NAS for Mac?

[MotionMan]

I currently run all PCs at my house, but due to aging computers, my wife's need for a Mac for her new job, a tax refund and access to educational pricing, we are looking to convert to all Mac.

I currently have a D-Link DNS321 Network Storage Enclosure which will NOT work with Macs.

What is an equivalent (features and price) Mac-friendly NAS?

MotionMan (soon to be MotionMacMan?)

 

[Kaido]

Roll your own using FreeNAS:

http://www.freenas.org/

1. Old computer
2. FreeNAS on a small thumbdrive
3. Bunch of HDDs in RAID 5

I've had mine up for years without a hitch. Be sure to get a cheap UPS for it.

 

[sourceninja]

How will it not work with a mac? I assume it shares via SMB which mac supports...

 

[sourceninja]

In fact, quoting it's description:

With the included feature-rich Memeo? software, you can create schedules and rules including real-time full or incremental backups. The Web-based configuration software allows users to establish storage quotas for specific users and groups. The DNS-321 can automatically back up your data regardless of the Operating System (OS) of your computer (Windows®, Mac®, or Linux®). The DNS-321 also features a built-in FTP server to access files through the Internet.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
In fact, quoting it's description:

With the included feature-rich Memeo? software, you can create schedules and rules including real-time full or incremental backups. The Web-based configuration software allows users to establish storage quotas for specific users and groups. The DNS-321 can automatically back up your data regardless of the Operating System (OS) of your computer (Windows®, Mac®, or Linux®). The DNS-321 also features a built-in FTP server to access files through the Internet.

The product specs on the D-Link site says it requires a PC with Windows:

http://www.dlink.com/products/...pid=666&rid=2664&sec=0

However, I now do see that the reviews indicate it WILL work with Macs.

Then again, a review points out that "software Dlink gives you on the CD is Windows XP/Vista only".

I guess I believed the spec sheet too much.

/thread

MotionMan

 

[ViRGE]

An HP Windows Home Server box would do nicely, they're Mac compatible. The price may induce a heart attack though.

The fact of the matter is that Time Machine has made all 3rd party home user backup software obsolete on the Mac. Your NAS box can be configured via the web, and it's possible to make Mac OS X do Time Machine backups to a SMB box, so you can easily use that NAS if you so choose. Heck, even the HP box cheats in this manner; all their Mac backup software does is make the SMB Time Machine tweak for you, and then set Time Machine to back up to their server.

Otherwise if you want to go pure Mac, you want a Time Capsule.

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Roll your own using FreeNAS:

http://www.freenas.org/

1. Old computer
2. FreeNAS on a small thumbdrive
3. Bunch of HDDs in RAID 5

I've had mine up for years without a hitch. Be sure to get a cheap UPS for it.

Seconded. In my case, using ClarkConnect Linux- just as easy to set up as FreeNAS, and in my experience runs rings around it- but I digress- A home-built NAS is the best bang for buck. Mine's been running for years with very few reboots, works great with both PCs and Macs.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
In fact, quoting it's description:

With the included feature-rich Memeo? software, you can create schedules and rules including real-time full or incremental backups. The Web-based configuration software allows users to establish storage quotas for specific users and groups. The DNS-321 can automatically back up your data regardless of the Operating System (OS) of your computer (Windows®, Mac®, or Linux®). The DNS-321 also features a built-in FTP server to access files through the Internet.

Always a problem with using a system that is part of <10% of the market. All the copy is written for Windows users. It is generally more important to a company to support Windows (especially with hardware). The number of things that I have purchased that claimed no Mac support, but still have worked flawlessly makes me read the copy on boxes less and less.

My newest jumpdrive says it is compatible with Windows Vista, has Tux on the back of the packaging, but no sign of OS X support. And yet... works just fine.

For new items, it is always best to at least try it first, and if it doesn't work, then simply return it and get something else.

 

[magnux]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Roll your own using FreeNAS:

http://www.freenas.org/

1. Old computer
2. FreeNAS on a small thumbdrive
3. Bunch of HDDs in RAID 5

I've had mine up for years without a hitch. Be sure to get a cheap UPS for it.

FreeNAS is fine and dandy, unless you expect to grow your SoftRAID array in the future. FreeNAS doesn't currently support the growing of a SoftRAID array. In this case, I recommend OpenFiler. And yes, it's free. The only thing currently lacking with OF (for me, at least) is AFP support. But, with the growth of Mac sales and more and more people requesting it, it looks likely to be added soon.

I've been running OF for a year now, and I've grown my array twice thus far with no ill-effect. Solid as a rock, and installation couldn't have been easier.

 

[Nothinman]

The only thing currently lacking with OF (for me, at least) is AFP support. But, with the growth of Mac sales and more and more people requesting it, it looks likely to be added soon.

The last time I looked at setting up netatalk it wasn't too difficult, but why? What does AFP get you that SMB can't currently do?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Zaap

Originally posted by: Kaido
Roll your own using FreeNAS:

http://www.freenas.org/

1. Old computer
2. FreeNAS on a small thumbdrive
3. Bunch of HDDs in RAID 5

I've had mine up for years without a hitch. Be sure to get a cheap UPS for it.

Seconded. In my case, using ClarkConnect Linux- just as easy to set up as FreeNAS, and in my experience runs rings around it- but I digress- A home-built NAS is the best bang for buck. Mine's been running for years with very few reboots, works great with both PCs and Macs.

