Network Storage

[psp83]

Hi.

I'm thinking of getting a NAS drive but dont know what one i should get.. Any help would be good.

I'm looking for anything between 250-500gb, Quite fast at transfers, Can be used as FTP aswell.

Extras that would be good.. Password protecting folders and be able to install apache/php/mysql on it.

Thanks
Paul

[colirv]

Stay clear of the Netgear SC101 - it occasionally corrupts Office files, and Comodo doesn't like it.

[Rik]

Is this Buffalo unit any good to you, Paul. FTP, Gigabit LAN, 500GB, iTunes, direct copy from USB devices, SATA-150.

[psp83]

What are Buffalo's like?

I noticed it has a fan, Do you know if its loud when the fan kicks in?

[Rik]

I've seen good reports of the Buffalo units, Paul, but I've not used one to be able to comment on the fan noise.

[zimmerframe]

Following a recent (self inflicked) problem with my home PC, I have resolved to consider a backup strategy.  Fortunatly, this time, I got away with it but it shows how vunerable I am to data loss.

Would a device like this be useful?  Could it be used in conjunction with, say, Acronis or Ghost for a full system backup of two machines?

I have two machines on my home network, one wired and the other wireless to a Netgear 834G. 

[Rik]

I don't see why not, Zimmer, it's just another hard drive, connected via the router rather than a USB cable. That said, unless you use a gigabit switch, the router will limit you to 100Mbps, so it's potentially a lot slower than using a USB or Firewire drive. The best solution, of course, would be an e-SATA drive.

[Ray]

I've been using a 250GB Buffalo LinkStation for about 18 months to keep all my data files and backup copies of downloaded software on, seems to work well and I've not had any problems with it so far.

I've also just signed up to the free version of this online Backup Service: -

https://mozy.com/

You get up to 2GB of secure encrypted online backup that happens automatically and is ideal for backing up your data.

There is a paid for version if you want unlimited storage.

Anyone interested in trying it out please PM me and I can can provide a referral code that will give you another 256MB of storage

[Rik]

Useful post and generous offer, thanks Ray. Do you back the NAS up to another device, or just online?

I've been wondering about using NAS for 'central' files, so that I could access them from any machine, eg email (though not simultaneously). I just wish someone would bring out a router with a gigabit switch to make life easier.

It might be worth mentioning that, although it's not designed for the purpose, the IDNet web space could be used as online backup - though users would need to make sure their security (ie encryption) was good. IDNet do backup the webspace...

[Ray]

Useful post and generous offer, thanks Ray. Do you back the NAS up to another device, or just online?

I've been wondering about using NAS for 'central' files, so that I could access them from any machine, eg email (though not simultaneously). I just wish someone would bring out a router with a gigabit switch to make life easier.

Yes, Rik I back up my NAS device to a a caddie mounted sata hard disk in the main PC that I can remove once the backup is done, I also keep my TrueImage files on this disk as well.

I also wish they would hurry up and bring out a gigabit router would make things a heck of a lot faster than the existing ones - this is probably the main drawback of NAS devices at the moment they tend to be a bit slow.

[Rik]

Indeed, Ray. The only way round it at the moment is to put in a gigabit switch running off the router and then play with the DHCP setup. Given the increasing number of machines with gigabit cards, I'm hoping router manufacturers will wake up to the idea. (Not to mention the fact that we are increasingly using NAS, network printing etc, so 8 ports would be good.)

[Glenn]

If you have an old laptop or desktop lying about unloved and unused, then put it to work. Download and install FreeNAS you can then buy any size hard drive you like and use that.

[Rik]

Useful tip, Glenn. Finally a use for old boxes.

[mogden]

Once you've got your storage in whatever form, then I have found Allway Sync to be the best of breed.

...and since you didn't ask my NAs is a straighforward USB2 caddy like this one (although it's better to pay a bit more for quality and silence) with an old IDE disk in it, connected to my ethernet switch with a Linksys NSLU2.

The main reason I did it this way is because it let me connect my Topfield TF5800 PVR to the second USB2 on the NSLU2.

With a little bit of Linux the NSLU2 now streams audio and video from the attached disk to the PCs around the house and the Noxon iRadio in the kitchen using Twonkyvision , and also collects TV schedules from the Radio Times website and puts them on the Topfield.

Did I mention I was a bit of a geek? 

[Rik]

No, but I've never seen so many hyperlinks in a single message before.