NAS devices

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rodloc

55 posts

Master Geek

#94513 13-Dec-2011 09:50

I am looking at a NAS server for my home office. And just wondering if anyone can provide any help.

I have a budget of around 200 to 300. I have looked at price spy. And am considering either Dlink DNS-320 or Netgear Stora MS2000.

The major thing i am interested in is Backing up my computers. and remote access.

I am open for suggestions for better NAS devices even if they are single bay.

What is recommended and anyone had any problems with the above devices.

thanks

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#557326 13-Dec-2011 10:19

is your budget just for the server itself, or also for the storage?

timmmay

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#557328 13-Dec-2011 10:21

IMHO backups should be offsite, to guard against fire and theft.

rodloc

55 posts

Master Geek

#557331 13-Dec-2011 10:27

NonprayingMantis: is your budget just for the server itself, or also for the storage?

Budget does include 1 TB hard drive for storage. however if you can recommend a NAS server within the budget without storage i can make do with a harddrive i do have available.

bazzer

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#557334 13-Dec-2011 10:39

DNS-320 works well for me. I've done some tinkering with funplug which lets you do a bit more than the standard firmware. There was another thread about it on here somewhere.

I use 3 1TB drives. One drive is the drive that all the files are served from. The second bay is another 1TB that gets daily backups of the first drive using rsync. Every now and then (nominally monthly) I swap out the backup drive for the 3rd 1TB (which resides at the in-laws') so I have some off-site peace of mind.

Zeon

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#557339 13-Dec-2011 10:48

I have a couple of QNAP NASes here (used for iSCSI though) and they work great. Quite expensive though.

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davidcole

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#557344 13-Dec-2011 10:54

Getting a 1TB NAS - which assumes 1 internal drive - you realise this leave you exposed for drive failure on the NAS device?

But I understand you're using this for backups and not the single source of your data?

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keepitwarm

265 posts

Ultimate Geek

#557368 13-Dec-2011 11:36

Synology works well. PB Tech ( depending where you are) have much more of and on the shelf selection ive noticed of recent. WD, Qnap, etc.

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simple logic.

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fab

155 posts

Master Geek

#557373 13-Dec-2011 11:56

Avoid Netgear Stora - it uses the web for access, is a pig to setup and then doesn't work very well. You can't just set it up as a network drive, and the software with it loses the password for no reason.

I'd avoid it like the plague...I installed one for someone, and it barely gets used - would be happy to sell it in fact! It's a Dog (note the capital D).

Technofreak

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#557382 13-Dec-2011 12:13

We have a QNAP TS-112 with a 1TB drive it cost a bit over $600 including the drive. The NAS without the drive was just over $300.

I'm very happy with it and would recommend it. It was easy to set up can be remotely accessed and backing up is easily done by using the USB connections or can be done to cloud.

If you need a high level of reliability and redundancy think about a RAID setup. But I suspect this isn't a high priority for you, however backups are certainly a very very good idea. RAID is not really designed for backing up it just ensures if one drive fails the server will continue to to work and serve files using a parallel drive.

As someone else mentioned you need to protect against fire, and the risk of theft, backing up isn't just to protect against data loss through drive failure or data corruption. Keeping a backup on site isn't the best option. We back up to two portable hard drives which we swap every day, the drive not connected is kept off site. Backing up to the cloud is also an option though cost both for the storage space and the data transfer are considerations. Also your internet connection speed is a factor when using the cloud.

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webwat

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#557420 13-Dec-2011 12:59

davidcole: Getting a 1TB NAS - which assumes 1 internal drive - you realise this leave you exposed for drive failure on the NAS device?

But I understand you're using this for backups and not the single source of your data?

If you are spending the money then you will mostly assume its reliable, so I reckon get 2 bays with mirrored drives so they don't disappoint you. Drives do fail occassionally, especially if they get dropped or handled (static discharge). Sync your important stuff to USB drives or cloud storage so that you can keep something offsite just incase.

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Hammerer

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#557473 13-Dec-2011 14:50

Here's another option you might consider if budget is an issue.

If you've got a spare PC and you're reasonably proficient with computers then you could put free NAS software such as FreeNAS on the PC.

Advantages of buying NAS box:

usually less work to setup
consumes less power
probably quieter
a good way to access new technology without upgrading your existing system (if you're prepared to pay for boxes with it)
probably has better dedicated support

Advantages of setting up freeware NAS on old PC:

low $ cost
highly flexible
often has more expansion/upgrade options
lots of user-produced info/tutorials on the Internet

cyril7

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#557480 13-Dec-2011 14:59

I would agree with Hammerer, I have been using an old PC for some years now running NASLite, if I were to rebuild it I would probably go for FreeNas. The advantage of such a solution is that it can deliver good levels of performance, something the cheaper NAS units in the price bracket you are looking at are poor at.

FreeNAS and Naslite (and similar other distros) run linux and therefore dont get bothered with what drives the mobo may originally have been able to handle, therefore my very old 486 running NASLite has 3T of disc on it without any issues, easily runs with 256Mbyte or ram, loads of a live CD and uses a USB stick for temp OS storage, cost near nothing to build, has a simple but elegant Web interface (so is headless) only down side is that its more power hungry than a NAS appliance, bit noisey (but its in a closet under the basement stairs so who cares).

Also it has run for two years without reboot, only reason for the last reboot was a power outage.

Cyril

spearsniper

133 posts

Master Geek

#557490 13-Dec-2011 15:10

I have one of the older Synology NAS's, and it is still rocking away like it did from day one.
I see the newer ones have backup to Amazon S3 as a feature, which is making me consider buying one of the later models.
Backups are super simple, as is configuring any of the features. The firmware updates to date have been flawless.

Skolink

1081 posts

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#557496 13-Dec-2011 15:19

You're on a budget, but don't be tempeted to buy a Welland NetShare ME-747AN-S. It is very slow, and the firmware isn't the best. I don't know if the Gigabit version would be any better.

nitrotech

1285 posts

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#557498 13-Dec-2011 15:32

Netgear MS2000 Stora is good value for money

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