Need NAS Info

[Cutless009]

Hey guys,

What exactly is needed to turn a computer into a NAS drive? Or do you HAVE to have a NAS box specifically? I want to set up an expandable network attached raid, and I have hard drives and enough parts to build a small computer, so I'd like to avoid spending money on a NAS specific box that isn't as expandable as an actual computer.

[0xygenthief]

First question is why? What do you need this for? Home storage or something else?

[KaptCrunch]

NAS device that supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and JBOD: a motherboard with four SATA2 connectors, at least three PCIe slots, built-in video, and built-in gigabit LAN, as well as support for at least 4gb of RAM.

or add a PCI-e sata II card to current system.

and NAS software and 4 HDD of any size thats happy with raid

make a nice HTPC server 0x2thief

[smee]

Three words: Windows Home Server

Built a NAS a year ago, started with only 2TB. It puts the drives in a software RAID so its seen as one hard drive. Recently I bought two more 1TB drives and popped em in, I didn't have to do anything... it recognized the drives and added them to the RAID. So now I have one big fatty 4TB drive. To top that off, I have it mirror all the data, so I have a backup of everything on the server.

It can stream music/video flawlessly to any computer in the house (we have a gigabit network, no lag at all), share files/pictures etc... I have each computer backing up daily to the server and I can remote into any computer in the house from anywhere in the world so long as the NAS has internet and I have internet on the remote computer. :D

Also, WHS is CHEAP.

If you want a great NAS, I recommend WHS.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116855&cm_re=windows_home_server_OEM-_-32-116-855-_-Product

[KaptCrunch]

The Windows Home Server OEM Preinstallation Kit User's Guide describes the methods that an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or system builder must use to preinstall the Windows Home Server server software on new computers for distribution to end users.

Important: Windows Home Server does not support unattended preinstallation or installation over the network. Read the entire guide before preinstalling Windows Home Server.

[0xygenthief]

I agree with Smee!

WHS is DA BOMB! 10TB server in my living room right now running off of a N270 atom and 2GB of RAM. You don't need RAID with WHS which cuts the expense a whole lot.

My base system without drives cost only 270 bucks with a case that could hold 20 drives (with bay expanders).

However, if you need RAID for something like speed that's a different story, which is why I asked for the why behind the build.

[Cutless009]

so any computer + WHS + Raid Array + Network = NAS?

I have 7 500gb RE3 drives I want to turn into a 4.5tb media server to replace the single (and very slow) 1tb Wester Digital World Book I have right now.

[0xygenthief]

so any computer + WHS + Raid Array + Network = NAS?

I have 7 500gb RE3 drives I want to turn into a 4.5tb media server to replace the single (and very slow) 1tb Wester Digital World Book I have right now.

nope!

WHS does not use RAID. It provides a file shadowing service that is essentially a macro version of RAID 1.

In other words you don't need the raid array to make a NAS. As far as expandability goes, with WHS you can use a sata controller and port multipliers using JBOD to expand your NAS to well beyond 4.5TB.

[Floyd]

Im using freeNAS on my spare PC and I dont have any issues with it. Of course I have no used WHS yet.

[handmadeandroid]

I'm getting the Synology DS410 and 4 x 2TB drives shortly.

[Crow]

I gotcha (http://bluinkbottle.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-home-server/).

[Cutless009]

Awesome! Thanks crow :)

[mpolter]

I run NexentaCore 3.01 which uses the Opensolaris kernel (native CIFS and ZFS) paired with Ubuntu userland for packages. It works quite well.

Currently running an old P5QL mb with 4 gb ram, 10x1.5TB drives in raidz2 (Raid 5 with 2 parity drives), 2 x1TB mirrors for the super important data.

The sata controller I am using is a Supermicro AOC-USAS-L8i (~$120) which also supports SAS expanders if I move to a SAS/SATA backplane.

--MikeP