Computer geek question: Home NAS. Who's on it.

[Art]

So, as my picture collection of family grows, and my iTunes rockets up, I've been using SyncToy to mirror critical data -- by critical I mean if all pictures of my kids are lost, I'll be killed by my wife -- so it is at least on two physical drives on the same system.

I began researching a DIY NAS solution, but, didn't like the overhead of Windows and wound up picking up a Synology 407, RAID-5 NAS, mostly because I'm a features guy, and it has the best features . Anyone else here even know what I'm talking about, and if so, have something similar?

[GibbsFactor]

I use a NetApps device, it's got snapshot technology which is awesome.

[Art]

I use a NetApps device, it's got snapshot technology which is awesome.

I use NetApp for work and, agree, the snapshot technology is the bomb. But, what model do they sell that is inexpensive enough for home use?

[drums and skins]

For home use, Raid 1 is easy to set up and inexensive (go figure...).

You can go network based, and while it will provide more functionality (such as others on the network being able to access the data quicker, if its shared), you'll also be spending some more change.

[TheLongshot]

Don't have a NAS currently, but I am looking into it eventually.

Over at AVSForum, they talk about it a lot over there for HTPCs, since media files take up a lot of space.

This guy , for example, has built his own NAS, because he wasn't satisfied with the performance and features that were out there.

I'm going to be doing research for a while on this before I figure out what the best way to go is.

Jason

[jbooma]

For home use, Raid 1 is easy to set up and inexensive (go figure...).

bingo which is why i just use an external hd and for the critical things just burn it to a disk

having a home NAS is just overkill personally

[GibbsFactor]

I use NetApp for work and, agree, the snapshot technology is the bomb. But, what model do they sell that is inexpensive enough for home use?

I got mine from work, closed down an office. I've got to heads and two shelves with 4 TB's. Bit excessive but it was free!!

[jbooma]

I got mine from work, closed down an office. I've got to heads and two shelves with 4 TB's. Bit excessive but it was free!!

dam you cant beat that

[Art]

You're not wrong, JB, but, I'm an overkill sort.

The Synology has a built in web server, torrents download service so it'll just take everything for me while I'm away, an FTP server, a photo service, an iTunes service, a media server and, of course, Raid 5. Obviously DAS in a Raid 1 is the way to go, but, this way, I can put everything I want up there, and access it from anywhere in the world.

I use something called Virtual CD for example, where all my CDs are made into files and I can mount them on virtual drives. This gives me blazing speed, natural backup and ability to play games or run programs without the physical disk inserted or having to hack the setup files to accomplish it.

I've been on the road enough it would have been a benefit to me to have this stuff available, so it's both for the internal use at home and mostly for the external stuff.

[Art]

I got mine from work, closed down an office. I've got to heads and two shelves with 4 TB's. Bit excessive but it was free!!

Nice indeed man. That's a pretty nice setup. I have four 320 gig drives set up in mine, so, I'll be right around 1 TB and I'll upgrade to 750s in a couple years, or buy another NAS if I actually think I'm filling it up.

[TorresA]

I will everntually get a new maincomputer, then I am going to turn my current computer into a new server. I am waiting for M$ Home server to come out. I'll probably buy a RAID card so I can run RAID 5 and buy a few terabyte drives. I take ALOT of pictures that I really don't want to lose. And the video I accumulate keeps on growing, and all that porn.... um nevermind :paranoid: . I want a central place to hold everything for my main computer, 360, and any other computer.

[GibbsFactor]

Nice indeed man. That's a pretty nice setup. I have four 320 gig drives set up in mine, so, I'll be right around 1 TB and I'll upgrade to 750s in a couple years, or buy another NAS if I actually think I'm filling it up.

Thanks.

I've slowly built up a nice little rack in my lab at home. I'm at the point now where I just use my laptop and never log into any consoles any more. My electric is a ***** and I don't have any cooling so I can't keep them on all the time. I only rev up one of the heads once a month to sync my files. I'm set up pretty good but really don't need all I have. I've got three DL360 G2's but I really want to convert one to an esx box and ditch the other three. My set up sounds good but really is a pain in my ass.

