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Thread: NAS or file server?

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    NAS or file server?

    Hi,

    My users are exceeding the capacity of our current file server. So I'm trying to decide between a NAS or File server. I'm planning on about 5TB. What do you recommend?

    The users will be accessing the data constantly (non database related) for their files reading/saving, I've got about 30 users.

    And why are dell sata HHD drives so expensive? 1TB, SATA, 3.5-inch, 7.2K RPM Hard Drive (Hot Plug) [add £260.00] vs £90 from Scan - ok it's hot plugable but.....

    Cheers

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    Re: NAS or file server?

    Quote Originally Posted by smelly View Post
    And why are dell sata HHD drives so expensive? 1TB, SATA, 3.5-inch, 7.2K RPM Hard Drive (Hot Plug) [add £260.00] vs £90 from Scan - ok it's hot plugable but.....
    Because they are server grade drives not bog standard drives, just remeber you also need someway to backup this lot and are you going to be running raid for redundancy?.

    Lee

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    Re: NAS or file server?

    If your going down the NAS route, 5TB is a lot of data and as mentioned, you also have to be able to back it up

    If you were going all out, then I would look at 2 Readynas Pro boxes with UPS's, probably the best part of 6k-7k, but you will have redundant and rapid storage and the 2nd box as its backup

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    Re: NAS or file server?

    Quote Originally Posted by smelly View Post
    Hi,

    My users are exceeding the capacity of our current file server. So I'm trying to decide between a NAS or File server. I'm planning on about 5TB. What do you recommend?

    The users will be accessing the data constantly (non database related) for their files reading/saving, I've got about 30 users.

    And why are dell sata HHD drives so expensive? 1TB, SATA, 3.5-inch, 7.2K RPM Hard Drive (Hot Plug) [add £260.00] vs £90 from Scan - ok it's hot plugable but.....

    Cheers
    Definitely a fileserver. DELL's drives are expensive because they form part of the support they provide to you. If you buy a drive from SCAN and it cause any incompatibility with the Dell system, they're not responsible for it.

    If you currently own one of the Dell PE 1xxx or 2xxx server, put in a cheap PERC5/i or PERC6/i and a couple of 1TB / 1.5TB drives will give you speed about 10-15 times faster than a typical NAS.

    It is possible to use the Dell PERC card on non-Dell machines but it is very picky on motherboard.

    Alternatively, get a Dell server with the minimum number of disks available with the PERC card (not the iR variant, which doesn't do RAID5/6), and replace the disks yourself. This give you the best support from Dell at minimal price.

    There are plenty of options depending on how far you want to DIY your fileserver, or not at all.
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