Need NAS Recommendation

[davidktw]

I don't really need hot-swap capability, but is it possible for a RAID 0 created on Synology to be detected and written on Win 7 and then read after placing back into Synology?

No all RAIDs created by Synology are using Linux MD and hence not readable on Windows system. Why do you need to transfer in this matter ? Just transfer your data via network.

 

[Asure7]

For RAID-0, the data is striped isn't it? Thats why for a 2-hdd raid-0, if one hdd is down, all the data is gone.

As such, it doesn't seem likely to me that you can take one hdd out, put data into it, and put it back into the array.
I'm not even sure if you can read just from one hdd, even if it is using a windows-readable file system.

 

[hlots123]

For RAID-0, the data is striped isn't it? Thats why for a 2-hdd raid-0, if one hdd is down, all the data is gone.

As such, it doesn't seem likely to me that you can take one hdd out, put data into it, and put it back into the array.
I'm not even sure if you can read just from one hdd, even if it is using a windows-readable file system.

wat abt my scenario, if i hav no desire to raid-anything? and if it makes things simpler, say i nas-format only 1 hdd 1st.

 

[Asure7]

Why do that? Defeat the purpose of NAS.
But should be doable if u just use JBOD mode and use a file system that both the NAS and target OS can read/write. Most compatible I think should be EXT-3. Windows need special driver to read/write into it though.

 

[hlots123]

hi Asure7, it becuz im still considerg to buy a (cheap) nas or not, or spend the amt on another item. so thinking of factors for & against, or whether can mitigate.

needless to say for those cheaper nas within my budget, their file copy speeds may be 2x/3x slower than hdd direct connect to mb. so tat 2tb data transfer not so much grief...

 

[Asure7]

Hi hlots123, if u have no need for the networking feature, u may consider DAS to connect directly to your PC via USB3/FireWire. You will get a faster speed at much lower cost.
I typically get 100-130MB/s using my 2-bay DAS on RAID1 mode.

 

[Yakumo]

Any good 2 or 4-bay DAS you will recommend?

 

[Asure7]

I'm using this... so far so good. Got it at $119.
This is only 2-bay, there is another similar 4-bay available.
Please don't confuse this DAS with NAS. It does not have any network capabilities etc. It is just a regular external hdd casing with RAID capability.

Hotway.com - Trustworthy, Sincerely, Efficiency and Responsibility

 

[hlots123]

Asure7 thx for the reco, nice price & perf - will KIV

 

[Yakumo]

I'm using this... so far so good. Got it at $119.
This is only 2-bay, there is another similar 4-bay available.
Please don't confuse this DAS with NAS. It does not have any network capabilities etc. It is just a regular external hdd casing with RAID capability.

Hotway.com - Trustworthy, Sincerely, Efficiency and Responsibility

Thanks!

 

[noobzpro]

hi i see many people buying nas now. can it like work on a tv for movies? how fast is the transfer speed? i dont need security...just want files to be avail to afew devices in the house...and also can setup in a way where my frends can kope files over the net?? thanks.

 

[cupcorn]

HI I wonder if there's anyone who can help build a DIY NAS system for a fee?

I have been doing some reading and not sure I will be happy with standard NAS for home. I understand DIY can get better performance but at lower price?

I have a myrepublic 150MBPS connection with N66 router and cat 6 cables run in my home. I'm using the NAS primarily as a means to download (utorrent) and store all my media files and to play them on my TV, and at the same time access some files I need everywhere with static IP.

I also have a old dell system bought in 2010 and was wondering if i can use that (I see many of the experts here recommend a used processor)... any help or quote for fee-for-service would be greatly appreciated! I just don't want the trouble to configure and stuff...

 

[davidktw]

HI I wonder if there's anyone who can help build a DIY NAS system for a fee?

I have been doing some reading and not sure I will be happy with standard NAS for home. I understand DIY can get better performance but at lower price?

I have a myrepublic 150MBPS connection with N66 router and cat 6 cables run in my home. I'm using the NAS primarily as a means to download (utorrent) and store all my media files and to play them on my TV, and at the same time access some files I need everywhere with static IP.

I also have a old dell system bought in 2010 and was wondering if i can use that (I see many of the experts here recommend a used processor)... any help or quote for fee-for-service would be greatly appreciated! I just don't want the trouble to configure and stuff...

If you don't want the trouble to DIY, then don't DIY. When you don't have the skill set to perform diagnostics and recovery, don't know how to manage the DIY NAS properly, then going the DIY NAS doesn't give your data a more reliable storage system. You are looking for trouble.

Go and get a good consumer grade NAS like QNAP, Synology etc to hold your data if you want things to be hassle free.

 

[cupcorn]

I did consider synology but at challenger the 600 odd bucks for a casing I'm looking at about 1k to build a 2-bay. My concern is after reading so many articles... Will a off the rack system be able to provide fast upload n download?

I'm a noob on such stuff so when the option to diy came with the promise of better performance I jump atit. David you mean after setting it up in diy n configured I still need to meddle with the controls? My understanding was that it will run on its own...

I wanted to try the buffalo link station but the 2 bay s sold out... But i understand also the transfer speed is quite slow?

