Adding network storage to a router

[Ghoster79]

Technical question for the experts: I have a fiber router that doesn't have usb ports, so to add a network storage, I would obviously need a NAS that has a ethernet connection option - no problem, except that a NAS is not on the cards at the moment. Could I use one of these:


Plugged into a spare port on the router and an plug an external harddrive into the adapter for "networked" storage?
Is it that simple?

 

[yogidabear]

Plugged into a spare port on the router and an plug an external harddrive into the adapter for "networked" storage?
Is it that simple?

No it will not work. the router has to have the ability to share those files, like run and SMB service.

If it had that it would have a USB port. You must have a NAS, or get a cheap router that does have SMB / USB

 

[Ghoster79]

Thanks for the reply, it's kinda what I suspected, but just wasn't sure.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Much simpler to just get a Pi to do it.

Or a dedicated device like a Synology.

Or go large and get an HP Microserver and install UnRAID.

 

[now05ster]

Much simpler to just get a Pi to do it.

Or a dedicated device like a Synology.

Or go large and get an HP Microserver and install UnRAID.

+1 for PI as NAS if you are on a budget. Used these instructions: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-a-nas-for-whole-home-file-sharing

The latter two if you are not a pleb, as these are easier to set up. (Especially Synology).

 

[SauRoNZA]

+1 for PI as NAS if you are on a budget. Used these instructions: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-a-nas-for-whole-home-file-sharing

The latter two if you are not a pleb, as these are easier to set up. (Especially Synology).

The only time I wouldn’t recommend the Pi is if your plan was to do 4K video streaming and do transcoding with something like Plex because you won’t have enough horsepower.

If you don’t need to transcode and play directly it will probably be fine but haven’t tested myself.

 

[Dan C]

Much simpler to just get a Pi to do it.

Or a dedicated device like a Synology.

Or go large and get an HP Microserver and install UnRAID.

Bliksem, have you seen the prices of an HP Micro now !! The one I'm running was R1300 at the time. That was 11 years ago I think.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Bliksem, have you seen the prices of an HP Micro now !! The one I'm running was R1300 at the time. That was 11 years ago I think.

Oh yeah they are a lot more pricey now, but also a lot more beefy.

Also still running my N36L.

 

[Neo_X]

basically any computer on your home network can serve as a "nas".

thus pick the lowest power hungry device, preferably with a lan connection, set it to never sleep/switch off, connect an external drive, and share using windows file sharing.
can even share printers this way as well.

should be a good work around until a proper nas can be on the cards

 

[Speedster]

basically any computer on your home network can serve as a "nas".

thus pick the lowest power hungry device, preferably with a lan connection, set it to never sleep/switch off, connect an external drive, and share using windows file sharing.
can even share printers this way as well.

should be a good work around until a proper nas can be on the cards

That's assuming OP has a home computer. Most people nowadays only have laptops at home so a dedicated server machine would be necessary. I went with a Celelron NUC off marketplace