Which NAS box to go for?

[stroberaver]

Hi all, new to this forum - such an excellent wealth of information here I can't believe I haven't stumbled across this place before now!

Anyway, can anyone help advise me on which NAS box is best?

I'm looking for something with the following requirements:
- byod (or if not, then user replaceable/upgradeable drives)
- twin drives (with raid 0/1 capability in case I choose to use it)
- built in web & ftp server, ideally a torrent d/l manager like the synology diskstations but the torrent isn't essential
- "true" NAS (i.e. no proprietary file systems, no software required to access it)
- reasonably quiet
- accessible to Windows and Linux machines

Raw speed and throughput isn't the top priority as a) it'll only be connected to a 10/100 network for the time being, and b) it'll mainly be used for periodic backups of photos and raw files from an internal disk with SyncToy, rather than the active daily source of data.

I've had my eye on products such as the DLink 323, Qnap 201, Thecus 2100, and the upcoming WD MyBook World Pro. Anyone got any opinions on these boxes, or suggestions in general? DLink seems cheapest but plenty reports of "issues" with it are floating around on the web. Qnap is the priciest and seems the most fully featured, but virtually no user reports of it anywhere I can find.

Thanks in advance.

[Funkstar]

The Qnap TS-201 is very similar to the TS-101 but with a mit more memory and some other features, the web interface and applications are the same.

There is a Turbostation user Wiki floating about with some hacks and software tricks for them both.

I don't really know anything about the othr two

[stroberaver]

Cheers - a quick google finds the turbostation wiki; it's early days yet for it but it seems like it already goes into quite some detail.

Maybe I should wait until the Qnap 201 is more widespread and more is known about the new WD MyBook World. Just as long as I don't spend the money I've saved on a nice huge Lian Li or something in the meantime.

[wja96]

Given how expensive the pre-made units are, it's definitely worth looking at buying/building a cheap Linux PC as a proper server. It's a lot more work initially, but ultimately it will be a better, more flexible system.

If you don't want to do that then the Thecus units are superb, incredibly stable and suitably expensive. I have no experience of the Qnap, but the D-Link is very, very poor. Mine kept dropping off the LAN. I also had a Buffalo Link.Station 160 and it was excellent, but it's a poor print server if you need that.

[Funkstar]

...the Thecus units are superb, incredibly stable and suitably expensive.

Not all Thecus units fir that description going by the 5200 thread

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=80375

For the same money, or even less you could build an EPIA bases system running one of the small NAS linux or BSD distributions.

[wja96]

Not all Thecus units fir that description going by the 5200 thread

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=80375

For the same money, or even less you could build an EPIA bases system running one of the small NAS linux or BSD distributions.

The one the OP mentioned (2100) does, and that is the one I was rerferring to. My post could be read in several ways (that I was referring to all Thecus units in general, that I was referring to the one the OP mentioned or that all Thecus units were wonderful AND met all the OP's requirements), and I apologise for my lack of precision.

Google on pedant for more info

[stroberaver]

lol - cheers guys

Given how expensive the pre-made units are, it's definitely worth looking at buying/building a cheap Linux PC as a proper server. It's a lot more work initially, but ultimately it will be a better, more flexible system.

Y'know, at the time I created this topic, I'd have laughed with scorn at such a suggestion. But since then, I tried out a "live cd" distro of PCLinux OS, and was staggered at how easy it was to use. Admittedly, PCLOS is designed purely for ease of use, but nonetheless Linux has clearly come along so much since I last saw it (about five years ago, lol) that I could definitely consider getting to grips with it. The fact I've been dabbling in Unix at work for the past couple of years helps, too. I've even just slotted in a spare 40gig ATA drive into my case in preparation for creating a WinXP/Linux dual boot system over the coming weeks.

I've even got just the right size space for a nice HTPC-style case (nowhere to hide a cheap basic tower case, sadly), as long as I can find one with enough space for a brace of hard drives. You've got me seriously considering this now.

