Hi all.
So I did go through the article from a couple years ago.
I'm looking for some advice about what type of network storage would be best for my current situation. Since the last time I set up a NAS I've had two kids, and, frankly, I have not been keeping up with the tech and am wondering what the best options out there are now, specific to needs. I really don't know how much has changed in 5-6 years or so.
My old NAS is a QNAP TS-109. The other day I heard some terrible noises, and short story even shorter I opened up the drive to see a massive head crash that just carved giant grooves into the platter. Fortunately, there was an external backup attached.
My first thought was to go buy a new HDD for my QNAP... but then I realized how old it is and wondered what I've missed. Btw, a primary motivator for the TS-109 originally was that it was fanless, but that's less of an issue where it is kept these days, though less noise is always a good thing.
So here's the question/s:
-Ok, first some info about the devices in our home: A couple windows laptops, though not usually more than one in use at a time. A couple ipads and a couple iphones. A Sonos system. Some other typical peripherals. Oh, and I guess some networked TVs and blu-ray players, XBox, Lorex security system, etc.
-Router is a Linksys WRT1900AC, with the matching 8-port gigabit switch. There's a WD MyBook connected to the 1900AC as network-attached storage (my extra photo backup location to supplement QNAP, and I've always transferred new photo folders manually to each device over the network).
1) Are NASs becoming obsolete, especially for casual users? Are they even the best solution these days for home data/photos backup, and as the storage location for the music used by the Sonos system? Are network/router-attached HDDs a better or more common route now? Is there another option I am not considering or might not be aware of? What are most knowledgeable people doing?
2) What are the benefits of a new NAS compared to just putting a new disk in my old one? Obviously speed, but that wasn't a problem with the old one, with mostly just photos, important docs backup, and music use. Should I just stick with what works? Or what might I miss out on using my old NAS? I never streamed video from the NAS much, and once upon a time I set up a domain and shares for pics, etc., but I haven't done that in probably 4 years now with the advent of certain websites.
3) Specific device recommendations? Bump up to RAID5 system for any reason? Bump down to just more router attached storage?
4) I'm aware of services like Carbonite. The idea of paying a monthly fee for storage never appealed to me much if you start adding up the cost over many years. Despite an ioSafe, a home disaster like a fire is a bit scary.
... I don't know. I guess the photo collection and all the other data combined has just become so unwieldy I feel like I must not be doing the best thing or have the best setup for organizing and managing it all. So I'm wondering what everyone who's doing it well is doing these days.
I'll cut this off now cause it's way too long. Kept wanting to give more details. Point has probably been made already. Thanks everyone.
So I did go through the article from a couple years ago.
I'm looking for some advice about what type of network storage would be best for my current situation. Since the last time I set up a NAS I've had two kids, and, frankly, I have not been keeping up with the tech and am wondering what the best options out there are now, specific to needs. I really don't know how much has changed in 5-6 years or so.
My old NAS is a QNAP TS-109. The other day I heard some terrible noises, and short story even shorter I opened up the drive to see a massive head crash that just carved giant grooves into the platter. Fortunately, there was an external backup attached.
My first thought was to go buy a new HDD for my QNAP... but then I realized how old it is and wondered what I've missed. Btw, a primary motivator for the TS-109 originally was that it was fanless, but that's less of an issue where it is kept these days, though less noise is always a good thing.
So here's the question/s:
-Ok, first some info about the devices in our home: A couple windows laptops, though not usually more than one in use at a time. A couple ipads and a couple iphones. A Sonos system. Some other typical peripherals. Oh, and I guess some networked TVs and blu-ray players, XBox, Lorex security system, etc.
-Router is a Linksys WRT1900AC, with the matching 8-port gigabit switch. There's a WD MyBook connected to the 1900AC as network-attached storage (my extra photo backup location to supplement QNAP, and I've always transferred new photo folders manually to each device over the network).
1) Are NASs becoming obsolete, especially for casual users? Are they even the best solution these days for home data/photos backup, and as the storage location for the music used by the Sonos system? Are network/router-attached HDDs a better or more common route now? Is there another option I am not considering or might not be aware of? What are most knowledgeable people doing?
2) What are the benefits of a new NAS compared to just putting a new disk in my old one? Obviously speed, but that wasn't a problem with the old one, with mostly just photos, important docs backup, and music use. Should I just stick with what works? Or what might I miss out on using my old NAS? I never streamed video from the NAS much, and once upon a time I set up a domain and shares for pics, etc., but I haven't done that in probably 4 years now with the advent of certain websites.
3) Specific device recommendations? Bump up to RAID5 system for any reason? Bump down to just more router attached storage?
4) I'm aware of services like Carbonite. The idea of paying a monthly fee for storage never appealed to me much if you start adding up the cost over many years. Despite an ioSafe, a home disaster like a fire is a bit scary.
... I don't know. I guess the photo collection and all the other data combined has just become so unwieldy I feel like I must not be doing the best thing or have the best setup for organizing and managing it all. So I'm wondering what everyone who's doing it well is doing these days.
I'll cut this off now cause it's way too long. Kept wanting to give more details. Point has probably been made already. Thanks everyone.
However, definitely add more more backup to your round of backups as eventually that NAS will fail--they all do at some point. I definitely wouldn't change to raid5 unless you were on raid0. raid 1 is great for security of the data, and that seems to be your primary need.
