Difficult decisions... (WHS vs NAS vs Print server or combinations)

[menthel]

Right, I have a difficult decision. I live in a rather small flat with my wife. We have lots of technology scattered around the flat and want to get some things sorted.

I currently have my computer in the my specs, connected to my tv. It records tv, serves music up to my xbox 360 and sometimes plays games. In a separate room, wirelessly, I have a belkin print server with a hp multi function device attached.

Between us we have 2 laptops (my mac soon to be replaced by a vista samsung and my wife's xp sony) and would like to have as little as possible on these, really just piccies and stuff being worked on at the time.

Sooooooo.....

The belkin print server is rubbish, no multifunction support, no wep or wpa support (despite the manual saying it does!) and needs to go.

1) Do I replace it with: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=487755
as a print server and possibly to attach a nas to.

2) I have a beta place for Windows home server. Do I knock together a computer for this and use that for storage, backup and print serving?

Is there another option? Nothing to complicated (especially linux as I just don't have the time) and it must work with the xbox 360!

[abeacock]

Not sure about the requirements for it to work with an xbox 360 but I have a Maxtor Shared Storage NAS which cost me £80 - it has a 300GB drive, ethernet plugs into my wireless router, has two USB ports on the back that can be used to connect extra drives or printers which become network printers as far as Windows is concerned.

I can access it from two wired PCs, my wireless laptop and my wireless Linux server.

Mine is the Maxtor Shared Storage which has been replaced with the Maxtor Shared Storage Plus (same hardware different firmware)
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.js...00f5ee0a0aRCRD

I think something like this might be what you are looking for...

[Avalon]

Two things. If you want cheap plug in and forget then buy a 'box'. It's functions will be limited but it *should* do what it says and will cost less to run/look after.

If you want to centralise backups/storage with possible drive redundancy then build your own. An old p3/4 or similar with enough RAM will comfortably run Win2k/XP and whatever apps/services you need to run. The main advantage is it can be adapted to whatever you need if you don't mind the added running costs (electricity) For instance your media collection grows to greater than your NAS' storage capacity, you have to buy another drive or another NAS. With a BYO box you can add a load more storage as and when you need it not to mention if you need to do any volume printing then you can slap a laser printer on and share that as well. If it all goes belly up you don't have the agro of a customised file system used on some home user NAS systems or the problem of trying to locate possibly discontinued hardware to recover your data. You'll also be able to run it as a download box, games server etc etc etc...

All depends on what you have spare/can get cheap but personally a centralised file server shoved in the spare room with VNC/RD

[aidanjt]

I've been looking to decentralise my home network, first step was to build a more complex router box to take off the core network stuff off the server. Next I'll be looking at a Thecus storage box or something simular.

[menthel]

Thinking more about it, a separate server would be best, but the wife would go mad. I think getting the mfd print server would be the best thing and then wither add nas or slip in a whs later on....

[Lourdes]

Thinking more about it, a separate server would be best, but the wife would go mad. I think getting the mfd print server would be the best thing and then wither add nas or slip in a whs later on....

You could just get an old laptop or desktop and use that. Won't take up much room and you'll have a server to play with.

[menthel]

Could I use an old xp lappy that is lying around for a print server? The lid is broken, but if it will work for printer sharing then all is good!

[Lourdes]

Could I use an old xp lappy that is lying around for a print server? The lid is broken, but if it will work for printer sharing then all is good!

Yes of course. It's just another computer, hook up the printer and share it on the network.