news
Released Nov 8, 2026, 5:30 PM EST
Umair Khurshid is an innovation author and designer with a strong concentrate on Linux, FreeBSD, cloud facilities, and automation.
Including another node to a Proxmox cluster includes a couple of hardware factors to consider. When I included my 5th node, a Lenovo ThinkCentre M910s, I likewise required more USB connection. The device had actually restricted USB ports offered, and I desired a simple method to link external storage and other peripherals.
I took a look at numerous PCIe USB growth cards, consisting of premium designs and less expensive options with more ports. I desired something that provided a trustworthy controller, appropriate Linux assistance, and enough bandwidth for my desired usage. The FebSmart FS-U4L-Pro fulfilled those requirements without making me pay additional for specifications my system could not completely utilize. Discovering a USB growth card for my 5th Proxmox node
Why I selected the FebSmart FS-U4L-Pro
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M910s is a compact service desktop that works well as a little home server. I utilize my own as a Proxmox node, and after including a 5th device to my cluster, I required more USB ports for linking external storage and other peripherals. The system has readily available PCIe growth slots, so including a USB controller was a useful method to broaden its connection without changing the motherboard.
There are a lot of affordable USB growth cards offered online. Some deal 6 or 7 ports for less cash than the FebSmart card. Numerous of these choices come from lesser-known producers, and their controller specs and Linux motorist assistance are frequently uncertain. I did not wish to include another prospective troubleshooting issue to a server that I meant to run as part of my Proxmox cluster.
The FebSmart FS-U4L-Pro, which costs less than $30, utilizes the Renesas UPD720201 USB 3.0 host controller. Renesas is a recognized controller producer, and the UPD720201 has assistance in the Linux kernel. FebSmart likewise promotes plug-and-play compatibility with a lot of Linux kernels, which fit my requirements.
The card includes 4 USB-A 3.0 ports through a PCIe 2.0 x1 connection without needing any extra power cable television from the PSU. The M910s has a reasonably compact chassis, so growth alternatives are more minimal than on a full-sized tower. It still offers PCIe slots for including elements such as network adapters, storage controllers, and USB growth cards. Because I currently had an offered slot, I might include the additional ports without utilizing an external USB center or altering the system’s existing setup.
Setting up the PCIe growth card
Including the card to the Lenovo ThinkCentre M910s
Setting up the FS-U4L-Pro on the Lenovo ThinkCentre M910s was simple. The card utilizes a PCIe 2.0 x1 user interface, I installed it in a PCIe 3.0 slot on the motherboard. PCIe’s backwards and forward compatibility enabled the older PCIe 2.0 card to operate in the more recent slot with no extra setup. Its metal bracket connects to the back of the case, enabling the 4 USB-A ports to stay available from outdoors.
<p>After linking to the hardware, I booted the Proxmox node and examined whether Linux discovered the controller utilizing the lspci command which notes USB-related PCI gadgets: <code>lspci | grep -i usb</code> The output revealed the Lenovo system's existing Intel USB controllers together with the extra Renesas USB 3.0 host controller. This validated the system identified the growth card. The card worked without needing me to set up a different chauffeur. That was among the primary factors I selected this design, especially due to the fact that I wished to keep the Proxmox node simple to preserve.</p> <p>I checked the growth card with external storage to see what sort of transfer speeds it might provide. With a USB 3.0 SSD enclosure, I taped consecutive transfer speeds of around 350 to 420 MB/s. That is a reputable outcome for a card linked through a PCIe x1 user interface.</p>
I likewise linked an NVMe SSD enclosure to see whether a much faster drive would enhance the outcomes. The PCIe connection ended up being the restricting element. The NVMe drive had more efficiency offered than the growth card might provide, so utilizing it did not produce a significant boost in transfer speeds.
A beneficial upgrade for my Proxmox node
The FebSmart FS-U4L-Pro is not the most affordable USB growth card offered, however it is not the most superior choice either. I selected it due to the fact that its specs matched what I required for this Proxmox node. A USB 3.2 card would have been a bad fit due to the fact that the older PCIe 2.0 connection would restrict the bandwidth readily available to it. A PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 card would likewise have actually indicated spending for abilities I could not completely utilize with this setup. The FS-U4L-Pro used the best balance for the hardware I was utilizing.
All 4 USB ports share 5Gbps of bandwidth, so this is not a replacement for a devoted high-speed storage user interface. Including 4 trusted USB 3.0 ports to a compact Proxmox node is still a significant upgrade, especially when you require more connection without changing the motherboard.
<br><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/i-replaced-my-desktops-missing-usb-ports-with-one-30-expansion-card/" class="button purchase" rel="nofollow noopener">Read More</a>
Discover more from PMN S.P.O.R.T.S - A PRIME MEDIA NETWORK BRAND
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
