NAS Storage

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janszoon

53 posts

Master Geek
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#27661 3-Nov-2008 12:33

Hello.

I'm doing some reasearch into a home solution for NAS Storage. I have read some of the topics on this site, great info...but some a little dated too (2006) so i wondered if anyone has revisitied or purchased lately?

Essentially my needs are as follows:
750gb-1.5 tb space, ideally upgradeableprobably 3.5 driveFTP or Web interface / managementSambaAbility to give 'world wide access' to files (for grandma to view baby pics)secure'always on'
I have seen 3.5 nas enclosures but dont know much about them:http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Peripherals/External-storage/External-hard-drives/auction-184805517.htm

and
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Peripherals/External-storage/External-hard-drives/auction-185632917.htm

I'm a bit new to all this NAS but essentially i would like and 'always on' drive that plugs into my wireless router. Ability for all computers and xbox on the network to connect to it. Remote access to the files on there as well. Open up to others to see files / manage access. I want to spend $300-400
I would appreciate any 'have you through about this?" comments too... :-)
Thanks in advance
J

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838 posts

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#175435 3-Nov-2008 13:29

I'm looking at adding a NAS device myself in the coming months. One thing that interests me is FreeNAS (www.freenas.org). I have a lot of old gear which I wouldn't mind using for this purpose, FreeNAS sounds ideal though I haven't tried it yet.

spk18

85 posts

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#175448 3-Nov-2008 14:05

Check out the Qnap website (http://www.qnap.com/product-index.asp#storage), I bought a TS109Pro and it has most of the specs you are seeking. I connect mine to my PS3 to stream video files and access iTunes. Also got a handy inbuilt bit torrent client. I am yet to find enough time to configure the www access to it but will have a look at that in the coming Xmas break too! I have been really happy with it, though thinking about it now I would go for a twin drive setup using a RAID configuration that protects my data on it better. I am not techie legend and yet the device is easy to configure, use and has good forums for assistance on their website. Good luck with the search!

janszoon

53 posts

Master Geek
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#175458 3-Nov-2008 14:53

thanks SPK18,

I thought the qnap was a bit pricey? 1K + ?

not sure I might be looknig at the wrong one.

itues and bittorrent is not that important for me, but web access / hotot display would be good.

The trademe ones look like i could get set up for sub $300 .... whats the catch?

J

spk18

85 posts

Master Geek
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#175464 3-Nov-2008 15:03

My TS109Pro cost me about NZD$400 (exclusive of HD) but I got that from eBay USA when the dollar was higher ;) Ascent had them at that time for $623 if memory serves me correctly. I then put a half TB HD in it, so cost me around $700 all up including HD.

Not sure about the Trademe one's sorry - did all my research back then and havent had a look recently.

CYaBro

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#175473 3-Nov-2008 15:54

I have two NAS units, one at home and one at work.
They are a D-Link DNS-323 and a Linksys NAS200.
Both take one or two SATA 3.5" drives. I have two in each with them set up in RAID1 for backup.

Both have FTP or remote access features but I have never tried them.
Both work great.
The main difference is the D-Link has a gigabit network socket while the Linksys is only 10/100 so file transfers are quicker to the D-Link if done from a machine with a gigabit network card.
The downside to both is that, if there is a power failure, neither of them turn back on automatically when the power comes back on.
The way to fix this would be to use a UPS.

I have two 750GB drives in one and two 1TB drives in the other

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#175483 3-Nov-2008 16:28

I have the D-Link DNS-323 and it's great. I put 2x Seagate 1TB drives in it (not using raid), it's low on power usage (low spec CPU in it and it powers down the disks) and it's very quick across the GB lan. The great thing about it is that it runs Linux so you can change it to your needs, a lot of the info is here: http://wiki.dns323.info/howto:fun_plug

What I've done is created a cron job (a scheduled task) that runs an rsync of certain directories once a night to the second drive, that way I didn't have to run raid1 which would backup a lot of data that I didn't need to backup. I also rsync offsite all my important files (photos etc) once a week (although I'm going to have to adjust this, while in Australia it was fine where uploads don't count towards your usage quota). Using fun_plug I've also been able to do things like install an NFS server for easier access from my Linux boxes.

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janszoon

53 posts

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#175639 4-Nov-2008 09:16

thanks for the info guys....has anyone had expereice with these type of units on trademe?Seems i can get 1TB of NAS for under $400. whats the catch?
J

CYaBro

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#175640 4-Nov-2008 09:29

Never had any experience with those ones you linked to but I will say that it would be best to stay away from those 'unknown brand' units.
I have in the past used some cheap no-name brand ones where you put in your own hard drive and they have died.
Usually the cheap power supplies they use die and they can sometimes take out the hard drive as well causing you to lose all your data!
Stick with the better known brands like Seagate, Western Digital, D-Link, Linksys etc.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

garvani

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#175658 4-Nov-2008 11:50

+1 for dlink 323 series.. I admitedly have the little brother DNS-313 (1bay) with a 1tb drive in it, awesome little box, i too looked around but ended up with a dlink, the performance over the nas-200 is insane... i may regret not getting the dns-323 in the comming months as 1tb is filling a little faster than expected.

lapimate

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#176048 5-Nov-2008 11:25

I have read elsewhere that it is recommended to use "Enterprise" spec. hard disk drives (engineered for 24/7 reliability) in NASs, rather than "Desktop" spec.

Any advice/comments?

CYaBro

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#176053 5-Nov-2008 11:49

lapimate: I have read elsewhere that it is recommended to use "Enterprise" spec. hard disk drives (engineered for 24/7 reliability) in NASs, rather than "Desktop" spec.

Any advice/comments?

Maybe, if the NAS is going to be used 24/7.
The D-Link and the Linksys, and probably every other NAS, have a power saving option so you can tell it to turn off the hard drive/s after 5,10,15.... minutes of no activity.
I have mine set to 10 mins.

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meesham

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#176055 5-Nov-2008 11:50

Personally I couldn't justify spending the extra money on the enterprise grade disks, the rate at which storage sizes are increasing I'll probably replace my drives before they fail, and if one fails I've got a backup strategy that'll mean I won't lose anything that's irreplaceable.

dazzanz

229 posts

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#176079 5-Nov-2008 12:50

I'm actually thinking of building my own NAS with an Intel Atom ITX board, all up I've priced it at around $440, most of it is the $178 case.
This should allow me to install whatever I want on it and even use it like a regular computer if I need to for some reason.

Ragnor

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#176182 5-Nov-2008 19:43

DIY NAS sounds like a good project for the upcoming xmas holidays. More control and choice over buying a pre made box. Would you mind elaborating on the parts you have chosen?

dazzanz

229 posts

Master Geek
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#176195 5-Nov-2008 20:40

Intel D945GCLF2 - Mini-ITX includes dual core Atom CPU -
Pioneer DVR-115DBK - Just a basic cheap DVD Writer
Inwin BM639 - Case, quite expensive but there isn't many options and I want an ITX case not mATX -
Transcend JM667QLU-2G, 1x2GB, DDR2-667, PC2-6400, CL5, DIMM

I already have 2 SATA II HDDs ready.

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