology D4ES02-16G or Crucial ECC) | AI needs memory | $300 |
| Google Coral USB Accelerator | AI inferencing boost | $60 |
| APC Smart-UPS 1500VA | Power protection | $500 |
💾 Storage & Expansion (Deferred for Later)
| Component | Description | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HDDs (IronWolf Pro 16TB or WD Red Pro 14TB) | Networked from existing Synology | $0 (For Now) |
| NVMe SSD Caching (Synology SNV3410 400GB) | Speeds up AI tasks | $150 (Optional Later) |
💰 Total Phase 1 Cost
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Synology DS1821+ | $1,206.99 |
| RAM (16GB ECC) | $300 |
| Google Coral AI Accelerator | $60 |
| UPS (APC 1500VA) | $500 |
| Total Essential Cost | $2,066.99 |
🔥 💡 Budget Adjustment:
- Existing Synology Network Storage Saves ~$900-$1,800 Upfront!
- NVMe SSD Cache & More HDDs Can Be Added Later (~$150-$900+ Depending on Need)
🛠️ Implementation Plan:
✅ Phase 1: Buy & Install Core Hardware
- Set up Synology DS1821+ with no internal storage
- Upgrade to 16GB ECC RAM
- Connect Google Coral AI Accelerator
- Configure DSM (Synology DiskStation Manager)
✅ Phase 2: Configure Networked Storage
- Mount existing Synology via iSCSI or SMB/NFS
- Treat networked storage as local for AI model processing
✅ Phase 3: AI Setup
- Deploy Mixtral 8x7B AI model
- Optimize RAM & Compute Settings for AI workloads
✅ Phase 4: Expand Local Storage Later
- Add NVMe SSD caching for performance boost (Optional)
- Expand with HDDs as needed for direct storage
💡 Summary
This approach ensures maximum efficiency with minimal upfront cost, prioritizing AI deployment while maintaining scalability for future storage expansion.
🔹 Immediate AI Functionality ✅ 🔹 Lower Upfront Cost ✅ 🔹 Full Scalability & Future-Proofing ✅
🚀 Project Prison Break is a GO.