I'd just go with some SATA drives in an ATX box and just raid it. But I do advise at the very least imaging the drives and keeping them off site. I mean you never know and damn it would suck for something to happen and you lose all of your drives. I know with the amount of data people keep now adays with video and pictures that it would simply suck to lose any of it. I actually keep my family's and friend's stuff here as a back up for them.

[GibbsFactor]

I will everntually get a new maincomputer, then I am going to turn my current computer into a new server. I am waiting for M$ Home server to come out. I'll probably buy a RAID card so I can run RAID 5 and buy a few terabyte drives. I take ALOT of pictures that I really don't want to lose. And the video I accumulate keeps on growing, and all that porn.... um nevermind :paranoid: . I want a central place to hold everything for my main computer, 360, and any other computer.

I just put 2008 server B3 on a box. It's cool, it's got built in disk management like Treesize and it's got features no corperate user will ever use for storage but great for home use on a home made NAS head.

[jbooma]

You're not wrong, JB, but, I'm an overkill sort.

The Synology has a built in web server, torrents download service so it'll just take everything for me while I'm away, an FTP server, a photo service, an iTunes service, a media server and, of course, Raid 5. Obviously DAS in a Raid 1 is the way to go, but, this way, I can put everything I want up there, and access it from anywhere in the world.

I use something called Virtual CD for example, where all my CDs are made into files and I can mount them on virtual drives. This gives me blazing speed, natural backup and ability to play games or run programs without the physical disk inserted or having to hack the setup files to accomplish it.

I've been on the road enough it would have been a benefit to me to have this stuff available, so it's both for the internal use at home and mostly for the external stuff.

Look into the new longhorn beta i think they are up to 3. Microsoft has done an amazing job with the new server software coming up and this might be what you are looking for to help in your NAS environment.

If access is an issue then I would go with a TS or Citrix type environment with a backup system in place

I love being anywhere and everyone thinks I am in the office

[TorresA]

Look into the new longhorn beta i think they are up to 3. Microsoft has done an amazing job with the new server software coming up and this might be what you are looking for to help in your NAS environment.

If access is an issue then I would go with a TS or Citrix type environment with a backup system in place

I love being anywhere and everyone thinks I am in the office

I am running Server 2K3 at home now... pretty much over kill.... but a great learning experience. That is why I think I am gonna go with Home server edition next time. OS designed more around the home, I assume more user friendly so the average person could use it.

[GibbsFactor]

Look into the new longhorn beta i think they are up to 3. Microsoft has done an amazing job with the new server software coming up and this might be what you are looking for to help in your NAS environment.

If access is an issue then I would go with a TS or Citrix type environment with a backup system in place

I love being anywhere and everyone thinks I am in the office

I wasn't too hot on Vista because it seemed like a "catch up". 2008 (it's official name as of last week) is the same but man it's great to have all these options available. You can it as a virtural server and even run a shell only version without the gui. Here's the Wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Server_%22Longhorn%22#Features

[jbooma]

I just put 2008 server B3 on a box. It's cool, it's got built in disk management like Treesize and it's got features no corperate user will ever use for storage but great for home use on a home made NAS head.

I was very impressed with the system managment console, you basically create any type of outage and then the system will let you know exactly what happens to do a live test. It will also notifiy if you if any of those components go down and also try and restart them.

For those in the business world MS is making huge strides to improve their standing and increase it.

[jbooma]

I wasn't too hot on Vista because it seemed like a "catch up". 2008 (it's official name as of last week) is the same but man it's great to have all these options available. You can it as a virtural server and even run a shell only version without the gui. Here's the Wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Server_%22Longhorn%22#Features

What I learned at this MS IT Summit is you will not see the true strength of Vista unless you have Office 2007 and Server 2008 (long horn). With all of them and products like Dynamics and Sharepoint the sky is the limit for worplace productivity.

[Art]

Look into the new longhorn beta i think they are up to 3. Microsoft has done an amazing job with the new server software coming up and this might be what you are looking for to help in your NAS environment.

If access is an issue then I would go with a TS or Citrix type environment with a backup system in place

I love being anywhere and everyone thinks I am in the office

I have Enterprise license keys for all Microsoft versions and even have two 10 license copies of 2K3, so, the "server" is probably going to be that, or, ESX running a few systems for a test bed for the heck of it .