Which NAS Appliance Are You Using and Why?

[DriVer]

I don't consider that a USB ext HD is a NAS but simply a storage device. At this time I am using a Linksys Network Storage Link NLSU2. I have a 2GB stick (USB1) {direct} and a 250GB Maxtor drive (USB2) {cable} connected to the NSL. The NSL is connected to a Cradlepoint via 10BaseT CAT5e at 10 Mbps. The NLSU2 is slow and I believe that the Maxtor is going to die shortly.

I want to get a real NAS, that will use RAID1. My storage needs should be adequate at 1TB with mirrored drives. For backup, I would get a 3rd 1TB drive and swap out Drive1 and allow in to mirror Drive0.

What are you using for a NAS solution and how is that working for you?

Oemy recommended the LG N2R1DD1

I would like to explore the technical functionalities that one would expect from a real NAS like DLNA.

OK Geeks ??? What's your solution or recommendation? Looking at ~$300.00-$400.00.

[Dmiles]

If you have some time to invest in making a selection that fits your specific needs, this is a pretty good site. Real Help For Your Small Network - SmallNetBuilder

I have no connection to the site other than the fact that I have used it to get information. My Linksys router has that network storage link, but I could never get it to work reliably with my USB drive. This router has cured me from ever looking at anything Linksys makes ever again.

As far as feature per dollar, since I have a 1 Gig network and Wireless N and really need the remote access via the Web that the Linksys is supposed to have, I've been looking at this, Newegg.com - Synology DS209 Diskless System Disk Station 2-bay SATA NAS Server for Workgroups and Offices

By the time you add 3 1Tb drives, you're around $550. Pretty pricey unless you really need all the features this thing has, which I do. Good luck to you.

[FlyingDiver]

If I was buying one today, I'd get a Drobo FS and put in a couple of 1 or 1.5 TB SATA drives, depending on how much storage I needed.

joe

[Doc Mark]

Driver - I use a Netgear ReadyNAS Duo 2150. It came with 2 Seagate 500 GB discs. They are set to a RAID 1 (mirror) and it has performed flawlessly for 2 + years now.

I just finished upgrading the discs to 2 1TB Seagates since I was over half full & disc 2 was showing increasing sector errors. Upgrade was simple, straightforward and other than time consuming it too worked flawlessly.

Must admit it's front end is a bit clunky & permission issues can be a real pain until sorted out but overall I am happy. When we travel I just move it to the coach & hook it into the coach network so I have all my stuff to hand at all times. Don't have to mess with VPN's and leaving a machine on at home. Then I back it up to a 1 TB external hard drive & store the external drive in the toad for redundancy & protection from catastrophic loss of the coach & data.

Mark

[777 Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer What are you using for a NAS solution and how is that working for you?

This is the one I use at home: eCOST.com - Buffalo 1TB LinkStation Live NAS Storage Server - LS-CH1.0TL

Doesn't exactly fit your $300-400 price range.

It seems fine at home.

I'm still puzzling through the whole internet connect/optimal RV system. Any more, so much of my daily life is tied to internet connectivity that I need to make sure I make the right choice to assure connection when I need it. Further, I feel a need for some redundancy in the event that my primary computer fails, for some reason.

I've got about a year before I'm spending extended times away from home. Gives me a little while to figure it all out.

Anyway, the Buffalo drive seems to work OK at home and it's much less expensive than many of the alternatives.

Take care,
Stu

[DriVer]

You guys are great! Thanks and keep those cards and letters coming folks!

[Techie]

Unless you are sharing the data on a network, a NAS will be slower than most directly attached drives -- some of which can be attached via USB, Firewire and/or e-SATA. Many are available as RAID1 and woudl fall into your price range (direct connect).

If you have an old computer that you can use and want a NAS, then the cheapest solution is to use the old computer and run freeNAS (/http://freenas.org/) on it. It works quite well and allows you many more options for drive configuration than any low-end NAS appliance. Plus, if you have some drives already and have the odl computer you don't need to buy anything else to get going.

We have used freeNAS ourselves when we weren't travelling just to re-use some old hardware rather than buying more when we needed some protected storage.

We have also used the Drobo products. They work quite well if you're looking for protected storage (it's not RAID1 but their own RAID implementation that is more similar to RAID5 in use). But, they are very slow performance-wise.

Another consideration is noise. When in a house it's usually not a big deal but in a confined space like an RV it can get annoying. That is one reason we went with Western Digital RAID1 drives (direct attached) in that they have no fans and therefore are a lot quieter than most other solutions.

[Dmiles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techie Unless you are sharing the data on a network, a NAS will be slower than most directly attached drives --

Maybe technically slower, but with a 1Gig network, not noticably slower in real world situations, and that's using the NAS to watch movies and stream music to other computers on the network, along with transferring ripped Blu Rays to the MH.