What I am looking to do:
1) Network File Shares
2) U PnP w/ Xbox 360 (media on NAS, output XBOX 360)
3) I would like to be able to automate downloads so I can drag a link I want to download from one of my laptops and have it download to the NAS, even with my laptop offline
4) Anyway to stream audio and video to iphones on our WIFI network?
5) I prefer lower power usage and noise
First step:
1) We are going to take a 5 year old computer with a pentium 4, 2 GB of RAM, and 4 sata ports
2) We are going to purchase x2 1.5 TB Seagate's at Fry's for $117 each today for data and utilize an old hard drive for OS
3) What is the best OS to use for the above requirements? I have access to all Microsoft products (legally) and don't have issues using linux
4) If we setup the x2 1.5 TB Seagates Raid 0, how hard would it be to add drives to them or move them to a new motherboard? Would I have to backup all the data and start from scratch?
Second Step: Once Comfortable....
1) Purchase the below components, any comments on something better?
a) 2U Rackmount: I'm not sure if I want to go to 4U or not, I would prefer not to have to use Riser cards but would also like to get the smaller form factor of a 2U.
b) Motherboard w/ x8 SATA Connections: This board has x8 sata connections, x2 GIGE NICs, and supports my legacy Pentium 4 and RAM so I don't have to buy a new but still lets me upgrade in the future, any better ideas? - price is amazing too
2) What is better to use with a motherboard like this, the motherboard RAID, software RAid, or do I need to look at getting a RAID card
3) Currently our network is fast ethernet with 802.11G wireless, what do you recommend upgrading too?
End State I'm looking at spending $404 for 3 TB Raid 0, motherboard with lots of expansion, in a rackmountable form factor (I have a 19" rack in the media room) This thing may become a media center in the future, or at least replace the XBOX for movie playback - OS, Raid decisions, and network upgrades are still confusing me
1) Network File Shares
2) U PnP w/ Xbox 360 (media on NAS, output XBOX 360)
3) I would like to be able to automate downloads so I can drag a link I want to download from one of my laptops and have it download to the NAS, even with my laptop offline
4) Anyway to stream audio and video to iphones on our WIFI network?
5) I prefer lower power usage and noise
First step:
1) We are going to take a 5 year old computer with a pentium 4, 2 GB of RAM, and 4 sata ports
2) We are going to purchase x2 1.5 TB Seagate's at Fry's for $117 each today for data and utilize an old hard drive for OS
3) What is the best OS to use for the above requirements? I have access to all Microsoft products (legally) and don't have issues using linux
4) If we setup the x2 1.5 TB Seagates Raid 0, how hard would it be to add drives to them or move them to a new motherboard? Would I have to backup all the data and start from scratch?
Second Step: Once Comfortable....
1) Purchase the below components, any comments on something better?
a) 2U Rackmount: I'm not sure if I want to go to 4U or not, I would prefer not to have to use Riser cards but would also like to get the smaller form factor of a 2U.
b) Motherboard w/ x8 SATA Connections: This board has x8 sata connections, x2 GIGE NICs, and supports my legacy Pentium 4 and RAM so I don't have to buy a new but still lets me upgrade in the future, any better ideas? - price is amazing too
2) What is better to use with a motherboard like this, the motherboard RAID, software RAid, or do I need to look at getting a RAID card
3) Currently our network is fast ethernet with 802.11G wireless, what do you recommend upgrading too?
End State I'm looking at spending $404 for 3 TB Raid 0, motherboard with lots of expansion, in a rackmountable form factor (I have a 19" rack in the media room) This thing may become a media center in the future, or at least replace the XBOX for movie playback - OS, Raid decisions, and network upgrades are still confusing me
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