Recommendations on Network Storage

[Ricey]

Woudl like to build a storage system. Ideally, it would be at least 4 TB, if not 6 TB, and would contain 4 HDDs. I had thought about something like 10 TB to 12 TB for future capacity, but it's too complicated.

I just want a simple case, preferrably with the flexibility for E-Sata-2 and USB-2, but I can live with just usb-2. Speed is unimportant. Data reliability is. Hot swap is unimportant, but its good to have. The box will just sit there like a dummy box.

I was thinking of 8 drives with Raid 1 redundancy, but that would require a whole machine and a proper hardware controller. Raid 5 and Raid 6 is a PITA. Been there and done that.

I don't want anything Microsoft. I don't want to have to reboot this sucker, and I'm constantly worried about drive data corruption. When I feel like it, I would like to be able to flip the power switch and switch it off. That way, the circuit breaker or power outage or whatever won't harm the data.

As you guys are aware, I just lost a 1 TB WD drive. Good HDD too.

Once again, I don't want to go down the mobo/cpu/Areca/3Ware route. Its a pITA.

Any ideas?

[Xilikon]

With your wish list, the only one I had in mind which fit this exactly would be a Drobo (http://www.drobo.com/Products/drobo.html).

[Ricey]

Thanks Xilikon !

Looks fabulous too !!

[Big_Daddy]

But buy it here (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/570430-REG/Data_Robotics_DR04DD10_4_Bay_Drobo_Robotic_Storage .html). $100 cheaper, and with mail in rebates. Plus the gig add on is $10 cheaper.

[Ricey]

Haha.. Thanks BigDaddy. I go during lunch time tomorrow and pick it up. B&H is about 12 short city blocks away from my office. I get to walk there and carry it back.

[Big_Daddy]

I'm a shopping god!!! ok, I got lucky.. :)

[zlojack]

That's a sweet solution. I'll have to look into that at some point.

[jtf2]

i love network storage.
i use a qnap ts201,with 2x500gig seagates,and i use it most for the bitorrent downlaod station.
works very slick