Recommendations for home NAS please

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imd6662

119 posts

Master Geek

#141066 28-Feb-2014 13:40

Hi

I'm interested in what people's latest thoughts are on the best option for a home NAS solution.

In this case, specifically, I simply want a centralised file store to (a) replace ageing desktop PC, (b) serve a range of latpops & tablets and odd phone (iOS, Android, Win8), and (c) provide relatively basic media storage and streaming (i.e. centralising music, pictures, some video, but not necessarily HD video stream or every format in the known universe).

I don;t want to sink too much in to this dollar-wise, so while I am a RAID fan in principle I'm not sure if it's worth the step up in cost

Have been considering the WD MyCloud but a little concerned about how easily it will be able to integrate it easily to, say, WMP on Win 8.

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek

#996380 28-Feb-2014 13:50

I currently have a single bay Qnap TS119, but I'd rather have one of these.

Not sure if you have to pay for the media server add-on.

Sideface

9349 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#996399 28-Feb-2014 14:02

If you are determined to do NAS on the cheap, without RAID, remember three things:

1. You always need more HDD space than you think you do - get the biggest HDD option
2. HDDs always fail eventually
3. You will need to store your data in at least two places

I use a WD My Book Live Duo 2-bay, with 2x 3TB drives set to RAID1 (this gives me 3TB of storage, which is "safe" if one HDD fails)
Be sure to set the system to data protection mode (also known as mirrored mode or RAID 1)

The single-bay 4TB version of the WD My Book Live is OK if you are willing to risk losing your data.

Sideface

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#996637 28-Feb-2014 20:08

Also check What format / filesystem the NAS box uses to save the data to the hard drives. Make sure that it is one that Windows / Linus ect understands. You don't want the NAS box itself to fail, meaning you now have 2 working hard drives which can't be accessed because your desktop OS cant work with their filesystem.

Have heard of someone who had to buy the same make and model of NAS box off ebay just to swap their drives into it to recover their data.

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#996643 28-Feb-2014 20:17

I use one of these Buffalo Linkstations.
Perfect for home use.