1st NAS - Home

[Dryland51]

I've built computers for years. Running a wireless network now with about 5 PC's accessing. Would like to put together a NAS/Home Server to allow us to store pictures, music, etc. It will be hard connected to the router.

Do I take an older PC setup and try to make that into a NAS/Server or do I buy something off the shelf or try to find parts for a NAS/Server and build one myself?

Do I run Linux or WHS or ?

Would really appreciate input/suggestions on good options. I would expect to do raid and hotswap is appealing but probably not critical.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[thiggins]

If you like to tinker, go for building your own. Take a look at the Fast NAS series and the Atom-powered NAS articles in the NAS How To section. Note that none of the NAS distros like OpenFiler, FreeNAS, etc. have the ease-of-use that off-the-shelf NASes have.

If you build your own, consider not using a PC to minimize power, heat and noise.

 

[Dryland51]

Home NAS followup

I just read the Atom series as well as a couple of the others. The following questions arise:

1) Are there any cases sold (with PS?) that allow one to build their own NAS rather than buying a regular PC case?

2) While I really enjoy building and playing am I better off just buying a pre-built system and if so which might be the best choices?

Needs:

A) Should one use RAID or not and if so 1;5;6;10? I would prefer to have atleast some redundancy (backup)

B) Will use for pics; music and backing up key files from various PC's

C) Windows server? Linux? Or?


I enjoy the learning stage as much as the building/buying. I'll keep looking at the articles and reviews but discussion, comments and thoughts are valuable.

Dick

 

[Dryland51]

Synology 207?

Reading some of the discussions is the Synology 207 reasonable for a first NAS? I see it for about $300 at Newegg + 1TB drives for $114 each.

I also looked at the Netgear units and the Thecus....always a question of the best balance between price; stability; usability and value.