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Thread: NAS Set-up

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    NAS Set-up

    I’m looking at a NAS set up for two main uses, the first to store all of my DVD .isos so I can stream to my TV using Boxee and secondly to create a continuous backup of my computer hard drives to have a backup of all my files safely stored. I’m likely to need a fair amount of storage to do all of this so will have maybe 3-5 hard drives in the NAS.

    I’ve had a quick look at either building a small NAS myself or buying an already assembled set up, what would you guys recommend? I’m not too sure which RAID setup to go with in the NAS which will both ensure unimpeded streaming for my DVDs but also resilience for my backups, any suggestions?

    Thanks,

    iKiX

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Take a look at QNAP if you fancy a pre-built box:

    http://www.qnap.com/products.asp

  3. #3
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    Re: NAS Set-up

    I've a Thecus N5200Pro that I'll be listing for sale in a couple of days if my workmates don't bite - would do all you need (though would also need disks).

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    radix lecti dave87's Avatar
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    Re: NAS Set-up

    What budget did you have in mind, and what sort of performance did you need? I.E. How many users are you going to stream to, how many PCs do you want to backup?


    You could go for something like the HP Microserver + WHS 2011 + RAID Card (HP of some variety off ebay) and 4-5 2 or 3TB Drives. Would easily max GbE and choice of RAID5/6 depending on the RAID card you choose

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Budget is maybe about £500 in total (inc HDD). Performance wise it will just be backing up a single computer which will 95% of the time be the only computer accessing it.

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Obligatory Synology pimping from me.

    A DS212+ and 2 compatible 3Tb HDDs will give you 6Tb in straight storage or 3Tb in RAID 1 but you'll not get much change from £600 due to the ridiculous price of HDDs at the moment.

    RAID is not a backup so you'd need something else to backup the NAS

    Edit: The HP MS suggested by Dave above is worth a punt too - there's a £100 cashback offer making it £159.97 from ebuyer.
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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Simple two disk RAID 1 device is always the way to go.

    Increased data security by not using RAID 5, quicker to rebuild on error, and cheaper to buy.

    What's not to like.

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    radix lecti dave87's Avatar
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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Quote Originally Posted by abaxas View Post
    Simple two disk RAID 1 device is always the way to go.

    Increased data security by not using RAID 5, quicker to rebuild on error, and cheaper to buy.

    What's not to like.
    It halves the storage capacity?


    Fine if you want to only buy two drives, but problematic when scaled.

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Quote Originally Posted by dave87 View Post
    It halves the storage capacity?


    Fine if you want to only buy two drives, but problematic when scaled.
    I prefer my data to be available and as safe as possible.

    Scaling is always going to be an issue with any data storage.

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    What about HP Micro Server? I use it for ESX with Freenas 7 ruining as VM

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Quote Originally Posted by abaxas View Post
    I prefer my data to be available and as safe as possible.

    Scaling is always going to be an issue with any data storage.
    That doesn't make much sense. Of course scaling's always an issue, but that doesn't mean that all approaches scale in exactly the same manner.

    If I want to build a 16TB array tomorrow, using 2TB drives, I could buy 16 of them and use RAID1 or 9 of them and use RAID5. Or even 10 of them and use RAID6.

    Yes, if you need a 6TB NAS then great, build yourself a 2*3TB RAID 1 Array, but as Dave said, it doesn't scale up. Buying 6 or 7 additional drives, housing them, powering them, and connecting them simply isn't a logical option for a lot of people.

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Quote Originally Posted by snootyjim View Post
    That doesn't make much sense. Of course scaling's always an issue, but that doesn't mean that all approaches scale in exactly the same manner.

    If I want to build a 16TB array tomorrow, using 2TB drives, I could buy 16 of them and use RAID1 or 9 of them and use RAID5. Or even 10 of them and use RAID6.

    Yes, if you need a 6TB NAS then great, build yourself a 2*3TB RAID 1 Array, but as Dave said, it doesn't scale up. Buying 6 or 7 additional drives, housing them, powering them, and connecting them simply isn't a logical option for a lot of people.
    With the extra chance of data loss and longer rebuild times of RAID 5. It is much easier to spec a unit using RAID 1.

    If you start looking at rebuild times in days your data is not as safe or available. That is the whole point of RAID as it is not a backup.

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Quote Originally Posted by abaxas View Post
    With the extra chance of data loss and longer rebuild times of RAID 5. It is much easier to spec a unit using RAID 1.

    If you start looking at rebuild times in days your data is not as safe or available. That is the whole point of RAID as it is not a backup.
    I think we're all aware of the pitfalls of RAID5 and the benefits of RAID1.

    I still cannot see why you think people are genuinely going to use RAID1. And we don't all have RAID because we need 24/7 uptime, as you seem to be implying.

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    Surely it comes down to data management?

    For me, there is data I could (unhappily) lose, but it wouldn't affect me - i.e random driver files which might be a bit of a pain to locate, but would be possible to locate, and data I would be rather upset if I lost (i.e. work/personal bits that are not readily re-creatable).

    I'm presuming this NAS setup is going to be part of a tiered data storage/backup strategy. For me, as an example, the most important stuff it is stored and backed up in multiple locations. The unimportant stuff isn't even running on a RAID array = no need, rather have the greater space available (because I don't mind if I lost it).

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    I've cleaned up the thread (it went significantly off-topic). Long and short of the valid points from the discussion:

    All forms of RAID have their advantages/disadvantages
    What may suit one user may not suit another

    For the purposes of helping the OP, the source of the content is immaterial - that is a matter for the OP to deal with personally, not us.

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    Re: NAS Set-up

    As has been said, first and foremost - RAID is not a substitute for a backup regime, but it is useful when resilience and data availability is required.

    RAID 1 (mirroring) is probably the safest method of maintining system uptime, but is less efficient than other RAID systems (data recovery may be easier too)

    However, where long term resilience is less of an issue (or mission critical) then RAID 5 or 6 is perfectly acceptable because the data is only vulnerable while the array is rebuilding (and there are RAID systems that will support dual failures.

    In the unlikely event that a second disk fails, there is the backup, but that will mean that the system is offline. Whether this matters particularly in a home environment is really up to the user, and is somethingvto be factored into the decision about which RAID system to use.

    In really mission critical systems, RAID5/6 is still acceptable, often because the complete system will be mirrored or clustered, but that is almost certainly overkill for home use.
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