Seeking advice on selecting NAS

[satimis]

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a NAS for my church serving 9 workstations (OS - Windows and Linux). It is mainly for storage of photo. Apart from storage capacity what points I have to consider? What brand would you recommend. TIA

B.R.
satimis

 

[zurge]

Some things to look at

Well first off if you are using the NAS for storing photos, I assume that you will want to backup these files. Finding a NAS that allows you to schedule a backup would be important, I would think. Your backup location could be either a USB attached drive or offsite location, depending on how sensitive your data is. I would guess a USB drive would be suffice.

If you buy a 2 bay NAS and get a USB drive to backup your data on the NAS you should be in good shape.

How much storage space do you need?

Are you going to be doing anything else besides data storage? (Like media streaming, etc...)

Price range?

 

[satimis]

Well first off if you are using the NAS for storing photos, I assume that you will want to backup these files. Finding a NAS that allows you to schedule a backup would be important, I would think. Your backup location could be either a USB attached drive or offsite location, depending on how sensitive your data is. I would guess a USB drive would be suffice.

Hi zurge,


Thanks for your advice.

My church needs storing the photo taken in all activities throughout the year. Its size will increase yearly, at present about 1T. The device will serve 2/3 workstations via LAN.

If you buy a 2 bay NAS and get a USB drive to backup your data on the NAS you should be in good shape.

Please explain in detail. Why it needs 2 devices? Thanks

Are you going to be doing anything else besides data storage? (Like media streaming, etc...)

At the present moment only for photo storage.

Price range?

No budget in mind

B.R.
satimis

 

[stevech]

Recommendation:

master PC with windows share.
Two drives in that PC.
SecondCopy software with simple config to watch folder(s) on drive 1 and copy changes to drive 2.
http://www.centered.com/
It's what I use for automatic backups of my irreplaceable photos.
Sufficient. Cheap. Immune to RAID glitches and failure of one drive.
Immune to corruption of file system on one drive.
Simple. Cheap. Reliable. Good for low budget church use, and with no gurus needed.

One more essential: offsite backup in case of theft of PCs. This is as likely as a drive failure.
Best is a $100 USB disk. SecondCopy again. Keep the disk offsite most of the time, or in a safe.

 

[satimis]

Hi stevech,

Thanks for your advice.

Recommendation:

master PC with windows share.
Two drives in that PC.
SecondCopy software with simple config to watch folder(s) on drive 1 and copy changes to drive 2.
http://www.centered.com/
It's what I use for automatic backups of my irreplaceable photos.
Sufficient. Cheap. Immune to RAID glitches and failure of one drive.
Immune to corruption of file system on one drive.
Simple. Cheap. Reliable. Good for low budget church use, and with no gurus needed.

RAID or Slave HD on PC can't work for my church. Because the storage device has to serving 2/3 workstations. Otherwise the PC for file sharing needs to be switched on all the time. I think an USB HD will be the solution. I suppose it is cheaper than purchasing a NAS of equal storage space.


B.R.
satimis