Barebones NAS Server??

[mamisano]

I want to move my storage drives off of my Web Server and to a NAS environment. All the devices that I find already have drives incorporated, but I would rather use the drive I have now, a 250 WD JB drive.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[Mucman]

Umm... so what exactly is the question?

I work in a hosting environment, and we have customers home directories stored on a NAS appliance without any difficulties.

Windows 2003 webservers
Windows 2000 applicance server on the NAS

 

[mamisano]

Where do I purchase a SOHO/Home NAS appliance that contains NO drives? I could save money and use the ones I have...

 

[Mucman]

Originally posted by: mamisano
Where do I purchase a SOHO/Home NAS appliance that contains NO drives? I could save money and use the ones I have...

Ahh, sorry but I am not sure what is offered in the SOHO market. If you have a bit of knowledge with unix you can easily setup a file server. I personally have a FreeBSD NFS server at home that stores the content for my development web servers. If you are using Windows as your web platform you can easily run Samba. Another option is to install Windows 2000 on a decent machine (PII or better). Setup a few shares, and you are set.

 

[Garion]

Check this out.

- G

 

[mamisano]

Thanks Garion, that looks promising. Here is what I am doing:
Have a Win2K3 Server - home built in mid-tower with 2x250GB storage in Raid 1
Moving from that to a 1U IBM eServer running Linux that does not have space for IDE drives. My options:
- The Linksys Network Storage Link that you just posted and 2 external USB cases. -OR-
- Purchase a Highpoint e.Sata Upgrade Kit which allows for 1 external drive using SATA cable

The Highpoint would be cheaper and MUCH faster but only work with 1 drive (2 drive support is too expensive), while the Linksys would be a little bit more expensive but allow me to double my current storage by removing the Mirror from the drives.

Decissions, Decissions 🙁

 

[Genx87]

I dont know enough about Linux. But I am sure there is an application that will allow you to see ntfs volumes. So why dont you just keep the Win2K3 server and use it for your storage device?
Or you could install Linux on it. Doesnt really matter but just use the machine.

 

[mamisano]

Well, Win2K3 is giving me fits with PHP/MySQL with my website. I plan on moving the site to the unused Dual P3 server with Linux and sell off the Win2K server (Abit AI7, P4 3.0C, etc).

 

[skyking]

another person chiming in for samba on unix. can you fit another rackmount into the space you have? It will run on anything above a P200 and 64 MB of ram, so most anything will do.

 

[Garion]

Keep in mind there's a lot of other factors. If what you need is a simple file storage system, using one of these NAS devices is the way to go.

No real maintenance or patching to worry about
Doesn't suck down nearly the power that a full PC does
Uses very little space
More easily portable
Rebooting one PC (or opening up a VPN, as I frequently do) doesn't affect the central file store
Very little noise and heat generated vs a normal PC.

The difference would be, if you needed other functions (like a web server, print server, mail client, etc.) that the PC could otherwise take care of. But if all you need is a simple file share, a NAS is the way to go.

- G

 

[skyking]

I was looking at the nighmare he had with 2k3 and the linux webserver db stuff, but the problem is that 1U chassis!

 

[mamisano]

Looks like for now I will go with the 1U Server / Linux and a Highpoint E.Sata Upgrade Kit V2. The Kit includes an external eSata enclosure and a single port eSata PCI card. For $40, I can't go wrong - and the speed will be much better than USB 2.0 or Firewire.