I handle the tech setup for a small copying company. Over the past year, we've moved dramatically from copying to scanning as many of our clients are going paperless.
Over the past year, we've pressed a Vista workstation into the role of a peer-to-peer file server, but we simply need to move forward for many reasons I won't go into here.
I would like a NAS appliance to replace this Vista box and to serve as the central repository for 5 workgroup scanners. Typically, we are scanning documents continually throughout the day - thus we have a steady stream of relatively small files that need to be written to the NAS. I'm thinking I'll need at least 1GB of storage in RAID 1 for immediate data redundancy in case of disk failure (even hourly backups don't offer protection as we are creating new data by the minute). Also essential is FTP as 2 of our scanners upload via FTP. In our environment, we don't hold on to the data for very long - after we scan, we burn or copy off the data and return them to the clients. This is why I don't need a continually growing amount of storage.
Our network infrastructure is very old 10/100 Ethernet. I realize that my network will be our performance bottle neck until we can upgrade. I want to change everything (switch, NICs, cabling) to support GigEthernet down the road, but hey, one thing at a time (NAS first).
I'm currently looking at the Buffalo TeraStation line, and the Netgear ReadyNAS line. But like so many others, I'm frozen by the many choices out there. I have about $1000 budget.
I'm I missing any considerations given my needs? Any suggestions or recommendations to help narrow my choices?
Thanks!!!!!
Over the past year, we've pressed a Vista workstation into the role of a peer-to-peer file server, but we simply need to move forward for many reasons I won't go into here.
I would like a NAS appliance to replace this Vista box and to serve as the central repository for 5 workgroup scanners. Typically, we are scanning documents continually throughout the day - thus we have a steady stream of relatively small files that need to be written to the NAS. I'm thinking I'll need at least 1GB of storage in RAID 1 for immediate data redundancy in case of disk failure (even hourly backups don't offer protection as we are creating new data by the minute). Also essential is FTP as 2 of our scanners upload via FTP. In our environment, we don't hold on to the data for very long - after we scan, we burn or copy off the data and return them to the clients. This is why I don't need a continually growing amount of storage.
Our network infrastructure is very old 10/100 Ethernet. I realize that my network will be our performance bottle neck until we can upgrade. I want to change everything (switch, NICs, cabling) to support GigEthernet down the road, but hey, one thing at a time (NAS first).
I'm currently looking at the Buffalo TeraStation line, and the Netgear ReadyNAS line. But like so many others, I'm frozen by the many choices out there. I have about $1000 budget.
I'm I missing any considerations given my needs? Any suggestions or recommendations to help narrow my choices?
Thanks!!!!!