Help! NAS or server?

[hermeticist]

I`ve got up to £600 to spend on NAS (Don`t really want to spend more than £400ish on the actual NAS, leaving me with £200 for the drives) and I don`t really have a clue!

I want to be able to configure the system in RAID 5.

I want to be able to use it as a print server.

It needs to be able to backup several computers.

I want to be able to set up password protected folders to enable the collection and deposit of potentially confidential projects - the persons must only be able to access their own specific folder.

It must be easy to configure and use - I don`t want to have to spend ages fiddling and other users might not have much in the way of IT skills.

I`ve looked at the four bay NAS units on Scan, but which to choose?

QNAP seem to be highly regarded, but I`m not sure that the lower models will be too slow.

The Drobos don`t appear to have LAN connections.

Edgestore NAS400?

Synology DS409+?

Netgear RND4000?


And then there`s the idea of buying a ProLiant server from Ebuyer and running Freenas......

But then are we back to fiddling and presumably higher electricity costs?

My brain is hurting, please help!

[hermeticist]

Are there no NAS gurus?

[mycarsavw]

The last thread I ventured into went on for weeks;

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...erver-nas.html

This subject comes up almost weekly, have a look around

[hermeticist]

Thanks