Looking for suggestions for a NAS that also works with USB

[eporro]

I am trying to setup a NAS with at least two drives so that I can set it up with RAID1. It will mostly be so that I can store all my files off of my computers since they only have a 128GB SSD. That is why it is important that it be a RAID1 because that will be the only local backup that I will have.

I was looking at WD My Cloud NAS offerings which seemed good but they only allow access through Ethernet. I would like something that has access through Ethernet but then also USB3 access so that I can connect it directly to my media pc so that the only Ethernet traffic is when I am streaming to/from my media pc. Any suggestions?

 

[alzan]

I am trying to setup a NAS with at least two drives so that I can set it up with RAID1. It will mostly be so that I can store all my files off of my computers since they only have a 128GB SSD. That is why it is important that it be a RAID1 because that will be the only local backup that I will have.

I was looking at WD My Cloud NAS offerings which seemed good but they only allow access through Ethernet. I would like something that has access through Ethernet but then also USB3 access so that I can connect it directly to my media pc so that the only Ethernet traffic is when I am streaming to/from my media pc. Any suggestions?

Don't know your budget but:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-635-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-538-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-636-_-Product

Also, RAID is NOT a backup solution. RAID is for redundancy; some RAID levels offer performance gains as well. Plan on having an external drive for true backups. As another member likes to say, "Belt and suspenders."

 

[eporro]

True, RAID is not for backup and what I really am looking for is redundancy.

Looks like those products you suggested only have Ethernet as a way of accessing it but no USB. The usb ports are for adding other storage devices. I would like to simultaneously be able to access the NAS through USB like an external storage device and through Ethernet so that other devices can access it through my network without me having to share it from the pc that would access it though USB. Maybe what I am looking for doesn't exist.

 

[alzan]

True, RAID is not for backup and what I really am looking for is redundancy.

Looks like those products you suggested only have Ethernet as a way of accessing it but no USB. The usb ports are for adding other storage devices. I would like to simultaneously be able to access the NAS through USB like an external storage device and through Ethernet so that other devices can access it through my network without me having to share it from the pc that would access it though USB. Maybe what I am looking for doesn't exist.

Actually the top and bottom products have 2 USB 3.0 ports, the middle has 1 USB 3.0 port and 1 USB 2.0 port. You need to click on the Specifications tab in the provided links to be able to see that.

 

[eporro]

Actually the top and bottom products have 2 USB 3.0 ports, the middle has 1 USB 3.0 port and 1 USB 2.0 port. You need to click on the Specifications tab in the provided links to be able to see that.

Yes they do have USB ports but as I mentioned, they are for adding more storage. Is is not to allow you to connect the NAS directly to a computer.

 

[alzan]

Then add a network switch and use that to connect to the computer. Like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-251-_-Product

AFAIK there aren't many (any?) NAS devices that will connect to a computer via USB; kinda defeats the purpose of a Network Attached Storage unit

 

[eporro]

Then add a network switch and use that to connect to the computer. Like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-251-_-Product

AFAIK there aren't many (any?) NAS devices that will connect to a computer via USB; kinda defeats the purpose of a Network Attached Storage unit

This is why I asked. I wasn't sure if such product existed.

 

[alzan]

This is why I asked. I wasn't sure if such product existed.

Looking a little further into it, there are such things as crossover USB cables available for purchase; that would eliminate the network switch and would allow direct connect to your media PC.

As well you could add a NIC adapter to your media PC and eliminate the need for a USB computer-to-NAS connection