Let's build a NAS

[boomhower]

This is mainly for storage video for streaming to my 360 and hopefully my cell phone at some point.

For a case I am using an NZXT rogue I have left over from my last build. I also have a 380W PSU and 2x512 of DDR2667.

For the rest I was thinking of a Celeron E1200, likely undervolted and underclocked.

Unsure on a motherboard. I want six SATA slots, and RAID 5. it also needs to be matx.

For HD's I was planning three Western Digital 1TB's GP's, can't beat power efficient 1TB for $100.

For OS I am planning Windows Home Server. I looked at freenas but for my needs I thing WHS is the better option.

I am open to AMD, especially the 45W BE-4850e but am unsure about the motherboard options. The only matx boards I see with RAID 5 are nvidia based. From my experience on the Intel side with Nvidia RAID has not been good.

Thoughts? Suggestion? Changes?

 

[JackMDS]

WHS can not use On Board RAID.

It can use independent RAID with its own stand alone controller.

However there is No reason to use RAID with WHS since it has its own Software Redundancy build in.

As far as Motherboard it does not really matter. Having onboard graphic and Giga NIC saves some money and works well.

http://www.ezlan.net/WHS.html

 

[boomhower]

WIth that being the case it certainly makes the motherboard cheaper and AMD more of an option. hhhmmm.

 

[Blain]

If you're going to stream HD content, make sure to focus on the quality of the network components.

 

[boomhower]

I have a Linksys WRT54GL with Tomato. I can't do much more as the 360 is limited to G.

 

[crisscross]

This is what i got
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2H

CPU-AMD Sempron LE-1250

Pico PSU 120


I dont have kill-a-watt to measure the power consumption but guys with similar configs have it running at 22 watts idle and should be plenty for running WHS.

 

[boomhower]

The motherboard looks pretty good but I think I would step up to a BE-4850E. The pico psu looks interesting but where are the molex's?

 

[crisscross]

I do believe the BE-4850E will be wasted if you are only planning to run a HS but your call on that one. The Pico comes with a SATA and PATA molex and one for a floppy drive. You will need to get Y splitters though which are a couple of $.

Make sure you get this P4 connector the Gigabyte board won't run without the P4 connector and the Pico doesn't ship with it.

 

[Old Hippie]

How about a pre-built HP EX470 MediaSmart Server for 299.00 + shipping?

Actually, it looks like free shipping!

 

[boomhower]

While that HP is tempting it takes all the fun out of it. I think I am going to go with Criss's suggestion. Newegg has the CPU on sale for $20 and I am debating that Gigabyte and this Asus. I prefer Asus but the main debate is over 6 internal SATA versus 5 with an ESATA. It probably makes more sense to go with the six internal and add a ESATA PCI card.

 

[Old Hippie]

While that HP is tempting it takes all the fun out of it.

I agree! That's why I'm not buying it too! :laugh:

I'm going to cobble something together with WHS and it'll be a learning experience.

For me, the learnin' is the fun part! :thumbsup:

 

[corkyg]

Building a NAS is pretty simple. This thread seems to be talking more about the whole system including the server. So, . . . having said that, going back to the original statement, all I need to do to build a NAS is add an external NAS HDD case that is Ethernet capable and use one of my stack of extra HDDs generated through system upgrades.

For $65, I would just add something like this and be done with it.

NAS

 

[boomhower]

That is way to limiting. No redundancy, limited back-up options, likely no media streaming, etc. Plus that model is IDE which limits HD size.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: boomhower
That is way to limiting. No redundancy, limited back-up options, likely no media streaming, etc. Plus that model is IDE which limits HD size.

In addition almost all of the inexpensive units regardless of whatever they state (100Mb/sec. or 1000 Mb/sec.) are most of the time slow as 10mb/sec.

Their Data Sheets adheres to the same Twilight Zone reality that the WIFI Data Sheets do. :shocked:

Their FAT is Not NTFS and some have problems with certain File.

That said, if One only wants a NAS for files backups while he is a sleep, the inexpensive NAS' are a working solution.

 

[corkyg]

OK - I did not ever say that the IDE version was the end all. In principle, a NAS is designed to provide for central storage of data on a LAN. And, it you want redundancy, make it a RAID array. None on that is really an issue. My home LAN has 3 active stations - and a NAS would simply allow simukltaneous access of all three units to the same data files. There are many ways to skin than cat. SATA works for me. So does RAID - and that can again be backed up to an external drive.

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Building a NAS is pretty simple. This thread seems to be talking more about the whole system including the server. So, . . . having said that, going back to the original statement, all I need to do to build a NAS is add an external NAS HDD case that is Ethernet capable and use one of my stack of extra HDDs generated through system upgrades.

For $65, I would just add something like this and be done with it.

NAS

Ahhhhh, that's no fun!

That NAS unit looks like frustration waitin' to happen. :laugh:

 

[boomhower]

I ended up with an LE-1150, Foxconn A7GM-S motherboard, and a 1.5TB Seagate hard drive. I'll give WHS the four month free be spin.

 

[crisscross]

Boom. What PSU did you go with? and one more question.. if you get WHS 120 day version can you upgrade to the full version without losing your data?

 

[boomhower]

I have a 350W PSU laying around from a build I did last year but am not sure the make/model. For the last question I am still looking into it myself. I would assume so as it would kind of defeat the point otherwise but I have not found the definitive answer yet.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: crisscross
Boom. What PSU did you go with? and one more question.. if you get WHS 120 day version can you upgrade to the full version without losing your data?

Minimum Drive for WHS is 80GB.

When WHS is installed it automatically creates two partitions on the main Drive.

One: 20GB for the OS and any Add-On or program that is added as active application to the server functions.

Two: Whatever is beyond 20GB is dedicated to the storage system and assigned to it a Network name \\WHS.

When you add more Drives they are added to the storage pull and join the \\WHS.

You can add drive as need and do not worry about D:, E:, F:, etc. It all goes under one name \\WHS.

When you upgrade from trial to Retail the 20GB of the OS get formatted and reinstalled.
I.e. the Ad-On and applications that you added to the OS need to be reinstalled too.

However the Upgrade to retail does not touch the storage area. So all your Backups, and files are there to work with the retail version.

Is it really a clever OS. :thumbsup:

 

[Old Hippie]

Nice!

Thanks Jack! :thumbsup:

 

[boomhower]

Thanks Jack. Although that is pretty stupid. You should just be able to put a key in but I guess its another way to try and keep people from pirating it. I bet more people just pirate it to start with instead of going through the hoops.

 

[JackMDS]

There are threads in other forums that claim that it is ""OK"" to Pirate when there is No Trial version.

The rational goes like this:" I want to try the new game but there is No trial version, so they "force" me to pirate the game otherwise I can Not try".

I guess it is a matter in the moral approach to life, since there are always ways to fabricated excuses.

 

[Blain]

It sounds like "Try before you buy" should be added as an amendment to the constitution.
May the new administration can work that in.

 

[boomhower]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
There are threads in other forums that claim that it is ""OK"" to Pirate when there is No Trial version.

The rational goes like this:" I want to try the new game but there is No trial version, so they "force" me to pirate the game otherwise I can Not try".

I guess it is a matter in the moral approach to life, since there are always ways to fabricated excuses.

I agree. If someone wants to pirate something they will find a way to justify it. Just to be clear I am not going to pirate this. Pirating an OS is generally more trouble than what it is worth. Plus for what you get I think its worth the money. Lord know I have pirated things so I am not trying to come off all righteous. Its a never ending battle that will continue.