Hi everybody,
I am looking for a new NAS solution for my office.
1. SITUATION
I use with video files and animations a lot. The big video files for editing are kept on the local machine, but animations, graphics, sounds, etc etc should be accessible from different machines (Windows - getting less, Macs - becoming more) over the network.
A typical project is: hundreds of image files in various directorys, some large files (like sounds or huge graphics) and mostly graphic applications.
Speed is important, to a lesser extent is data security, because only the "results" need to be backuped once a project is finished, so I don't have to keep *everything* forever.
SOLUTION 2A. USED NAS RAID5
I could buy a used (approx. 1 year old) Zyxel NSA-2400 with 4 500 GB discs installed for approx. 500 USD.
Pro:
- Plugin, install, works - that's it
- Might still have manufacturers support
- Has been tested by others
Cons:
- How good is the performance with Mac? (doesnt support AFP?)
- Performance is good, but not great
SOLUTION 2B: DIY RAID
I have a ASUS P5B Deluxe Board that comes with 6 SATA plugs and makes
RAID 5 possible out of the box. I would have to buy disks, to some work in the basement and have a 1GB Ubuntu RAID monster.
Pros:
- Performance is fantastic (?)
- Might come cheap, I only need to buy the drives
- Can put more disks in/configure it any way I want to
Cons:
- PC Hardware fails more quickly? (Rumor?)
- Powerhungry
- I might run into some bizarre problem during setup and spend xmas and new year in the basement trying to figure them out (you KNOW what I mean
)
I'm sorry for the long post, but I tried to cover my need as thoroughly as possible.
If anyone could give me some advice, I would be very thankful.
thanks
ypar
I am looking for a new NAS solution for my office.
1. SITUATION
I use with video files and animations a lot. The big video files for editing are kept on the local machine, but animations, graphics, sounds, etc etc should be accessible from different machines (Windows - getting less, Macs - becoming more) over the network.
A typical project is: hundreds of image files in various directorys, some large files (like sounds or huge graphics) and mostly graphic applications.
Speed is important, to a lesser extent is data security, because only the "results" need to be backuped once a project is finished, so I don't have to keep *everything* forever.
SOLUTION 2A. USED NAS RAID5
I could buy a used (approx. 1 year old) Zyxel NSA-2400 with 4 500 GB discs installed for approx. 500 USD.
Pro:
- Plugin, install, works - that's it
- Might still have manufacturers support
- Has been tested by others
Cons:
- How good is the performance with Mac? (doesnt support AFP?)
- Performance is good, but not great
SOLUTION 2B: DIY RAID
I have a ASUS P5B Deluxe Board that comes with 6 SATA plugs and makes
RAID 5 possible out of the box. I would have to buy disks, to some work in the basement and have a 1GB Ubuntu RAID monster.
Pros:
- Performance is fantastic (?)
- Might come cheap, I only need to buy the drives
- Can put more disks in/configure it any way I want to
Cons:
- PC Hardware fails more quickly? (Rumor?)
- Powerhungry
- I might run into some bizarre problem during setup and spend xmas and new year in the basement trying to figure them out (you KNOW what I mean
)I'm sorry for the long post, but I tried to cover my need as thoroughly as possible.
If anyone could give me some advice, I would be very thankful.
thanks
ypar
