DIY network storage

[bluntman]

Does anyone know how to make your own network storage device? I have a couple of ATA hard drives hanging around I want to be able to share the storage among the three computers in my home network. I see that Linksys has one on their website that allows the user to add another hard drive, but it looks expensive.

TIA

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Setup an old cheap computer with a nice network card. Build a cheap XP 1700+ with a mobo with everything integrated and slap those HD's onto it. Oh yeah, get RAM, a Case, and a PSU. You can probably do taht in 2 or 3 hundred.

 

[vash]

Most of the SOHO NAS devices around are really computers. However, the real seller of these NAS devices is the almost instant on boot and the embedded OS (usually a *nix flavor). With these machines, you cannot really beat their boot time, configuration, etc -- they just "work" right out of the box.

The closest a PC can do is using a mini-itx motherboard, an accompanying case and a distro made for such an application (don't know off hand any like this, but if you continue the bump someone will name one). If you want to add some more storage, you maybe should be looking at a real PC case and a *nix distro made for this.

vash

 

[EeyoreX]

I also used an old computer and just added hard drives as I got them. You could do that with just about any OS. All you need is an old or cheap computer and the drives. Currently I use (I had the parts from upgrading my main rig) an older Athlon Tbird and some inexpensive RAM and case I picked up for networking my PC and the girlfriend's for network storage and backup. You could pick up a NAS box like the one Linksys has, and you could use it, but like you said, it is expensive and there others with other nice features (instant on etc) I find them too expensive and they limit my storage more than they expand it. With a motherboard that has onboard RAID (I use an old Abit KR7A-133R) and a PCI controller card, I can have a total of 12 IDE drives, meaning I can add more storage for the cost of a hard drive.

\Dan

 

[DaveSimmons]

A good case for PC-NAS is the Antec SLK3700 for under $100 -- it has 5 grommeted HD bays and a holder for a 120mm intake fan (not included) right in front of the drive cage.

That's probably overkill for a 2-drive cheap home system though

A couple of other options:
(a) Put the drives in the fastest computer and turn on sharing for them
(b) Turn the slowest PC into a NAS box and replace it with a new system.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
A good case for PC-NAS is the Antec SLK3700 for under $100 -- it has 5 grommeted HD bays and a holder for a 120mm intake fan (not included) right in front of the drive cage.

That's probably overkill for a 2-drive cheap home system though

A couple of other options:
(a) Put the drives in the fastest computer and turn on sharing for them
(b) Turn the slowest PC into a NAS box and replace it with a new system.