So what's the best config for a high-speed home network + a decent amount of storage?

[b0ned0me]

Question doesn't say it all really, so more specifically: I currently have:

• a standard bebox (SpeedTouch 780)
• a mac, two PCs (game + 'other') and an icybox NAS living on the 100Mb LAN
• a laptop or two hooking up to the WLAN

The bebox is forever dropping the connection and needing to be rebooted, and whenever it does that it ends up squabbling with the icybox over which DHCP serving. Also, the network is very slow when moving lots of data back and forth, which I do when backing up from one machine to another. I'd like to have a better modem, a faster network, and some sort of reliable storage.
Currently the options seem to be to get a new router+wireless gateway and:

• A new gigabit switch
• keep the icybox for NAS
• a RAID for one of the PCs or mac for backups & storage.

or else

• A gigabit switch
• a RAID NAS (like a livestation or NV+)

or alternatively get one of the Thecus RouStor NAS/router jobbies or a Freecom NAS/Router/WLAN in order to do pretty much everything in one box.

The first option might be a bit cheaper, but seems like it might result in a lot of boxes and wires. Second option could be a bit pricey. The last option seems superficially more elegant, but I'm a bit nervous about having so much functionality integrated into one box. I usually find that having separate components is much easier for upgrading and coping with problems.

What's the Hexus.Advice for configurations and suitable components? Whats worked or been a pain in the wotsits for you?

[arthurleung]

I have 2 4-Disk RAID5 in my storage server (Minimum config, 10 HDDs, Athlon 64 3000+). Draws about 150W of power, which will be twice of what a SFF-sized RAID NAS will draw.

Pro:
Easily Upgradable
Windows / Linux with GUI compared to Web-interface with limited function
Reasonably fast CPU
Reasonably quiet due to the use of 12cm fans.
Reasonably cheap even if you don't buy a hardware RAID card
Amazingly fast if you could afford a hardware RAID card.

Cons:
More bulky than dedicated NAS box
Drain Twice as much power
Non-hotswapable unless you buy

My RAID Array will do 75MB/s across Gigabit network on a Dell unmanaged switch for both writing and reading.

I also find the Be box quite crap. From what I heard it was crippled by Be intentionally so people can't abuse the bandwidth :S

Just buy a 8 port switch and connect everything to the switch, and then another cable from switch to router.

[b0ned0me]

I have 2 4-Disk RAID5 in my storage server (Minimum config, 10 HDDs, Athlon 64 3000+). Draws about 150W of power, which will be twice of what a SFF-sized RAID NAS will draw.

Oooo. That's quite a rig.

Non-hotswapable unless you buy

Buy what? Something like this? I've looked at similar items but mainly because I was thinking of having a 'spare' big disk in a tray so that I could image the data onto it and then take it into the office for some off-site security. But I'm unsure how good they are and if it would be easier to get an eSATA enclosure for that sort of thing.

[Nox]

i'm trying to figure where mines all gone completely wrong, have a server with a dual gigabit nic in it, connected to a managed switch, but the computer i've connected to it only xfers around 10mb/s - this is to the 1tb hd in it, should be capable of over 90mb/s on paper so realistically 60-70 i would guess... grrr.

And not got the time to diagnose anything at the moment...

Nox