ClarkConnect is great. Either way you go, you're getting user-fixable hardware plus as much expandability as you want, with real software and real performance.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: magnux

Originally posted by: Kaido
Roll your own using FreeNAS:

http://www.freenas.org/

1. Old computer
2. FreeNAS on a small thumbdrive
3. Bunch of HDDs in RAID 5

I've had mine up for years without a hitch. Be sure to get a cheap UPS for it.

FreeNAS is fine and dandy, unless you expect to grow your SoftRAID array in the future. FreeNAS doesn't currently support the growing of a SoftRAID array. In this case, I recommend OpenFiler. And yes, it's free. The only thing currently lacking with OF (for me, at least) is AFP support. But, with the growth of Mac sales and more and more people requesting it, it looks likely to be added soon.

I've been running OF for a year now, and I've grown my array twice thus far with no ill-effect. Solid as a rock, and installation couldn't have been easier.

How does OpenFiler support growing a SoftRAID array? I've been waiting a long time for FreeNAS to add ZFS, but it still hasn't panned out yet. I'd love a more expandable system with the same stability of FreeNAS!

 

[magnux]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: magnux

Originally posted by: Kaido
Roll your own using FreeNAS:

http://www.freenas.org/

1. Old computer
2. FreeNAS on a small thumbdrive
3. Bunch of HDDs in RAID 5

I've had mine up for years without a hitch. Be sure to get a cheap UPS for it.

FreeNAS is fine and dandy, unless you expect to grow your SoftRAID array in the future. FreeNAS doesn't currently support the growing of a SoftRAID array. In this case, I recommend OpenFiler. And yes, it's free. The only thing currently lacking with OF (for me, at least) is AFP support. But, with the growth of Mac sales and more and more people requesting it, it looks likely to be added soon.

I've been running OF for a year now, and I've grown my array twice thus far with no ill-effect. Solid as a rock, and installation couldn't have been easier.

How does OpenFiler support growing a SoftRAID array? I've been waiting a long time for FreeNAS to add ZFS, but it still hasn't panned out yet. I'd love a more expandable system with the same stability of FreeNAS!

OpenFiler is Linux based, and uses mdadm to manage SoftRAID arrays. mdadm supports the growing of SoftRAID arrays, and as such, can be done via command-line in an OpenFiler installation.

It's really quite simple, you simply add the new drive as a spare, grow the array, then expand. It's a total of about 4 commands, pretty trivial. It's well documented on the OF forums.

 

[magnux]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

The only thing currently lacking with OF (for me, at least) is AFP support. But, with the growth of Mac sales and more and more people requesting it, it looks likely to be added soon.

The last time I looked at setting up netatalk it wasn't too difficult, but why? What does AFP get you that SMB can't currently do?

OpenFiler uses rPath Linux. So, it's a bit more involved to get netatalk up and going than on say, Debian -- although definately possible. However, I tend to be of the mind to try and not do too much outside of the OF webUI, as I'd like my NAS to remain as easily upgradable and maintainable as possible. The OpenFiler teams keeps up on security and performance enhancements -- which are tailored for a standard OF installation.

As for what AFP can do that SMB cannot.. not too much really, it's just AFP is a native network filesystem for Macs -- and I'd like to use it if possible. It's hardly a deal breaker. In my unofficial tests, however, AFP seemed faster than SMB across my network shares (my previous NAS was just a simple Debian install). But, there's no evidence to support those claims..

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: MotionMan
I currently run all PCs at my house, but due to aging computers, my wife's need for a Mac for her new job, a tax refund and access to educational pricing, we are looking to convert to all Mac.

I currently have a D-Link DNS321 Network Storage Enclosure which will NOT work with Macs.

What is an equivalent (features and price) Mac-friendly NAS?

MotionMan (soon to be MotionMacMan?)

First off, as posted, you can most likely simply use the nas with SMB:// access instead of AFP:// The main thing that won't work is TimeMachine which is disabled for SMB (unless you hack it on, their is a setting) and still unreliable on SMB (AFAIK)

Found http://wiki.dns323.info/howtoptware for your NAS, you can install that firmware it has AFP support...

 

[GhettoFob]

I have the DNS321 and I can access it from my MacBook using smb with no problems.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: GhettoFob
I have the DNS321 and I can access it from my MacBook using smb with no problems.

That is good news.

Now if I can just convince my wife that this is a good idea!

"Support the economy!!!" I keep saying.

MotionMan

 

[boomhower]

I also vote for building yourself a proper NAS. FreeNAS, openfiller, etc. What ever you choose will be better than a cheap NAS. You can use old hardware for a cheap build or go low power with an Atom build.(which still isn't exactly high dollar) I personally use a home built WHS and couldn't be happier.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: boomhower
I also vote for building yourself a proper NAS. FreeNAS, openfiller, etc. What ever you choose will be better than a cheap NAS. You can use old hardware for a cheap build or go low power with an Atom build.(which still isn't exactly high dollar) I personally use a home built WHS and couldn't be happier.

But, if I already have my current NAS, and, apparently, it will work with Macs, do I really need to do anything?

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Just to follow up, I got the first new Mac and, after some fumbling around because I am new to Macs, I was able to map the NAS drives onto this Mac.

Good to know I do not need to buy a new NAS.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

So, now I have Parallels 3.0 running on my Mac, but I cannot seem to connect to my simple network or, more importantly, the NAS, though I do have internet access in Windows.

Suggestions?

MotionMan

 

[Zaap]

With VMware, I merely have to switch my networking to Bridged, rather than shared with the Mac.

You might try the suggestions here.

Also, I find that I don't really need direct access to my network shares through a virtual-machine- you can drag drop files directly from a VM to any mounted network share via the finder.