NAS: How are you using your Network Attached Storage device?

[Carnivore99]

I picked up an HP MediaVault MV5140 cheap during HP's rebate promotion, and now I'm trying to decide the best way to use it. This unit has 2x500GB hard drives that can be configured as RAID 1 or spanned to provide 1TB total storage space.

I'm leaning towards either using it in spanned mode as a backup device for all my computers, or in RAID 1 mode for shared photo/video storage. Even with the redundancy of RAID though, I would still feel compelled to back up our photos to another device anyway in case something took out the entire NAS device, so I'm not sure how much point there is to running RAID in the first place.

I'd like to hear how others are using their NAS devices, and any thoughts about running RAID-1 versus running spanned drives for twice the storage space.

 

[dclapps]

I have an older Linksys two bay NAS which came with one 120gb drive. I planned on adding my spare 200gb to it and storing it in a closet somewhere along with the modem & router, however it has never recognized any hdds I added to it so it collects dust.

I think if you have a good use for it in spanned mode, I'd go with that. Keep the important stuff on both, and on an extra backup; that way, you have 1.2tb plus safety in case one hdd goes out or the NAS goes out.

Danny

 

[Elixer]

I wouldn't run it spanned. If one drive is toast, then you're going to be kicking yourself.
It would be better to just get 2 1TB drives and RAID 1 them. And then use the 2 500GB for backups of the important data.

 

[boomhower]

I have a custom built WHS that serves as media storage. I store all my DVD's, other video, photos, and music on there. Makes it easy for my wife to access and streaming a dead simple affair. It has made the move from desktop to notebook pretty painless. Mine is a custom built WHS with two 1.5TB Seagates.

 

[Gillbot]

I use mine in mirrored for a false sense of backup, but I only use mine as a central storage point for files so I can access them from any machine on my network.

 

[Carnivore99]

Good point about the spanning, I guess I will run it as RAID for photo storage and backup for my laptops.

I like the suggestion to swap out the drives for bigger ones too, as I can certainly find other uses for the 500GB drives that came with it. I already had a bad experience with one of those 1.5GB Seagates though, so I might just look for a good deal on a couple of WD 1TB green drives.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I'm using my Netgear as a paper weight. It's so damn slow, I can literally, copy stuff to floppies faster.

 

[mooseracing]

We use one at work in a RAID 5 setup with the prereq that it is not backed up. So people can put any work related items out there, but there is the possibility they will lose them.

 

[Yellowbeard]

I used FreeNAS and run 5 x 500GB HDs in RAID-5. The OS operates off a 1GB Turbo Flash USB drive. It's available to my entire home network but my daughter does not know the IP address and does not have permissions set to use it.

I manually back up all my Corsair work each week to it.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Originally posted by: Carnivore99
I picked up an HP MediaVault MV5140 cheap during HP's rebate promotion, and now I'm trying to decide the best way to use it. This unit has 2x500GB hard drives that can be configured as RAID 1 or spanned to provide 1TB total storage space.

I'm leaning towards either using it in spanned mode as a backup device for all my computers, or in RAID 1 mode for shared photo/video storage. Even with the redundancy of RAID though, I would still feel compelled to back up our photos to another device anyway in case something took out the entire NAS device, so I'm not sure how much point there is to running RAID in the first place.

I'd like to hear how others are using their NAS devices, and any thoughts about running RAID-1 versus running spanned drives for twice the storage space.

Another thought, if capacity is an issue, you could upgrade to 1TB or larger drives and do RAID-1 for some redundancy.