 

[davidktw]

I did consider synology but at challenger the 600 odd bucks for a casing I'm looking at about 1k to build a 2-bay. My concern is after reading so many articles... Will a off the rack system be able to provide fast upload n download?

I'm a noob on such stuff so when the option to diy came with the promise of better performance I jump atit. David you mean after setting it up in diy n configured I still need to meddle with the controls? My understanding was that it will run on its own...

I wanted to try the buffalo link station but the 2 bay s sold out... But i understand also the transfer speed is quite slow?

Ater it is setup, of course it will run on its own. So what happens when one of the hard disk failed ? What do you do ? What happens if the diskspace are full, what do you do next ? There are some distro like FreeNAS that helps to make things easier, but I don't think you want to consider this even as straight forward as what you get from Synology DSM.

It's wrong to just look at the effort to build, look at the features, the flexibility and the operational ease. Then you will know it's not exactly easy to reach that kind of quality.

If you are an experience system admin or developer, I say you go with DIY since you already have the skill set and knowledge to administer one. But if you are new into such technologies, I believe you might want to be more prudent.

There is no point going cheap and risk your data. Once you start consolidating on an unstable platform, you are in for big trouble.

 

[cupcorn]

You have a point David. Can I just check... With synology or qna or buffalo, if the disk spoil am I right to assume I only need to plug it the spoiled disk n replace with the same one? What if the disk is full n i need to expand? I only have 2 bays and both are used up... I see on YouTube they have done really outrageous number of hdd so I'm just kindof fascinated..

 

[davidktw]

You have a point David. Can I just check... With synology or qna or buffalo, if the disk spoil am I right to assume I only need to plug it the spoiled disk n replace with the same one? What if the disk is full n i need to expand? I only have 2 bays and both are used up... I see on YouTube they have done really outrageous number of hdd so I'm just kindof fascinated..

I am not sure for Buffalo, I don't consider Buffalo to be in the same tier as Synology and QNAP. For both QNAP and Synology, when the disk spoilt, all you need do to is identify the disk and replace it, even when online. At the console, you may need to activate the resilvering just with a click of a button.

For disk expansion, that will depends on the RAID you have chosen. For RAID 5/6, you can easily add one more disk and expand the array. For others, it is more involving. While Synology has SHR, I don't recommend people using it. If you are building your NAS from brand new disks, stick with standard RAID configurations namely 1, 5, 6, 10, 50. These are easily recoverable should your box fail. Synology SHR make use of LVM and partitions to give you that illusion of flexibility but actually complicate matters. The benefit in my opinion is not that much to consider if you are willing to spend properly and upgrade as accordingly.

 

[fribro]

You have a point David. Can I just check... With synology or qna or buffalo, if the disk spoil am I right to assume I only need to plug it the spoiled disk n replace with the same one? What if the disk is full n i need to expand? I only have 2 bays and both are used up... I see on YouTube they have done really outrageous number of hdd so I'm just kindof fascinated..

you can diy a synology and with shr you can start off with 2 disk and when your disk is full you can add on more disk depending on how many sata ports you have. i use it as a backup for all my pc, download station and media server to my xbox 360, and ftp for ipad and andriod hp.

i have been running it a month already. if you need help i can configure for you or you can follow the links below.



and if you want a buffalo linkstation pro duo i can let go to you, cause i've upgraded.

do note of power consumption for a diy it will be abit higher, but for me is ok.

my buffalo speed
write 40MB/s and read 70MB/s

my diy synology speed


RAID Calculator - Synology Inc. Network Attached Storage - NEW NAS Experience

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/storage-clinic-119/diy-nas-synology-4-1-os-4155615.html

 

[Vulpix]

Ater it is setup, of course it will run on its own. So what happens when one of the hard disk failed ? What do you do ? What happens if the diskspace are full, what do you do next ? There are some distro like FreeNAS that helps to make things easier, but I don't think you want to consider this even as straight forward as what you get from Synology DSM.

It's wrong to just look at the effort to build, look at the features, the flexibility and the operational ease. Then you will know it's not exactly easy to reach that kind of quality.

If you are an experience system admin or developer, I say you go with DIY since you already have the skill set and knowledge to administer one. But if you are new into such technologies, I believe you might want to be more prudent.

There is no point going cheap and risk your data. Once you start consolidating on an unstable platform, you are in for big trouble.

I agree with you. I'm an experienced DIYer but even for me I avoiding hassles and I prefer my NAS to be easy to use and easy to troubleshoot if I get drive failures. The hardware part of the NAS probably easy to find problems, but inexperience with software will probably make things a bigger hassle.

 

[davidktw]

I agree with you. I'm an experienced DIYer but even for me I avoiding hassles and I prefer my NAS to be easy to use and easy to troubleshoot if I get drive failures. The hardware part of the NAS probably easy to find problems, but inexperience with software will probably make things a bigger hassle.

Good call. We understand after all a storage system is just a storage system. The value of an experience developer or system administrator is to accomplish more than just getting hassle over a storage system. It will be a waste to spend more of your value time on something so mundane, one would have achieved more in life if they are spend on more valuable subjects.

After all, isn't that what technology is meant to do? Automate tasks and free our valuable time for something more interesting?