NAS or Hard drive ?

[Mr.Angry]

I have a Qnap TS-109 which I have 'filled' and want to add another device to my network. Do I need to buy another NAS or is there a less expensive method I can use to store video/audio files and stream them in the same way as I do now ?

I take it I can't daisy-change NAS devices ?

 

[teknojnky]

typically you can not 'stack' multiple nas into one huge logical drive, although there are some higher end/business models which supposedly can.

But I would expect most nas that has usb connections, to let you share a usb drive.

Obviously this would be a separate share and you would not be able to 'expand' the nas space with the usb drive space, it would just be additional separate space.

 

[Mr.Angry]

Thanks teknojnky. Yes, my NAS has a USB connection. Would I be right in saying then that if I connect a hard drive to this USB port and load my video/audio files onto it that I would be able to stream those files via the software installed on the NAS ?

Sorry if I sound a bit thick.

 

[teknojnky]

I would think so, but I'm not familar with your device.

Why don't you just try it and tell us?

 

[Mr.Angry]

Hi teknojnky,

Well apparently you can add external storage (and stream using the Twonky and Squeezecenter software installed on the NAS) as long as it is on the compatibility list for your particular NAS. So I have now ordered this;

http://qnap.expertsinstorage.com/switches/external-enclosure/esata-usb-easyswap.html

Plus I paired it with the Samsung 2TB HD204UI disk. I have a Samsung Spinpoint in my current NAS and it has been faultless for three years....and counting !