Just a couple of questions though:
- What would be required to get a Linux box to achieve the functionality of a ready built NAS box? In addition to running something such as freeNAS, would I then need to run something else to act as a basic web server? And would a print server then require additional software still?
- Any idea what the minimum hardware requirements would be to run such a system? Naturally I'm looking to keep the wattage/heat to an absolute minimum.

you could build an EPIA bases system

Would an EPIA system have enough horsepower to run more than something like freeNAS, eg if I wanted to run a more complete Linux distro, or turn it into something more resembling an HTPC in functionality?

[Funkstar]

Running something like FreeNAS there should be plenty of horse power in an EPIA system to run other applications.

The Qnap TS-201 runs at 266mhz with 128MB RAM and is capable of running a Bittorrent client/server, SlimServer, Twonkyvision and a PHP capable web server. Granted you can't run all of them at the same time on a Qnap, but i bet you could on a decent EPIA 12000 with enough RAM.

You could easily just use a regular desktop system too, be it a budget new one, or from party lying around. But many use EPIA systems because they are cool, quiet, small and don't consume that much power.

[stroberaver]

Ah, I see what you mean, lol. I knew the NAS boxes weren't exactly power houses but didn't realise how they compared to desktops.

I'd definitely want to use either an EPIA or a very frugal mobile-on-desktop arrangement to avoid sucking too much juice - and sadly the more powerful mobile on desktop stuff is far more expensive than an epia platform.

Anyone have any suggestions of a good HTPC/desktop style case? I've read a few reviews of ones with two or more 3.5" internal bays, but they all seem too deep. The shelves in my cabinet under the tv are 445mm deep, so leaving a few cm at the back for bulky cables and some airflow, the most depth I've got to play with is ~400mm. Most cases I've read about so far are deeper than that. Any ideas?

[Funkstar]

Travla C146 1U Rackmount Mini-ITX Case
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=3#c146
482.6 x 44.45 x 381mm WxHxD
with 4x 3.5" bays

D26 19" 2U Height 400mm Deep
http://www.avrio.co.uk/acatalog/D26.html
483(W)x88(H)x400(D)mm
with 4x 3.5" bays

I'm sure there are others, just a matter of spending the time looking up the dimentions.

Something else to think about is hot swapable cadies:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=352332

You also get ones that will squeeze 5x3.5" drives into 3x5.25" bays
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=352335

[KingLouie3]

Funkstar, the mini-itx website is great!!

I was planning to build a nas server based on the Pentium D820 cpu, asus p5pe-vm motherboard and use OpenFiler software. I already have JJ 3 bay SATA hot swap rack. Hmmm, decision time.

[stroberaver]

Thanks for those links Funkstar, it's given me plenty to think about. Not too sure about rack mounted cases, would prefer a prettier htpc-style case - gonna have a good trawl through all the case manufacturer's websites when I get the chance.

Problem is I've now started harbouring thoughts of hooking such a system up to my hi-fi and tv and storing music and video on it, like a true media server. Especially with the new hdmi-equipped amd chipset on the front page of hexus, although whether i could get all the necessary stuff working in Linux is a different issue entirely.

Maybe I just need to sit tight for a month or two and see how well I can get the hang of Linux, cos at the moment my ideas for this thing are just going up and up in complexity and cost!

[Funkstar]

It might be worth considdering two seperate systems.

One with run-of-the-mill hardware and all your big disks acting as a server. This can be hidden away somewhere.

Then a nice flashy, small footprint, quiet system for sittin under your TV acting as a media playback device.

A TV card or two and MythTV (http://www.mythtv.org/) will take advantage of this setup

This thread might give you some other ideas too:
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=100846

I appologise if these suggestions are costing you even more money

[stroberaver]

You might have a point there - not get carried away at first and stick with plan A: a via eden based simple NAS system that sucks little juice and makes little heat (good since it'll be going in the enclosed cabinet under the tv). Then if that's fine then I could progress to building a purdy htpc-style affair.

I appologise if these suggestions are costing you even more money

Apology accepted.

[Funkstar]

You might actually be able to get away with having the TV cards and the backend of something like MythTV in the 'nas' box. DVB-T recording doesn't take much horse power. The only think you will be limited with is the PCI connectivity i guess.

worth thinking about in the future anyway.