Low power low cost NAS server with BitTorrent and Mail Server?
I'm after buying (or building) a NAS server. I've had a look around and noticed that QNAP and Synology have NAS servers with built in BitTorrent, Usenet and configurable mail/web servers.
The main use will be as a mail server, acting as a centralized store for all my mail accounts so I can access them from one location from any PC, and with the ability to backup my mail. Secondary use will be for file storage and perhaps a uPnP media server. Also if it had a BitTorrent/Usenet client I could leave it on during the night when my broadband is unmetered without having a noisy computer on all night.
To get a NAS box with these features seems to be around £150-£200 without hard drive, whereas a basic NAS server with hard drive can be had for less than that. The SheevaPlug would be a good low cost candidate too, but its not available yet.
Does anyone know of any other products that provide a NAS server, mail server and Media Server for less £££?
Alternatively, for about £200, I could get an Atom Nettop like the ASRock ION, which will be much more powerful and flexible, but a little bigger and probably (slightly) more power hungry/louder. It could be setup to do everything I need and more (media player connected to TV) but if it will be left on 24/7 its important that its almost silent.
Anyone used a NAS device as a mail server or indeed any low cost low power device?
Re: Low power low cost NAS server with BitTorrent and Mail Server?
Does FreeNAS support mail?
If so you could use an old PC to cut costs.
Re: Low power low cost NAS server with BitTorrent and Mail Server?
I tried to use my synology 106j as a mail server (gotta love synology for continually releasing updates for even this old NAS) but I found that this just one feature to far for this little machine, the whole thing ground to a halt.
At this point I'm looking at replacing it with a HTPC that will also act as my webserver, email server and anything else I decide to throw at it.
For this I was looking at either taking traditional computer components and using Ubuntu Server with XBMC ontop, or Ubuntu with XBMC and then web and IMAP server ontop
Infact since as I'm to tired to go down the pub tonight I might start ordering parts
Re: Low power low cost NAS server with BitTorrent and Mail Server?
I use the synology ds-408, fantastic NAS box but certainly not cheap. Does all that you need and more though. And it certainly doesn't struggle running a mailserver, mediaserver, torrent client etc.. FreeNAS would surely be cheaper if you have an old machine at hand, but not sure it will do all you need.
Re: Low power low cost NAS server with BitTorrent and Mail Server?
Nothing beats a cheap laptop...
Or even one with a broken screen...
Re: Low power low cost NAS server with BitTorrent and Mail Server?
freenas doesn't have a mail server.
Re: Low power low cost NAS server with BitTorrent and Mail Server?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
arthurleung
Nothing beats a cheap laptop...
Or even one with a broken screen...
Yeah ditto.
I have an old Dell Inspiron 1300, I removed the broken screen and the WLAN card... it's Intel chippery so good compatibility with Linux and the Pentium-M is low power... and of course it has built battery backup... I just connect it to the VGA on my monitor or TV when I need to see what's going on. <20W when idle... if you're worried about Network speed then use a Expresscard Gigabit card, works fine for me. Very quiet obviously too.
